Joshua Veatch, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor
Translational Science and Therapeutics Division, Fred Hutch
Member
Immunotherapy Integrated Research Center (IIRC), Fred Hutch
Member
Translational Data Science Integrated Research Center (TDS IRC), Fred Hutch
In the laboratory and in clinical trials, Dr. Joshua Veatch develops and tests new immunotherapies for lung cancers and skin cancers. He studies how tumor-recognizing T cells — a type of immune cell — respond to these solid tumors, and how to improve those responses to help patients. One research focus is on CD4, or "helper" T cells, and the roles they play in the larger immune response to tumors. He is developing new therapies in which a patient's helper T cells would be genetically engineered to better fight their cancer. Another focus is on developing therapeutic cancer vaccines, which can boost T-cell responses to tumors. Dr. Veatch is also a medical oncologist who treats people with melanoma, Merkel cell carcinoma and other advanced skin cancers.
Other Appointments & Affiliations
Affiliate Investigator, Clinical Research Division, Fred HutchAffiliate Investigator
Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutch
Attending Physician
Fred Hutch
Assistant Professor, Medical Oncology
University of Washington School of Medicine
Education
University of Washington, 2010, MD, PhD
Research Interest
The Veatch lab studies tumor antigen specific T cell responses in human solid tumors, and strategies to enhance these T cell responses to improve clinical outcomes.
One focus is understanding the role of “helper” CD4 T cells in shaping and activating other immune cells in the tumor immune microenvironment in cancer, and in using engineered CD4 T cells targeting tumor antigens as cancer therapy in melanoma, lung cancer, and other tumor types. One upcoming clinical trial will target the antigen the common BRAF V600E mutation with CD4 T cells in melanoma and other tumors.
A second approach is the development of novel therapeutic cancer vaccines to enhance tumor specific T cell responses, and an upcoming trial will test one such vaccine in non-small cell lung cancer.
Clinical Expertise
Dr. Veatch is a medical oncologist who specializes in treating advanced skin cancer such as melanoma and merkel cell carcinoma and developing and carrying out clinical trials focused on adoptive T cell therapy in advanced solid tumors including melanoma, merkel cell carcinoma and non-small cell lung cancer.