"Fred Hutch Cancer Center" "Cures Start Here"

Jerald P. Radich, MD

Provider

Jerald P. Radich, MD

Physician, Fred Hutch
Professor, Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutch
Kurt Enslein Endowed Chair, Fred Hutch
Professor, Division of Hematology and Oncology, University of Washington School of Medicine

Specialty:

Medical Oncology

South Lake Union Clinic

Request an Appointment Print

“Nothing is more rewarding than seeing patients cured of their disease.”

— Dr. Radich

What drew you to oncology?

I’m the son of a tinkerer — my father loved to invent, build and rebuild. We used to do things like tear apart an old Jeep and put it back together. Early on, I knew I wanted to have a creative career. In college, I studied fiction writing for a while, but then I took a molecular biology class, which spawned my interest in medicine. By the time I started medical school, I knew that I wanted to specialize in cancer; it was the best way to use my molecular biology training to help people who were really sick. Now, instead of tinkering under the hood of a Jeep, I peek inside cancer cells so we can better understand why some patients respond well to treatment and others don’t.

What is the “biology of luck” and why do you study it?

We all know people diagnosed with cancer who were expected to do well but relapsed after treatment, or people who didn’t have a good long-term prognosis but stayed in remission. Why is that? Is it their lifestyle? Their strength of will? What about luck? I define “luck” as the measure of our profound gap in knowledge about the interaction between a person, their cancer and their therapy. By better understanding the molecular underpinnings of therapy response, resistance and relapse, we can help physicians make better treatment decisions. They’ll know what therapies are likely to produce a lasting response or how likely it is a patient’s cancer will return, so they can intervene sooner. Ultimately, we are seeking to improve the odds for all patients, changing bad luck to good.

Provider Background

Area of Clinical Practice
Adult blood and marrow transplantation

Leukemia

I am a medical oncologist who specializes in the molecular genetics of leukemia. I lead a research lab that studies why patients with leukemia do or don’t respond well after therapy. Our two other areas of focus include exploring how groups of cancer cells that share distinctive genetic mutations, known as “clones,” evolve over time and finding ways to make molecular diagnostic testing more affordable — a necessity for countries with few resources.

Our research has led to significant breakthroughs in the detection and treatment of leukemia. For example, I was part of a team that developed a test for detecting very small amounts of cancer cells in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) following treatment. The test helps physicians gauge a patient’s risk of relapse so they can pursue additional treatments before the disease progresses. Outside the lab, I serve on CML guidelines panels for the National Comprehensive Cancer Network and European LeukemiaNet, organizations that gather evidence to support optimal medical decision-making for patients with CML.

Diseases Treated

Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Myeloproliferative Neoplasms

Myelodysplastic Syndrome

Languages

English

Education, Experience and Certifications

Undergraduate Degree
University of California

Medical Degree
Univ. of Calif. Davis

Residency
University of Washington, Internal Medicine

Fellowship
University of Washington, Medical Oncology

Board Certification
Internal Medicine, 1986, Medical Oncology, 1989, American Board of Internal Medicine

Stories

All news

Leukemia researcher Dr. Jerry Radich receives Kurt Enslein Endowed Chair

Leukemia researcher Dr. Jerry Radich receives Kurt Enslein Endowed Chair New chair continues legacy of giving sparked by lifesaving care August 15, 2019

Fred Hutch global health research honored for impact, collaboration

Fred Hutch global health research honored for impact, collaboration Washington Global Health Alliance awardees include Dr. Benjamin O. Anderson and a collaboration between Dr. Jerald Radich and The Max Foundation July 2, 2019

‘Let the cells tell the story’

‘Let the cells tell the story’ New tech is giving scientists unprecedented insights into single cells’ inner workings December 24, 2018

We make promising new treatments available to you through studies called clinical trials led by Fred Hutch physicians. Many of these trials at Fred Hutch have led to FDA-approved treatments and have improved standards of care globally. Together, you and your physician can decide if a study is right for you.

View Clinical Trials

Many of our Fred Hutch physicians conduct ongoing research to improve standards of patient care. Their work is evaluated by other physicians and selected for publication to the United States National Library of Medicine, the largest medical library in the world. See scientific papers this Fred Hutch physician has written.

View Dr. Radich's Publications

Your Care Team

At Fred Hutch, you receive care from a team of providers with extensive experience in your disease. Your team includes physicians, a patient care coordinator, a registered nurse, an advanced practice provider and others, based on your needs. You also have access to experts like registered dietitians, social workers, acupuncturists, psychiatrists and more who specialize in supporting people with cancer or blood disorders.

Meet Other Providers

Insurance

Fred Hutch accepts most national private health insurance plans as well as Medicare. We also accept Medicaid for people from Washington, Alaska, Montana and Idaho. We are working to ensure that everyone, no matter what their financial situation, has access to the care they need.

More About Insurance