Photos by Barbie Hull
Founder and director of the Cancer Vaccine Institute at UW Medicine (CVI), Dr. Nora Disis is the inaugural recipient of the Wayne Kuni Award for Innovation in Cancer Research.
Presented by the Kuni Foundation in honor of its founder, Wayne Kuni, who battled multiple forms of cancer during his lifetime, the $1 million award recognizes transformative, disruptive contributions to the field of cancer research. With her work and advances in cancer vaccines, Dr. Disis is defining the next frontier of immunology and cancer research, revolutionizing how cancer is treated and prevented, and setting the bar for the foundation’s future awardees.
The award ceremony took place recently on the 75th floor of the Columbia Tower Club, the tallest building in Washington state. The reception began with opening remarks by Dr. Tim Dellit, CEO of UW Medicine, who introduced Dr. Disis as one of the pioneering investigators involved in discovering the tumor-specific marker HER-2/neu, which many cancer drugs target today, and the recipient of the 2024 UW Medicine Inventor of the Year Award.
“An expert in breast and ovarian cancer immunology, she has been a transformative force in the field of cancer research and yet has done so with incredible humility,” Dr. Dellit said.
But “being a pioneer has not always been an easy path,” Dr. Dellit added. He spoke to the hardships Dr. Disis encountered early in her career as a woman in a male-dominated field at a time when the concept of cancer immunology was met with widespread skepticism.
“Undeterred and with a relentless focus on improving options for patients with cancer,” Dr. Dellit said, “[Dr. Disis] continued to follow the science and established a research group dedicated to developing vaccines that could train the immune system to eliminate and prevent cancer and its recurrence.”
Dr. Dellit invited to the stage CVI faculty and mentee of Dr. Disis: Dr. John Liao, an Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Dr. Liao spoke to Dr. Disis’ dedication to research and mentorship, illustrating that she does not only look at the next step ahead but at the whole staircase. She is a supporter of young scientists, Dr. Liao added, and the next generation will include the many early-career researchers she’s mentored, continuing her legacy.
The evening also featured a heartfelt address by Jamie Crase, who participated in a CVI clinical trial led by Dr. Disis in 2012 after being diagnosed with stage four ovarian cancer. Jamie recalled the ease and care of the process, and she has been a patient advocate on the CVI’s Patient Advisory Council since 2020.
“Enrolling in a clinical trial can be scary, but the team that surrounds Dr. Disis is second to none,” Crase said. “It’s incredible to realize that I am standing here with you, just having celebrated my 52nd birthday, 17 years since my initial diagnosis. This was all made possible in part by the amazing team of doctors and scientists like Dr. Disis who continue to push forward advancements in cancer research and clinical care.”
Greg Goodwin, Chair of the Kuni Foundation Board of Directors, then presented the Foundation’s very first Wayne Kuni Award for Innovation in Cancer Research.
“Wayne’s intentions live on through people like [Dr. Disis] and her incredible work,” Goodwin said. “As his former business partner and as his friend, it’s my honor to share his story.”
Wayne Kuni, the award's namesake, was a visionary entrepreneur and philanthropist. After a successful career with General Motors and later as a Cadillac dealer in Beaverton, Oregon, Wayne became a respected community leader in the Pacific Northwest. Following his diagnosis of lung cancer in 2002, Wayne began the process of transferring his shares in the company to a charitable trust, now known as the Kuni Foundation, before passing in 2006.
“[Dr. Disis], like Wayne, has a unique ability to create a formula for success based on far more than the bottom line,” Goodwin said. “Her commitment to innovation centers people and community, and we need that now more than ever… the world needs more people like [Dr. Disis], and her approach and impact are what inspired us to make this $1 million award to her and the Cancer Vaccine Institute in Wayne’s honor.”
Members of the CVI team (bottom) and esteemed donors, including In Concert for Cancer (top left) and Valley Girls & Guys (top right), attend in support of Dr. Nora Disis.
The Kuni Foundation is known for their dedication to the people and new ideas that drive cancer research toward a cure. Since 2020, the Foundation has awarded more than $22 million to researchers and physicians across UW Medicine and Fred Hutch Cancer Center. The Kuni Foundation's substantial commitment specifically to the CVI has been vital to advancing our mission to create vaccines and immunotherapies that ignite the immune system to end cancer.
We extend our deepest gratitude to the Kuni Foundation for their transformative support and for recognizing Dr. Disis as a reflection of Wayne Kuni’s inspiring mentorship, entrepreneurial spirit, and fearless character.