About

The Center for Innovations in Cancer & Transplant is made up of a core team, a scientific advisory committee, and a community engagement committee.

Core Team

Dr. Christopher Blosser sitting on a bench outdoors.

Director

Dr. Christopher Blosser

Chris is a Clinical Professor of Medicine at the University of Washington and a transplant nephrologist. 

He cares for people before and after organ transplant, with additional expertise for those with cancer at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center and adolescents at Seattle Children’s (Kidney Transplant Transitions of Care Clinic). He investigates cancer risks and outcomes in organ transplant recipients.

Photo of Barbara Kavanaugh

Research Manager

Barbara Kavanaugh

Barbara has a background in research compliance, coordination, and management. She helped create the Northwest-Alaska Pharmacogenomics Research Network (NWA-PGRN) at the University of Washington, a multi-institutional, NIH-funded network in pharmacogenetics, and was research manager for 11 years.

Prior to this, she monitored clinical trials for the CRO Pharmaceutical Product Development (PPD) and managed sites up and down the West Coast. During this time, Barbara obtained an MPH from UW with an emphasis in global health. She worked at both the UW and PATH IRBs for over 5 years, developing policy and reviewing biomedical and behavioral research studies.

Research Coordinator

Felicia Che

Felicia joined the Transplant Program at the University of Washington Medical Center in 2021 as an undergraduate student assistant. Working in the transplant department and having family members with kidney transplants sparked her interest in working with transplant patients.

Felicia graduated from the University of Washington in 2023 with a bachelor’s degree in biology and hopes to attend medical school in the future.

Scientific Advisory Committee

The SAC offers guidance on the Center’s research and funding.

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Chair

Susan Brown Trinidad

Susan is a senior research scientist in the Department of Bioethics and Humanities at the University of Washington School of Medicine. She is a seasoned qualitative researcher with expertise in in research ethics, community-based participatory research, clinical and intercultural communication, and empirical bioethics research.

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David Al-Adra

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Eric Engels

Alex Kula

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Lynn Rose

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Matthew Trunnell

Bessie Young

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Christopher Blosser

Community Engagement Committee

The CEC ensures patients’ voices are heard in the Center’s research and clinical work.

Chair

Glenda Roberts

Diagnosed with kidney disease when she was just out of college, Glenda has first-hand knowledge of the challenges faced by patients and families affected by kidney disease.

Prior to joining the University of Washington Kidney Research Institute (KRI) and the Center for Dialysis Innovation (CDI) as the Director of External Relations and Patient Engagement, Glenda was an Information Technology executive with over 35 years of experience. 

In addition to her current role, in 2020, Glenda was appointed as the Chief Operations and Strategy Officer for the UW Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Center for Transformative Research.

A passionate activist for kidney research and people living with kidney disease, she’s involved in myriad national and international, transformative health care initiatives.

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Irma Mejia

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Matthew Reynolds

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Tami Sadusky

Cecilia Santana

Rob Wheaton

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Barbara Kavanaugh

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