Basic Sciences Division

Making Foundational Discoveries

Basic research is at the foundation of all scientific discoveries, underlying the innovative cures and treatments developed at Fred Hutch.

Founded in 1981, the Basic Sciences Division has continually evolved to be at the forefront of discovery; seeking to understand the fundamental underpinnings of our own biology as well as the dysregulations that cause disease. Our research has yielded numerous landmark breakthroughs and scientific advances. We believe an inclusive, collaborative, egalitarian and creative environment is the basis for scientific innovation and world-changing discoveries.

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Basic Sciences Annual Reports 
Our Egalitarian Philosophy

Learn about the people and discoveries that have made the division such an amazing place over its more than forty-year history.

Basic Sciences Division 2024 Annual Report

2024 was an amazing year for the division, including the opening of the Arimura Lab, faculty and trainees receiving numerous honors, the first-ever Pathfinders Postdoc Symposium, a wonderful retreat, the many scientific discoveries of each lab, and so much more.

faculty and lab

Generating New Insights

Our faculty includes investigators studying structural, genetic, molecular, cellular, developmental and evolutionary biology.  

research programs

The Basics for Discovery

Division scientists conduct cutting-edge research that explores the fundamental biology underlying health and disease. 

Fundamental Biology and Forward Thinking

Learn about our scientific leadership, job openings, upcoming events and seminars hosted by the Basic Sciences research team.

Latest Basic Sciences News

ALL BASIC SCIENCES NEWS
Evolutionary cell biologist Dr. Grant King named a Hanna Gray Fellow Long fascinated by life seen and unseen, King awarded eight years of funding to finish postdoctoral training at Fred Hutch and establish an independent lab January 29, 2025
Cold air makes oxygen toxic for worms Fred Hutch study shows C. elegans, a microscopic worm, can survive low temperatures if oxygen supply is also low January 22, 2025
50 years of doing hard things Founded in 1975 to honor a brother, Fred Hutch Cancer Center pursued bold science, pioneered a cure for blood diseases that changed medicine and became a world-class biomedical research and clinical care institution January 9, 2025
Blocking a cancer escape hatch Fred Hutch graduate student wins NIH F31 award to study structure of a key protein that helps blood vessels grow, but also helps cancer spread when it malfunctions December 19, 2024