Nghiem Lab & MC3 Institute Awarded $1.3 Million for Cancer Research
The Nghiem Lab and the Merkel Cell Carcinoma Collaborative (MC3) Institute research teams have received a $1.3 million ‘Implementation and Outcomes Research’ grant from the Andy Hill Cancer Research Endowment (CARE) Fund. This significant award will support two innovative projects focused on advancing Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) research.
The primary aims of the funded work are to:
- Enhance early detection of recurrent MCC, using a very sensitive blood test recently reported by the Seattle team.
- Investigate why certain patients do not respond to immune checkpoint inhibitors, while exploring strategies to improve treatment outcomes, including via the MATRiX clinical trial.
Both projects will be led by Principal Investigator Paul Nghiem, MD, PhD, Chair of the Department of Dermatology and Director of the MC3 Institute.
The following Nghiem Lab/MC3 Institute members will support these projects:
- Rima Kulikauskas, BS
- Candice Church, PhD
- Rashmi Bhakuni, PhD
- Tomoko Akaike, MD
About The Andy Hill CARE Fund 
Andy Hill Cancer Research Endowment (CARE) Fund, created by the state legislature in 2015, is a bold public-private partnership that incentivizes additional investment by securing private and non-state matching funds to maximize the state's investment in cancer research. The CARE Fund aims to improve health outcomes by advancing transformational research in the prevention and treatment of cancer.
About the Implementation and Outcomes Research Grant
The Implementation and Outcomes Research grant is intended to support investigators to translate promising research and scientific discoveries into the development of tools, devices, technologies, therapeutics, or interventions, that have the potential to address cancer care across the cancer continuum that will ultimately advance cancer care, lessen the burden of cancer, and improve health outcomes.
