On behalf of its sponsored project, Andy Hill CARE Fund, Evergreen Social Impact is soliciting proposals for graphic design services to produce two sequential projects: (1) an Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2025 and (2) the CARE Fund Strategic Plan. Request for Proposals (RFP) Issued: June 23, 2025 Proposals Due: The proposal must be received via email by the RFP Coordinator no later than 4:00 p.m. Pacific Time, on July 14, 2025. Estimated Term: The estimated term of this subcontract will be July 23, 2025 – January 31, 2026, with the option to extend or renew thereafter upon mutual agreement of both parties. Proposal Not to Exceed: $24,000 (excluding printing costs) RFP Coordinator: Joseph Sparacio, Deputy Director, Andy Hill CARE Fund RFP Coordinator’s Email: joseph@wacarefund.org

On May 22, 2025, CARE Fund hosted its CARE Fund Grantee Convening. The evening brought together over 100 attendees for a unique opportunity to encourage collaboration with colleagues and other leaders in cancer research and share insights to foster learning, innovation, and partnership. CARE Fund was honored to recognize Dr. Fred Appelbaum and Dr. David Byrd as Honorary Co-Chairs for this year’s convening. Thank you to the evening’s speakers: Maura Little, CARE Board Vice Chair; Dr. Fred Appelbaum, inaugural CARE Board Chair; and Dr. Yaw Nyame, a CARE Fund Distinguished Researchers and Population Health Grantee, for their thoughtful and inspiring remarks. Thank you to everyone who joined us at this year’s Grantee Convening, celebrating CARE Fund’s 10-year anniversary. We look forward to future gatherings.

The CARE Board is pleased to announce its Implementation and Outcomes Research Cycle 2 funding opportunity is now open and is scheduled to close on Wednesday, August 6, 2025, 4:00 p.m. (PT). Award decisions are anticipated to be made in March 2026. This grant opportunity seeks to support innovative and meritorious cancer researchers, at all levels, and teams seeking to translate promising research and scientific discoveries into effective interventions, tools, devices, technologies, or therapeutics related to cancer. This funding opportunity seeks to support the implementation or translation of innovative ideas in cancer research that significantly advances one or more of the following: Improve cancer prevention and early detection (e.g., novel screening methods, risk reduction strategies); Improve cancer diagnosis and treatment (e.g., implementation of more precise diagnostics, effective therapies, personalized medicine approaches); or Improve patient outcomes and quality of life (e.g., treatment efficacy, including reduced side effects, enhance patient well-being).  

This grant opportunity aims to support innovative investigators from eligible organizations 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. CARE Fund congratulates the inaugural grantees in this category, to support implementation, translational, and outcomes research that advance the application of scientific discoveries and technologies or informs how the application of scientific discoveries impact patients and populations. A total of 10 grantees are awarded up to $10,256,298 as follows: Dotquant LLC (Principal Investigator: Hongyan Liu, PhD) A Three-in-One HER Family Targeted RNA Drug for Breast Cancer Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center (Principal Investigator: Heather Greenlee, ND, PhD, MPH; Amanda Fretts, PhD, MPH) Partnering with Washington State Tribal Communities to Develop Culturally-Tailored Nutrition Resources and Reduce Cancer Health Disparities Seattle Children’s Research Institute (Principal Investigator: Jim Olson, MD, PhD) Converting an Immunotherapy Resistance Mechanism into a Vulnerability Using Slow-Release Local Immunotherapy Seattle Children’s Research Institute (Principal Investigator: Jonathan Tang, PhD) Advanced Platform for Developing Conditionally Stable Sensors and Effectors for Cancer Applications Talus Bioscience, Inc. (Principal Investigator: Alex Federation, PhD) Development of a Direct Inhibitor of the Brachyury Transcription Factor for Chordoma and Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer University of Washington (Principal Investigator: Xiaohu Gao, PhD) RNA Therapeutics: Bridging the Gap Between Research and Translation University of Washington (Principal Investigator: Peggy Hannon, PhD, MPH) Workplace Cancer Prevention and Screening: Scaling Up Connect to Wellness for Employees in Low-Wage Industries Across Washington State University of Washington (Principal Investigator: Paul Nghiem, MD, PhD) Advancing Merkel Cell Carcinoma Management: Improved Recurrence Detection and New Approaches for Immunotherapy-Refractory Disease University of Washington (Principal Investigator: Sarah Psutka, MD, MSc; Cindy Lin, MD, FACSM, FAAPMR) Phase II Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial evaluating a Scalable, Personalized Home-Based Activity Intervention with ExerciseRx in Survivors with Nonmuscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer: The EMPOWER Trial Wayfinder Biosciences, Inc. (Principal Investigator: David Sparkman-Yager, PhD) Developing Novel Small Molecule Therapeutics for MYC-Driven Cancers Using Wayfinder Biosciences’ Proprietary RNA-Drugging Platform  

In partnership with the Rivkin Center for Ovarian Cancer Research, CARE Fund’s Board of Directors is pleased to announce the 2025 Rivkin Center/CARE Fund Awards recipients. The Rivkin Center/CARE Fund Awards are a first-of-its-kind public-private partnership to invest $1M in ovarian cancer research in Washington. The 2025 Rivkin Center/CARE Fund awardees are described below: Mary L. “Nora” Disis, MD, University of Washington, a vaccine to prevent ovarian cancer metastatic spread Megan Shen, PhD, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, adaptation of Helping Ovarian Cancer Patients Cope (HOPE) for Clinician Burnout These awards exemplify the shared dedication of CARE Fund and the Rivkin Center to invest in research that has the potential to significantly enhance understanding, prevention, detection, and treatment of ovarian cancer. “Both the Rivkin Center and CARE Fund remain committed to advancing cancer research. By working together to fund ovarian cancer studies in Washington State, we are continuing to build on that legacy. The discoveries made through this partnership will have a lasting impact on families, friends, and communities,” said Dr. Elizabeth Lawlor, Chair of the CARE Board of Directors. “Through our partnership with the CARE Fund and with the help of donors committed to scientific research, we have made an unprecedented investment in ovarian cancer research in Washington State to help get the answers we need to save more lives,” said Rivkin Center CEO, Molly O’Connor. “We’re incredibly fortunate to have such innovative leaders in ovarian cancer research right here in our state.” On April 1, 2025, the Rivkin Center will combine with the Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance (OCRA), a national grantmaker investing in ovarian and gynecologic cancer research. The CARE Board looks forward to future opportunities for collaboration that will positively impact cancer research and improve patient outcomes for all Washingtonians.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced a 15% cap on indirect cost rate for all research grants on February 7, 2025. This cap applies to all new and existing grants starting February 10, 2025. Indirect costs cover institutional expenses such as facility maintenance, equipment, and administrative support essential to conducting research. As of this posting on February 13, 2025 a federal judge issued a temporary restraining order barring the administration from imposing the policy in response to two separate lawsuits. A hearing is scheduled for both cases February 21, 2025. The Andy Hill CARE Fund seeks input from researchers, partners, patient advocates, and the community to inform the CARE Board of Directors about the potential impact on cancer research and patient care in Washington State. If the recent NIH policy change has affected your work, we encourage you to share your experiences and concerns with us using the contact form on our website. If you have taken steps in response to the new policy, please share that as well. Please include any information about potential impacts of the policy change on cancer disparities in your community. Your feedback to CARE Fund by February 28, 2025 through our contact form is appreciated. Your response may be submitted anonymously. Please forward this to colleagues who you think may be interested in sharing their input.

The CARE Board is pleased to announce that its new Scientific Discoveries Research Request for Proposals (RFP) is now open and is scheduled to close on Wednesday, March 5, 2025 (4:00 p.m. PT). Award decisions are anticipated to be announced in August 2025. This grant opportunity seeks to support innovative and meritorious cancer researchers and teams pursuing scientific discoveries and breakthrough ideas in the fight against cancer. This opportunity will not only catalyze the next breakthroughs in cancer research but also may help bridge early discoveries and commercialization of therapeutics, devices, and tools to lessen the burden of cancer. Important information regarding this opportunity includes: The anticipated award range is $250,000 to $1.5 million per grant, inclusive of direct and indirect costs. The grant project period is up to two years with an expected start date no earlier than October 2025. A minimum one-to-one (1:1) non-state funding match to the requested grant funds is required and must be secured at the time of application submission. Grant payments will be made as reimbursement based on actual expenditures. Awards will be determined based on scientific merit as determined by third-party independent peer review. Eligible organizations include but are not limited to Washington State companies, higher education institutions, research institutions, local health jurisdictions, Tribal governments, Tribal entities, nonprofit institutions, and Urban Indian Organizations. Applicants must have substantial presence in Washington State. Organizations may submit up to five (5) applications for this funding opportunity, but a Principal Investigator may not submit more than one application. All grants will be made in accordance with the CARE Fund’s policies and applicable laws, including the CARE Fund statute (Chapter 43.348 Revised Code of Washington).

The CARE Board is excited to announce a second year of public-private collaborative funding with the Rivkin Center to promote ovarian cancer research in Washington, the Rivkin Center/CARE Fund Awards. Details on the Rivkin Center/CARE Fund Awards are as follows: Awards are a maximum of $200,000 over 2 years Includes up to 30% in indirect costs Eligibility: Washington State ovarian cancer researchers at the assistant, associate, or full professor level (or equivalent) Application Deadline: December 2, 2024 at 5pm EST Learn more about award details, eligibility, and application requirements here. All application materials should be submitted through proposalCENTRAL by December 2, 2024. Funding begins on April 1, 2025. Because the Rivkin Center demonstrates a 1:1 nonstate match to CARE Fund’s investment, grant applicants are not required to demonstrate nonstate matching funds. September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month! Last year’s Rivkin Center/CARE Fund awardees are profiled

The CARE Board is pleased to announce its new Implementation & Outcomes Research Request for Proposals (RFP) is now open. The application deadline is Tuesday, August 13, 2024 (5:00 p.m. PT). Award decisions are anticipated in February 2025. The intent of this grant opportunity is to support innovative investigators who translate promising research and scientific discoveries into the development of tools, devices, technologies, therapeutics, or interventions related to cancer. The intent is also to support those evaluating the outcomes of implementing these interventions, that have the potential to address cancer care across the implementation/translational cancer continuum that will ultimately advance cancer care, lessen the burden of cancer, and improve health outcomes. Projects that include services including quantifiable outcomes data suitable for efficacy research are eligible. Important information regarding this opportunity: The anticipated award range is $250,000 to $1.5 million per grant, inclusive of direct and indirect costs. The grant project period is up to 2 years with an expected start date no earlier than April 2025. A one-to-one (1:1) non-state funding match to the requested grant funds is required and must be secured at the time of application submission. Grant payments will be made as reimbursement based on actual expenditures. Awards will be determined based on scientific merit as determined by third-party independent peer review. Eligible organizations include but are not limited to Washington State companies, higher education institutions, research institutions, local health jurisdictions, Tribal governments, Tribal entities, nonprofit institutions, and Urban Indian Organizations. Applicants must have substantial presence in Washington State. Organizations may submit up to five (5) applications for this funding opportunity, but a Principal Investigator may not submit more than one application. All grants will be made in accordance with the CARE Fund’s policies and applicable laws, including the CARE Fund statute (Chapter 43.348 Revised Code of Washington). The complete Implementation and Outcomes Research RFP, including application guidance, is available on the CARE Fund website. A separate, subsequent grant opportunity for FY25 is anticipated to be released in January 2025. Please check CARE Fund’s website and LinkedIn page for the latest news.

CARE Fund, in partnership with the Rivkin Center, is pleased to announce the 2024 recipients of the new Rivkin Center/CARE Fund Awards. This first-of-its-kind public-private partnership will invest $1M in ovarian cancer research in Washington state over the next two years. The 2024 Rivkin Center/CARE Fund awardees are: Dr. Holly Harris, MPH, ScD, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Identifying ovarian cancer risk factors among women with endometriosis Dr. Elizabeth Swisher, MD, University of Washington, Overcoming barriers to genetic testing for hereditary ovarian cancer risk, a key step toward prevention These awards represent the shared commitment of CARE Fund and the Rivkin Center to invest in research that has the potential to dramatically improve understanding, prevention, detection and treatment of ovarian cancer. “Through our partnership with the CARE Fund, we are making an unprecedented investment in ovarian cancer research in Washington state to help get the answers we need to save more lives,” said Rivkin Center CEO Molly O’Connor. “We’re incredibly fortunate to have such committed leaders in ovarian cancer research right here in our state.” “Both the Rivkin Center and Andy Hill CARE Fund have a strong record of promoting cancer research. With the collaboration of these two organizations to invest in cancer research in Washington state, we are making history. We look forward to the results, which will improve the health of family members, friends, neighbors and communities,” said David R. Byrd, MD, Chair of the CARE Fund Board. Each awardee will receive $200,000 over two years. The partnership anticipates awarding up to $600,000 in new grants in 2025.

The Andy Hill CARE Board of Directors is proud to present its Strategic Plan for the period July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2026. This Strategic Plan represents the work of many stakeholders, including past and current grantees, government partners, private sector life science stakeholders, patient advocates, clinicians, and cancer researchers. The Strategic Plan represents the CARE Board’s best thinking about how to effectively advance the CARE Fund’s statutory purpose: to make grants for the promotion of cancer research in Washington. Washington State’s sustained investment in cancer research, prevention, and care is critical to reducing long-term health costs, saving lives, and relieving pain and suffering. CARE Fund is grateful to the External Advisory Committee, appointed in 2023 and made up of independent, nationally recognized experts in the scientific, clinical, ethical, commercial, and regulatory aspects of cancer research, prevention, and care to advise the endowment during the development and review of its strategic plans for cancer research.

CARE Fund is proud to present its Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2023, showcasing the groundbreaking achievements made in the last year. This report highlights grantees’ funded research and future CARE Fund program directions, all aimed at benefiting our state and our communities. With a record-setting 45 awards, including 12 first-time awardees, CARE Fund continues to increase investment in innovative cancer research in Washington state. Since CARE Fund’s inception, the CARE Board has invested over $58 million in cancer research grants in Washington, including: 17 Distinguished Researchers grants to attract world-class research scientists. 16 Life Science Start-up and Development grants to support early-stage companies and innovation. 9 grants to address emergent issues regarding cancer and public health.

The Andy Hill CARE Fund will be included for the first time in the King County Employee Giving Campaign beginning October 2, 2023. King County employees have an opportunity to join with the CARE Fund to promote cancer research in Washington through workplace giving. For those who wish to make a memorial or tribute gift to honor or remember a loved one, friend, or colleague, we will work with you to inform those you would like notified of your gift in a way that is meaningful to you and to them. CARE Fund will double your impact on cancer research, as your gifts will be matched 1:1 with funds from the State’s public investment for Andy Hill CARE Fund’s cancer research grants. To make a gift through the King County Employee Giving Campaign, use CARE Fund’s Charitable ID number: 10151. Those who are not in the campaign can make gifts directly to CARE Fund. Thank you for considering the Andy Hill CARE Fund in your charitable giving.

September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month! The CARE Fund Board of Directors is proud to announce an exciting new partnership, the Rivkin Center/CARE Fund Award. The Rivkin Center and the Andy Hill Cancer Research Endowment (CARE) Fund will jointly invest $1M in ovarian cancer research in Washington state, creating a pioneering public-private partnership. Because state and private investments are matched dollar for dollar, applicants are not required to provide a separate match. The partnership will create a replicable model for other states. The Rivkin Center/CARE Fund Award opportunity is now open. Eligibility is limited to Washington state investigators only. Applications must be submitted by December 1, 2023, at 5 p.m. EST. Learn more about the application process, eligibility, and award details here. Currently, there is no effective screening test to catch ovarian cancer in its earliest, most treatable and most survivable stages. With “silent symptoms” that can be easily missed, or mistaken, ovarian cancer often goes undetected until it has reached an advanced stage. That is why about 80 percent of women with ovarian cancer are diagnosed at advanced stages when chances of cure are poor. Ovarian cancer remains the deadliest gynecological cancer. The Rivkin Center is a Washington nonprofit organization with an accomplished history of funding promising research in ovarian cancer. CARE Fund looks forward to future partnerships to promote cancer research and to the resulting improvements in health and wellness for Washington’s communities. Have an application inquiry? Please contact Dr. Jackie Lang at jackie.lang@rivkin.org.

THIS OPPORTUNITY IS CLOSED. On behalf of its sponsored project, the Andy Hill Cancer Research Endowment (CARE) Fund, Evergreen Social Impact is soliciting proposals from those qualified and interested to: Facilitate and conduct the scientific and technical evaluation of grant proposals for cancer research and recommend grants to be made by CARE Fund; and Advise the CARE Fund on scientific and other matters in furtherance of grantmaking to support and promote cancer research in Washington State. The selected contractor will work in partnership with CARE Fund staff to provide scientific peer review services and consultations to CARE Fund to result in the objective, independent, scientific peer review of grant proposal applications to the CARE Fund. The results of the peer review will be used by CARE Fund to make grant award decisions. The anticipated duration of the contract is through June 30, 2025. Proposals should be submitted via email, no later than 4:00 PM (PT), October 11, 2023 with “Scientific Peer Review Services RFP” in the subject line, to Peter Choi at peter@wacarefund.org. Questions regarding this RFP may also be addressed to this same email address. Full RFP for download.

The CARE Fund Board of Directors is proud to continue a record-breaking year of investments in cancer research, announcing over $2 million in a new funding category, Breakthrough Seed Funding. The purpose of the Breakthrough Seed Funding grant is to encourage and support life science companies, entrepreneurs, innovators, and researchers who seek to explore and develop innovative ideas and strategies to substantially advance cancer research and care from etiology to survivorship. These projects have the potential for high impact breakthroughs in cancer research and care that will extend understanding or uncover new pathways beyond the span of the project. The CARE Fund congratulates the inaugural grantees in this category, to support early-stage research projects that are pursuing promising areas of cancer research. Institute for Systems Biology (Principal Investigator: Wei Wei, PhD) Unraveling Tumor-Immune Microenvironment by a Novel Spatial Assay Registering Cellular Metabolic Functions with Underlying Omic Profiles at Single-Cell Resolution Phase Genomics, Inc. (Principal Investigator: Stephen Eacker, PhD) An AI-based Platform Cytogenomic Risk Assessment in Colorectal Carcinoma Seattle Children’s Research Institute (Principal Investigator: Shannon Oda, PhD) Developing Adoptive Cell Therapy Engineering Strategies to Catalyze and Diversify Endogenous Antitumor Immune Responses University of Washington (Principal Investigators: Christopher Blosser, MD; Shreeram Akilesh, MD, PhD) Role of Complement C3 in Kidney Cancer University of Washington (Principal Investigator: Jennifer Nemhauser, PhD) A Synthetic Genetic Platform to Deliver Higher Precision Care for Recurrent or Refractory Cancers with Wnt Pathway Activation University of Washington (Principal Investigator: Wesley Van Voorhis, MD, PhD): Selective Glycolysis Inhibitors (SGIs): Enabling Clinical Development of Novel Small Molecules for the Treatment of Advanced Prostate Cancer

In 2022 the Washington State legislature made a commitment to improving the lives of Washingtonians through an historic investment in cancer research through the CARE Fund. The CARE Board solicited community feedback through a Request For Information. Four Requests for Proposals (RFPs) were opened this cycle ranging from cancer research projects aiming to address cancer disparities, to strengthening the state’s cancer research infrastructure, and making early investments in life science start-up companies. The four RFPs generated greater response than any in the CARE Fund’s history, totaling 43 proposals with over $42 million in requests. The state’s appropriation to the CARE Fund resulted in grants for cancer research across the state, east and west of the Cascades. Today the CARE Board is proud to announce 32 grants totaling $30,683,000 million, to advance cancer research in Washington. Awardees are listed in the links below: To support cancer research projects that aim to address cancer disparities for population groups, two awards in Population Health. To support projects that enhance clinical trial site capacity or infrastructure to conduct cancer clinical trials or address patients’ barriers to participation, six awards in Inclusion and Diversity in Clinical Trials. To bolster Washington State’s cancer research ecosystem by supporting efforts to plan, develop, or support shared resources that will advance cancer research in Washington State, eight awards in Shared Resources and Infrastructure. To support early-stage companies and innovative researchers to translate promising research into the development of tools, devices, or therapeutics related to cancer, 16 awards in Life Science Start-up and Development. The CARE Fund Board of Directors is grateful to the legislature and the Governor for making these funds available, to the community for your input and direction, and the CARE Fund staff for their work in implementing the opportunities. In the coming weeks, we will also announce awards in our first cycle of Breakthrough Seed Funding, to support early-stage research projects that are pursuing promising areas of cancer research. We look forward to the results of this investment in cancer research to improve the quality of life for the people of Washington.

We need your help to improve our outreach across the cancer research community by taking a brief survey. Please provide your response by May 26, 2023. Thank you.

Distinguished Researchers grants bolster cancer research in Washington State by providing matching funds to recruit best-in-class talent from around the globe, and support newly recruited researchers to lead advances in cancer research. Top scientists move the research economy forward, creating laboratories and other jobs, raising awareness of cancer research, and bringing additional research funding into the state. The Distinguished Researchers Program will match, dollar for dollar, commitments by Washington research companies, organizations, universities, and research institutions, up to $500,000 per researcher, to add value to recruitment/start-up packages that bring early-career and established cancer researchers to Washington. The CARE Fund Board of Directors is pleased to announce three Distinguished Researchers grant awards to the following: Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center Christina Termini, MM, PhD Seattle Children’s Research Institute Jay Sarthy, MD, PhD Seattle Children’s Research Institute Molly Taylor MD, MS, MS Click here to learn more about the Distinguished Researchers awardees. Originally sparked by the need to nimbly respond to the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on cancer care, Emergent Issues in Public Health grants provide up to $250,000 per award to support research that aims to address an emergent issue regarding cancer and public health. Research may relate to the next phase of COVID-19 and cancer research, or other cancer research related to an emergent public health issue. The CARE Fund Board of Directors is pleased to announce an Emergent Issues in Public Health grant to: University of Washington Principal Investigator: Linda Ko, MPH, PhD Building Capacity of Bilingual and Bicultural Community Health Workers to Implement Evidence-based Cancer Prevention and Control Interventions to Promote Health Equity The CARE Fund applauds these awardees for their important work to advance cancer research to improve the quality of life for the people of Washington. Click here to learn more about the project that will be supported by the Emergent Issues in Public Health grant.

On behalf of its sponsored project, the Andy Hill Cancer Research Endowment (CARE) Fund, Evergreen Social Impact is soliciting proposals for a consultant to work in partnership with staff to conduct an awareness study for its sponsored project, the Andy Hill Cancer Research Endowment (CARE) Fund, to result in analysis and recommendations to raise awareness of the CARE Fund in order to expand the applicant pool and to increase projects that address disparities. Proposals should be submitted via email, no later than February 28, with “Awareness Assessment” in the subject line, to Joseph Sparacio at joseph@wacarefund.org. Questions regarding this RFP may also be addressed to this same email address. Full RFP here.

The CARE Fund Board of Directors is pleased to announce three new Population Health grant awardees. Awardee descriptions can be found on the Population Health Grant Awardees page.

The CARE Fund is pleased to announce four funding opportunities. Each Request for Proposal, linked below, requires a letter of intent no later than October 27, 2022 to be considered for an invitation to submit a full application. Of special note, there is no match requirement for these opportunities. Population Health Inclusion and Diversity in Clinical Trials Life Science Start-Up and Development Shared Resources and Infrastructure

In July of this year, the CARE Fund issued five Requests For Information to gather stakeholder input on cancer research within Washington State. We are pleased to share the summary of responses and to extend our sincere thanks to each respondent for their thoughtful input.  

From July 13, 2022 to August 15, 2022 Andy Hill Cancer Research Endowment (CARE) Fund sought stakeholder input in the following areas of cancer research within Washington State: Enhancing Life Science Start-ups and companies Supporting Cancer Disparities Research Increase Participation and Improve Inclusion and Diversity in Cancer Clinical Trials Enhance Infrastructure and Resources in Support of Cancer Research Establishing Statewide Data and Specimen Acquisition  

On behalf of its sponsored project, the Andy Hill Cancer Research Endowment (CARE) Fund, Evergreen Social Impact is soliciting proposals for a Principal Investigator, Partnership Development Consultant, and Subject Matter Expert to work in collaboration with each other and with CARE Fund leadership, to develop and produce a report including recommendations to King County decision makers to address health disparities in the population of King County created or exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic, and to enhance access. We will prioritize candidates with one or more of the following: Experience in the report subject matter; existing administrative and legislative relationships; effective communication skills; a clear understanding of the legislative and budgetary process; and sound knowledge of public health, health equity, and/or life sciences sector stakeholders. These RFPs will close on July 29. This contract will begin as soon as feasible after August 1, 2022 and will continue until on or about December 31, 2022 (or as extended). For a complete description select any or all of the following PDFs: RFP: Principal Investigator RFP: Partnership Development Consultant RFP: Subject Matter Expert  

The Andy Hill Cancer Research Endowment (CARE) Fund is thrilled to announce that Washington State has made, in addition to existing funding levels, a special investment of $30 million in cancer research, to be granted by the CARE Fund. Cancer has been the leading cause of death in the state since 2004, and each year approximately 42,000 Washingtonians are diagnosed with cancer. The COVID-19 pandemic is expected to exacerbate the state’s cancer death rate due to the pandemic’s effect on patients and survivors suffering from delayed screening and prevention efforts and limiting diagnosis and treatment services. In recognition of this great need, as well as our existing infrastructure of world-class cancer research and care, Washington State has made a special $30 million appropriation to the CARE Fund in the 2022 supplemental budget. In the words of the Senate bill that put forth this investment, “Action to promote cancer research and prevention to improve the quality of life of the people of Washington is consistent with this fundamental public purpose. It is the purpose of this act to provide additional sustained investment in cancer research at the Andy Hill CARE fund to make the program more robust. Increased investment in research is critical to saving lives and reducing the pain and suffering caused by cancer.” Our board and staff are hard at work developing plans to invest these funds to advance cancer research projects in our state with the greatest potential to improve health outcomes, eliminate disparities and build lasting infrastructure. We look forward to sharing more information in the coming weeks as these plans are developed into RFPs. To receive updates on these and other opportunities, scroll to the bottom of this page to sign up for our newsletter.

A united effort boosts research and new cancer treatment in Washington and beyond The Board of Directors of the Andy Hill Cancer Endowment (CARE) Fund applauds Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and Seattle Cancer Care Alliance on their restructure, launched on April 1, 2022. The merger of the institutional leaders in cancer research and treatment will be a single, independent, not-for-profit, called Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center. The united organization aims to bring scientific advances to patients faster, and to deepen longstanding ties with area-based UW Medicine. As the stewards of public funds to advance cancer research, prevention and treatment for Washington state, the Board of Directors of the Andy Hill CARE Fund affirm this merger, and its promise to promote the health of Washington residents.

Mar 2, 2022 Population Health Grant (Cycle 2) Is Now Open; Letters of Intent Due April 6, 2022 The Population Health Program will provide up to $500,000 per award (up to $250,000 per year) to organizations in Washington State to support cancer research projects that aim to: Improve health outcomes and cancer care, including equitable access to the standard of care, for populations in Washington State, especially among populations for which cancer disparities are most prevalent and/or persistent; Contribute to the understanding of how biological, behavioral, environmental, social, and structural factors affect cancer-related health, especially among populations for which cancer disparities are most prevalent and/or persistent; or Translate results or current knowledge into innovative interventions to improve the health of populations and eliminate cancer disparities. Applicants are highly encouraged to submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) prior to the deadline (Wednesday, April 6, 2022), as they will be reviewed on a rolling basis. The full online application will be available to applicants when the LOI is approved. Prospective applicants may also download and review the full application prompts and questions from the program page and begin preparing the full proposal prior to LOI submission. Full grant applications must be received by Friday, May 13, 2022.

Governor Inslee announced the appointment of Karin Rodland, PhD to serve on the Board of Directors of the Andy Hill CARE Fund. Dr. Rodland joined the Biological Sciences Division at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) in October 2001. PNNL’s cancer biology research is an example of the world-class cancer research and care centers for children and adults in Washington state, where researchers and clinicians are on the leading edge of developing and applying new techniques for cancer prevention and care. As Chief Scientist for Biomedical Research, Dr. Rodland has pioneered new methods for the application of mass spectrometry, proteomics, and systems biology to biomedical research, especially cancer biomarkers for early detection. She holds a joint appointment at Oregon Health Sciences University and was the founding co-director of the OHSU-PNNL Precision Medicine Innovation CoLaboratory. She has received many accolades for her work, including a distinguished achievement in proteomics award from the Human Proteome Organization and the PNNL Lab Director’s Award for Lifetime Achievement in Science and Technology. A full list of the CARE Fund Board of Directors can be found here.

The Fred Hutch/University of Washington Cancer Consortium is now serving the entire Evergreen state. Starting Jan. 1, the Cancer Consortium’s catchment area grew to include the entire state of Washington, an addition of 26 counties, 2.3 million people, including several Indigenous tribes. Scientists within the National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center will now, in addition to their many national and international research collaborations, begin to expand their regional research, engagement and outreach to include all residents of the state. The Office of Community Outreach & Engagement (OCOE) is currently conducting a needs assessment and stakeholder interviews for the additional 26 counties. It is also conducting a population-based health care survey, funded by the Andy Hill CARE Fund, to learn more about the current health landscape across the state. Visit here to learn more.

The Andy Hill CARE Fund Board of Directors is pleased to announce four awards of up to $500,000 each for the Distinguished Researchers Grant Program Cycle 5 to the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and the University of Washington. Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center (Burcu Darst) Identification and Clinical Utility of Genetic Risk Factors Contributing to Prostate Cancer Risk and Health Disparities Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center (Vida Henderson) Improving Breast Cancer Disparities Among Women of Color Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center (Megan Shen) Improving Engagement in Advance Care Planning and Quality End-of-Life Care Among Underserved Cancer Patient Populations University of Washington (Devin Schweppe) Spatiotemporal Mapping of Diverse Cellular Responses to Lung Cancer Therapeutics Visit the Andy Hill CARE Fund’s Distinguished Researchers Grant Awardees page to learn more.  

The Andy Hill CARE Fund is pleased to share its current Strategic Plan, for the period beginning July 1, 2021 and ending June 30, 2023. The Strategic Plan was developed by the CARE Fund Board of Directors after evaluation and advice from a five-member external advisory committee made up of independent, nationally recognized experts in the scientific, clinical, ethical, commercial, and regulatory aspects of cancer research, prevention, and care. View the full Strategic Plan here.

The Andy Hill CARE Fund is pleased to share its annual report to the public highlighting its impact, including grants awarded, grant-funded work in progress, research accomplishments, prevention, and care activities, and future program directions with respect to cancer research, prevention, and care. The FY 2021 Annual Report covers the period from July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021. View the full Annual Report here.

Researchers at the Washington State University Sleep and Performance Research Center will spend the next two years investigating disruptions to the cellular clock mechanisms in night shift workers thanks to nearly $360,000 in grants. The goal is to find ways to prevent and mitigate the increased cancer risk in people working nonstandard hours, who account for more than 15% of the U.S. workforce. Funded by the Andy Hill Cancer Research Endowment (CARE) Fund for $197,370 and matched by the Health Sciences & Services Authority of Spokane County (HSSA) for $162,130, the research will build on the center’s previous published study examining the impact of a night shift work schedule on cancer risk. Read more about the work being done here.

The CARE Fund is reissuing its Request for Proposals (RFP) for the Distinguished Researchers Program Cycle 5. No awards were granted for the initial cycle (announced 9/30/20) of the program. The Distinguished Researchers Program aims to bolster cancer research in Washington by providing matching funds (up to $500,000 per award) to Washington institutions and companies to recruit best-in-class talent to Washington State and support newly recruited researchers to lead advances in addressing disparities in cancer care access and outcomes. Institutions can submit applications for the recruitment of established investigators or early career investigators. The complete RFP can be found on the Distinguished Researchers Program page. The letter of intent is due July 21, 2021, 5:00 p.m. (PT). Upon approval of the LOI, applicants will be invited to submit a full application. The application closes on September 8, 2021, 5:00 p.m. (PT).

The CARE Fund Board of Directors is pleased to announce that two Population Health grants of up to $200,000 each are awarded to Washington State University and the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. These Population Health research projects aim to contribute to the understanding of how biological, behavioral, environmental, social, and structural factors affect cancer-related health, especially among populations for which cancer disparities are most prevalent. Washington State University (Principal Investigator: Brieann Satterfield, PhD) Night Shift Work as a Carcinogen: Molecular Mechanisms, Biomarkers, and Therapeutic Targets Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center (Principal Investigator: Kikkeri Naresh, MD) Understanding the Contribution of the Immune Tumor Microenvironment to the Observed Regional Disparities in Mortality Among Different Lymphoma Types in Washington State Click here to learn more about the Population Health Program’s awarded research projects.

The CARE Fund Board of Directors is pleased to announce three $100,000 COVID-19 Response grants were awarded to the following institutions to conduct research at the intersection of COVID-19 and cancer. Institute for Systems Biology (Principal Investigator: Wei Wei, PhD) Discerning the Dysfunctional Immune Response to SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Patients with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia University of Washington (Principal Investigator: Chaitra Ujjani, MD) Efficacy of the SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center (Principal Investigator: Garnet Anderson, PhD) Assessing COVID-19 Related Cancer Care Disparities Among An Aging Population: A Population-Based Study Click here to learn more about the current and past COVID-19 Response Program’s grantee research projects.

Check out the CARE Fund’s 2019-2020 Annual Report here. This report covers the period from July 1, 2019 to June 30, 2020.

The CARE Fund is pleased to announce the Population Health Program. The Population Health Program will provide up to $200,000 per award (up to $100,000 per year) to organizations in Washington State to support cancer research projects that aim to: Improve health outcomes and cancer care, including equitable access to the standard of care, for populations in Washington State, especially among populations for which cancer disparities are most prevalent; Contribute to the understanding of how biological, behavioral, environmental, social, and structural factors affect cancer-related health, especially among populations for which cancer disparities are most prevalent; or Translate results or current knowledge into innovative interventions to improve the health of populations and eliminate cancer disparities. The complete RFP can be found on the Population Health Program page on the CARE Fund website.  

Empire Health Foundation (EHF), the CARE Fund’s Program Administrator, is soliciting proposals from firms interested in conducting a performance audit of the CARE Fund. The performance audit will include an evaluation of the CARE Fund’s strategic plan, grant programs, and the program administrator. EHF will award one contract to provide the services described in the RFP. The complete RFP can be found on the Performance Audit Page on the website.  

The CARE Fund is pleased to announce two new grant opportunities available to Washington State organizations (e.g., companies, universities, research institutions, etc.), local health jurisdictions, tribal governments, tribal entities, and Urban Indian Organizations. The CARE Fund seeks to support research that focuses on the impact of COVID-19 on outcomes, research, risks, or well-being for cancer patients. The COVID-19 Response Grant Program will fund up to five awards, $100,000 per award, to support research projects at the intersection of COVID-19 and cancer health care. The complete RFP can be found on the COVID-19 Response Program page. The letter of intent is due on November 13, 2020. The application closes on Friday, December 4, 2020, 5:00 p.m. (PT). The Distinguished Researchers Program aims to bolster cancer research in Washington by providing matching funds (up to $500,000 per award) to Washington institutions and companies to recruit best-in-class talent to Washington State and support newly recruited researchers to lead advances in addressing disparities in cancer care access and outcomes. The complete RFP can be found on the Distinguished Researchers Program page. The letter of intent is due November 9, 2020. The application closes on Tuesday, December 8, 2020, 5:00 p.m. (PT).  

Five $100,000 grants were awarded to implement research at the intersection of COVID-19 and cancer. The CARE Fund is pleased to invest in their research at this critical time, and will continue to share the ways that this research will impact Washington residents, particularly cancer patients and survivors. Click here to learn more about the grantees’ research.

The CARE Fund Board of Directors is pleased to announce the award of a Distinguished Researchers Grant to the University of Washington. The $500,000 grant provides start-up funding for Dr. Yaw Nyame to support his research addressing the health system and biological mechanisms underlying health disparities in prostate cancer care, particularly for African-American men. For more information about Dr. Nyame’s research or information about previous awardees, please visit CARE’s grant awardees page.

The CARE Fund announces an RFP for research at the intersection of COVID-19 and cancer. The CARE Fund seeks to support research that can be immediately initiated and that focuses on the impact of COVID-19 on outcomes, research, risks, or well-being for cancer patients. Washington State organizations (e.g., companies, universities, research institutions, etc.), local health jurisdictions, tribal governments, and tribal entities are eligible to apply. Complete information about the RFP, including a simplified application and submission process are available on the COVID-19 Response Program page.  

The Andy Hill CARE Fund is pleased to share its Annual Report featuring the key start-up activities, immediate impacts, public-private partnership results, and CARE Fund grantee highlights. The report covers the period from July 1, 2018 to June 30, 2019 and also includes the Fund’s organizational strategies to guide the work for the next two years.  

On January 30, members of the CARE Fund Board, researchers, legislators and Department of Commerce representatives gathered in Olympia, WA to learn more about the CARE Fund and its support of cancer research in Washington State. Fred Appelbaum, CARE Fund Board Chair, highlighted the innovative research being done by the CARE Fund’s Breakthrough Research and Distinguished Researchers grantees. Molly Hill, wife of late state Senator Andy Hill, and Lisa Brown, the Director of Washington’s Department of Commerce shared examples of the impact that cancer research is making for individuals living with cancer.  

The Andy Hill Cancer Research Endowment (CARE) Fund requests applications for the Distinguished Researchers Program. The CARE Fund is accepting applications for the Distinguished Researchers Program through February 26, 2020. Please visit the Distinguished Researchers Program page for more information.

Informed by our early grantmaking and input from external stakeholders and experts, CARE’s 2019–2021 Strategic Plan establishes three strategic priority areas: Targeted Funding, Organizational Sustainability, and Governance Optimization to guide its future work. By overlaying these areas in future grantmaking, the CARE Fund will provide funding opportunities to meet a broader set of statewide needs for cancer research beyond its current programs. Check out the full strategic plan here.

The Andy Hill Cancer Research Endowment (CARE) is excited to welcome Laura Flores Cantrell, J.D. as its inaugural Executive Director! Laura will officially join the Andy Hill CARE staff as Executive Director in April. She will be an incredible asset to the work, and will help lead the Board and community partners through the next phase in strategic development, resulting in breakthrough investments for cancer research in Washington State. Laura currently serves as Health Equity Lead Strategist for the Arcora Foundation (the Foundation of Delta Dental of Washington), which she joined in 2014. She previously served as Director of Policy with the Latino Center for Health Research, Policy, and Practice at the University of Washington. Laura served as Executive Director of Latino Community Fund of Washington, a statewide philanthropic organization, supporting Latino-serving nonprofit agencies through policy analysis, training, and grantmaking. Over the last 20 years, her professional experience has focused on strategies to reduce health disparities and improve access to care for communities of color, youth in foster care, homeless, and other underserved populations. As Deputy Director at the Northwest Regional Primary Care Association, a regional association of safety net clinics, she worked with migrant and community health centers in Washington, Idaho, Oregon, and Alaska. An attorney by training, she was in-house Assistant General Counsel for a privately held company prior to entering the nonprofit sector. She currently serves on the national board of directors for the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, a legal civil rights organization that ensures equitable access to education, employment, and voting. Laura holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and a Juris Doctorate degree. Laura will be employed by Empire Health Foundation (EHF), the organization serving as Program Administrator for the Andy Hill CARE Fund.