About the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
The FHCRC is one of 39 National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer research centers in the United States and is a member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network. A non-profit organization, its mission is to eliminate cancer as a cause of human suffering and death. The Center conducts research of the highest standards to improve prevention and treatment of cancer and related diseases. Internationally recognized for its scientific work, the Hutchinson Center employs more than 2,500 people and is headed by Lee Hartwell, Ph.D., a Nobel laureate, who is president and director. Advances at the Center in the areas of cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment are coupled with progress in understanding the mechanisms of cancer development, and the cellular and molecular biology common to all organisms.
The Hutchinson Center is composed of four scientific divisions: Basic Sciences, Clinical Research, Human Biology, and Public Health Sciences. Scientists in the Basic Sciences Division conduct fundamental research to unravel the mystery of the human cell, processes in the life of normal cells and changes in these processes that cause cancer and other diseases. Scientists in the Clinical Research Division, working in laboratories and with patients in a research setting, develop and test new ways to diagnose and treat cancer. Scientists from many different disciplines in the Human Biology Division share and integrate their findings to foster the development of new approaches to cancer understanding, prevention, and treatment. Scientists in the Public Health Sciences Division focus on understanding epidemiology of cancer, its distribution, and the roles of lifestyle and the environment in cancer development. Among their goals is the prevention of cancer. The Divisions interact regularly through seminars, forums, and an annual campus-wide information exchange.
The Center is deeply committed to diversity. It has established an Affirmative Action Program that requires the support and participation of all managers and supervisors. Affirmative Action ensures that minority and women faculty members are considered during faculty recruitment. Outreach to diverse individuals is accomplished in a number of ways. These include the Science Education Program (SEP) which offers a two week summer session to train local high school science teachers from a variety of ethnic groups around the State of Washington to teach science in schools.
Students belonging to underrepresented and minority groups are recruited and supported under the Continuing Umbrella for Research Experience (CURE) grant from the National Institutes of Health. As part of this program, minority high school, undergraduate, and graduate students, as well as diverse junior faculty have been funded to participate in federally funded research grants. An NCI training grant offers summer employment for disadvantaged high school students in the basic sciences.
The FHCRC faculty and staff recently formed an institution-wide Diversity Committee to enhance the recruitment of members from disadvantaged groups. The committee is currently identifying barriers to recruitment and retention of underrepresented and diverse individuals. Workshops have been held with representatives from NIH, the Office of Minority Affairs, and other diverse research groups to identify ways to establish systems for recruiting and retaining faculty, staff, and students from underrepresented groups.
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