06 Jan Groundbreaking Cancer Vaccine Research Happening at ITHS Translational Research Unit
The ITHS Translational Research Unit (TRU), located at the UW Medical Center, offers investigators the comprehensive support and infrastructure needed to conduct clinical and translational research. Equipped with cutting-edge technology, the TRU fosters a dynamic environment where research and clinical practice are tightly integrated, benefiting both patients and healthcare providers by advancing the science of medicine and improving patient care outcomes.
Cancer Immunology at TRU
In October of 2022, Dr. Disis, a UW oncology professer, former ITHS Principal Investigator, and director of the Cancer Vaccine Institute, authored a study reporting that an experimental vaccine against breast cancer safely generated a strong immune response to a key tumor protein (JAMA Oncology). The findings suggested the vaccine may be able to treat different types of breast cancer.
Dr. Disis and her team are now working on a promising vaccine called STEMVAC, which is in phase 2 trials. Its purpose is to target the kinds of cancer cells that chemotherapy and radiation can’t get to.
Dr. Disis bases much of her immunology work out of the Translational Research Unit, saying it fosters a dynamic environment where research and clinical practice are tightly integrated:
The TRU is equipped with cutting-edge technology, allowing for precise diagnostics, monitoring, and treatment. And, the unit provides comprehensive support for conducting clinical trials, including regulatory compliance, data management, and patient recruitment, which can enhance the quality and efficiency of research overall. Ultimately we hope to see that improving patient outcomes.
TRU Helping Astronauts?
The TRU is also home to research work that recently caught the interest of NASA. One of the projects they’re most interested in is the Break Wave Lithotripsy (BWL) study from Mike Bailey, PhD, and Jonathan Harper, MD. Their study uses the TRU because it’s important for them to have a clinic setting to test their ultrasound equipment for non-invasive kidney stone treatment. It’s previously only been done in the operating room during clinical lithotripsy. Projects like this are interesting to NASA for how they may be applied to treatment strategies for astronauts in space.
Advantages of the TRU
Conducting groundbreaking research like this requires support that ITHS and the Translational Research Unit can provide. That support includes access to dedicated inpatient and outpatient facilities, specially trained nurses and support staff, laboratory services, and state-of-the-art equipment. On-call nurses from the TRU are also available to travel to inpatient units at the UW Medical Center to complete clinical research activities. This service ensures that all research protocols can be accommodated during anticipated and unanticipated admissions while a participant is enrolled in a research study.
The TRU also offers ten private and semi-private beds, office and computer space for research teams, a CLIA-certified laboratory, meal services, and two consultation rooms. And because the TRU is located in the UW Medical Center, it allows study teams to safely conduct early phase research studies.
Is the TRU right for You?
Depending on the needs of your study, the TRU might be a good fit for your work. The TRU staff is experienced in supporting a variety of therapeutic, observational, and interventional clinical studies. Their areas of expertise include immunotherapy studies; high-volume and/or serial, closely-spaced blood draws; and pharmacokinetic studies.
Some of the specific services offered by the TRU include:
- Nursing care, such as blood draws and placement of IVs
- Nursing observation and monitoring of vital signs
- Intravenous infusions
- EKG testing
- Use of room-only services with your own staff with access to TRU facilities, equipment, and nursing services (as needed)
Our registered nurses and study coordinators possess significant experience and expertise in clinical and translational research. They draw from this background as they support investigators and study teams in successfully navigating the different phases of research.
Interested in TRU Access?
All grant proposals submitted that intend to utilize ITHS TRU nursing services at the UW Medical Center will need to include costs for these services. To obtain estimated costs to include in your grant budgets, or to obtain estimates for already-funded projects, please request your estimates through the central REDCap intake project (link?). Be sure to select TRU as a site of practice and fill out the TRU submission form. After completing the submission form, then you will be contact to schedule a TRU feasibility consultation meeting.
You will receive an estimated budget, including applicable subsidies, suitable to submit with your grant proposal within 10 working days of having a TRU feasibility consultation meeting. Note that 10 working days lead time is required to assure a timely turnaround for ITHS estimated budgets. Costs can also vary between budget cycles. The ITHS budget cycle runs from March 1 to February 28(9) of the following year. Costs are based on the current rate sheet.
Learn more about the TRUPhotos by Lisa Stromme Warren
