Through the Cancer AI Alliance (CAIA), Jeff Leek (MS '07, PhD '09) and his team are seeking to enable AI-supported discovery of cancer treatments. “The goal is to 10x the speed with which a researcher can come up with an idea and have it executed,” says Leek, chief data officer at Fred Hutch Cancer Center.

In a rare display of unity, thousands of America’s most accomplished scientists have joined forces to warn Congress that proposed FY26 budget cuts would do lasting damage to the nation’s economy, health, and global standing. Elizabeth Halloran, a member of the National Academy of Medicine and professor emeritus of biostatistics at Fred Hutchison Cancer Center and the University of Washington, is quoted.

The Molecular Phenotypes of Null Alleles in Cells (MorPhiC) project wants to find the function of every protein-coding gene in the human genome by discovering what happens or doesn’t happen in a cell when that gene is turned off using cell culture models that mimic the function of real tissues and organs. Morphic data analysis center co-lead and UW faculty affiliate Wei Sun is interviewed. Fellow co-leads include Ali Shojaie, interim chair and professor for UW biostatistics, and Fred Hutch researcher and UW faculty affiliate Li Hsu.

New research finds that many vulnerable Whatcom County populations live within a concerning distance to potentially polluting cattle and hog operations. Lianne Sheppard, interim chair of the University of Washington Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences and professor of biostatistics, is quoted.