Reflecting on 2025, building toward 2026
It’s been a challenging year for science and cancer research. Funding uncertainties, regulatory shifts and national pressures created real headwinds. Still, Providence Cancer Institute caregivers and researchers continue to discover, innovate and care for patients with a sense of purpose. In many ways, the challenges underscored what drives us and revealed our resilience and dogged determination.
We’re proud of our successes and the progress made in research, clinical care and community impact in 2025. Discover what we’ve been able to achieve!
Research advancements that matter to patients
2025 was a year of significant scientific advancements. Here's just a few examples of the types of advancements we're proud to highlight:
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Researchers at Providence in partnership with Microsoft Research and the University of Washington developed GigaTIME, a new artificial intelligence (AI) powered pathology model to analyze tumor microenvironments. The GigaTIME study was recently published in Cell.
- The Providence/Microsoft team also developed TRIALSCOPE, an AI framework that merges real-world evidence, clinical genomics and treatment data to predict or replicate trial results, aiding faster therapy development.
- A Providence Cancer Institute-initiated phase I clinical trial is evaluating a new medication called M3T01 designed to block Fas ligand and strengthen the immune response stronger against cancer.
- The results of a global phase III clinical trial offered to head and neck cancer patients at Providence Cancer Institute were published in the New England Journal of Medicine. This trial will lead to changes in standard of care in the near future.
- A study from the Tumor Microenvironment Lab at Earle A. Chiles Research Institute found that radiation can help certain support cells in tumors grow and change into another cell type through a process involving a signal called Akt. This is the first time scientists have shown this, and the results were published in a major scientific journal.
- Mary Brunkow, Ph.D., from Providence-affiliated Institute for Systems Biology, was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. Dr. Brunkow’s work has profoundly impacted our own research.
This year also marked an important milestone for our research community: the first annual New Horizons in Immunotherapy in Cancer symposium honoring Walter Urba, M.D., Ph.D., former medical director, Providence Cancer Institute, and director, Earle A. Chiles Research Institute. Leading experts in the field from across the country came to this exciting inaugural event hosted by Earle A. Chiles Research Institute.
Impact across our programs
Community outreach helps close gaps to health care, builds trust with underserved communities and brings lifesaving prevention, education and early detection directly to people who need it most. Working with our community partners and with the support of generous donors, we offer free educational events such as cancer screenings and talks, resources such as educational videos in multiple languages, classes and programs like Mind Over Matter (MOM).
Also, in 2025 we introduced an exciting new program called Prevention4Me, an initiative using genomic risk, family history and lifestyle to help patients identify or lower their cancer risk early. This program highlights our commitment to patient-centered care and healthier communities.
Attracting exceptional caring experts
In 2025, we welcomed 14 new physicians and advanced practice providers to Providence Cancer Institute throughout Oregon. Our growing team of experts is essential to expanding care for patients and offering clinical trials and resources to our diverse communities.
Not pictured: Heather Carte, FNP-C, Rachel Christian, PA, Katharine Mayers, NP
Recognized for excellence
We're proud that Providence Cancer Institute maintains 29 awards and accreditations, and our clinicians, researchers and teams also receive national and regional recognition.
Here are examples of the honors bestowed on our organization and individuals, reflecting our dedication to scientific rigor, outstanding clinical care and compassionate service.
- Kristina Young, M.D., Ph.D., was awarded a prestigious R01 grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), to pursue her project, “Enhancing the efficacy of radiation by spatially restricting anti-TGFβ treatment to the tumor.”
- Jianguo Huang, Ph.D., received a significant research grant from the Sarcoma Foundation of America for his study, “Siglec15 Regulation of Immune Suppressive Microenvironment in Sarcoma.”
- Providence Cancer Institute NCI Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP) earned the Gold Certificate of Excellence for our outstanding enrollment of patients in NCI trials.
- Bernard Fox, Ph.D., William Redmond, Ph.D., and Walter Urba, M.D., Ph.D. received 2025 Champion of SITC awards.
- Providence Portland Medical Center and Providence St. Vincent Medical Center topped Newsweek's "America's Best-in-State Hospitals 2026" list for Oregon.
Top Medical Providers 2026 | Portland Monthly
Media showcases science and compassionate care
The stories and insights shared by Providence Cancer Institute clinicians and patients are a valued source of information and inspiration for our communities. Here are a few examples of the stories and news we shared with local media and beyond:
KATU: Lung cancer awareness with Dr. Saffarzadeh: A woman's cancer seemed incurable. Identifying a rare genetic condition saved her life.
AM Northwest: Breast cancer awareness with Dr. Alison Conlin
KATU: What you should know about breast cancer with Dr. Zheng Topp
OncDaily: Bernard A. Fox: Advancing “Dark Matter” Immunotherapy for Liver Cancer with Binbin Zheng-Lin
Portland Business Journal: Breakthroughs in cancer research at Providence are bringing more hope to patients
To Your Health: From life-saving surgery to back on the slopes: A photographer’s story
Philanthropy goes a long way
Philanthropy continues to play a pivotal role in our mission. Donor support fuels 70% of groundbreaking research at Providence Cancer Institute, including our clinical trial program. Thanks to generous donors, we have one of the largest portfolios of early-phase clinical trials on the West Coast.
Philanthropy contributed to the development of Prov-GigaPath, and the remodel and expansion of Providence Oncology and Hematology Care Clinic at Seaside.
The generosity of donors also strengthens our ability to reach and care for our communities. In 2025, we were able to offer a free community lung cancer screening event and provide patient support services not covered by insurance, such as nurse navigation and cold cap therapy for breast cancer patients.
With support from the Elsie Franz Finley Philanthropic Fund, we completed a Living Well Through Active Treatment video on clinical trials. This and other educational videos are narrated in English with subtitles in Chinese, Korean, Russian, Spanish and Vietnamese to meet the needs of our diverse communities.
Gratitude for a year of resilience
As we move into 2026, we believe in our direction and are inspired by what we will achieve together. With determination and hope, we remain committed to delivering exceptional cancer care to patients throughou the Pacific Northwest, and advancing transformative science with a goal to finally #FinishCancer.
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