The Olayan Center for Cancer Vaccines at MSK

Pioneering science and transformative clinical trials to accelerate precision vaccines as the next breakthrough cancer therapy

Our Purpose

The bold idea to harness the immune system to fight cancer began at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) more than a century ago. In the past two decades, the pace of discovery has accelerated, as MSK breakthroughs have continued to push the frontier of immunotherapy.

Among the most exciting advances are vaccines that can treat cancer. The simple yet powerful notion that we can teach the immune system to seek and destroy cancer cells has long sparked the imaginations of cancer researchers around the world.

Precision vaccines empower the patient’s own immune system to spot the unique genetic signature of their cancer. This allows vaccines to:

Unleash immune cells to attack cancer while sparing healthy cells
Be combined with other cancer therapies
Trigger a long-lasting immune response that can potentially prevent cancers from spreading or returning

MSK scientists have already published results from the first and only clinical trial in the world testing precision RNA vaccines for pancreatic cancer. These findings have encouraged us to investigate using vaccines to treat more people with pancreatic and other deadly cancers. This work will now be accelerated thanks to a major gift.

The Olayan Center for Cancer Vaccines at MSK allows MSK to lead the field in developing cancer vaccines that target a wide range of cancers. Cancer vaccines are an essential part of MSK’s broader efforts to expand and improve immunotherapy options for people with cancer worldwide. The Olayan Center for Cancer Vaccines at MSK is named in recognition of the generous support of The Olayan Charitable Foundation, the FORTH Foundation, and MSK trustee Hutham Olayan.

There is more information below about MSK’s innovation, access for patients, and the team leading this unprecedented effort to drive discoveries that will reduce suffering and save lives.

The Olayan Center for Cancer Vaccines at MSK is a one-of-a-kind academic biohub, uniting critical scientific and clinical disciplines to achieve transformative breakthroughs for patients.

Vinod P. Balachandran, MD Director, The Olayan Center for Cancer Vaccines at MSK

Therapeutic Cancer Vaccines

Doctors use therapeutic cancer vaccines to treat cancer after it occurs rather than to prevent it.

They work by exposing the immune system to antigens – the specific molecules that are linked to a patient’s cancer. These vaccines can be customized for every patient, allowing precision targeting of each individual’s tumor.

They can:

Stop a tumor from growing or spreading
Destroy cancer cells still in the body after treatments
Keep cancer from coming back

Learn more about cancer vaccines

VIDEO | 01:02

Therapeutic Cancer Vaccines: How They Work

Therapeutic cancer vaccines train the body to protect itself against its own damaged or abnormal cells — including cancer cells.

Video Details

Our Innovation

MSK is pushing the frontier to help patients like Antonio.

MSK News Winter 2024

MSK is fighting cancer by boosting the immune system through several approaches. Read how MSK is pushing the frontier of immunotherapy to help patients like Antonio.

What Are Cancer Vaccines? How Can They Prevent and Treat Cancer?

Hear two physician-scientists discuss the power of the body’s immune system to prevent and treat cancers, the difference between preventative and therapeutic vaccines, and which cancers are treatable with vaccines.

Listen now

Dr. Vinod Balachandran says mRNA vaccines could stimulate the immune system to recognize and attack pancreatic cancer cells.

Investigational mRNA Vaccine Induced Persistent Immune Response in Phase 1 Trial of Patients With Pancreatic Cancer

Dr. Vinod Balachandran says precision RNA vaccines could stimulate the immune system to attack pancreatic cancer cells.

Research confirms a sound strategy for designing a therapeutic vaccine for pancreatic cancer.

Picking the Winners: Study Sheds Light on Possible Best Targets for Pancreatic Cancer Vaccine

Dr. Benjamin Greenbaum used computational biology to confirm a strategy for designing a therapeutic vaccine for pancreatic cancer.

Medical oncologist Dr. Eileen O’Reilly helped lead a clinical trial investigating a ready-made vaccine as a treatment for pancreatic and colorectal cancers with certain KRAS mutations.

Vaccine Targeting KRAS in Pancreatic and Colorectal Cancer Shows Promise

Dr. Eileen O’Reilly is investigating an off-the-shelf therapeutic vaccine that could potentially prevent certain pancreatic and colorectal cancers from returning.

MSK immunologist Dr. Andrea Schietinger and colleagues found that a 'triad' of immune cells is required to kill cancer cells. The discovery could alter the way doctors administer immunotherapies.

Better Together: Spatial Arrangement of Three Immune Cells Is Key to Attacking Tumors

Dr. Andrea Schietinger and colleagues found that a 'triad' of immune cells is required to kill cancer cells. The discovery could alter the way doctors administer immunotherapies.

Dr. Balachandran said I would be a great candidate for the pancreatic cancer vaccine clinical trial.

— Barbara Brigham

If you’re interested in a cancer vaccine, here’s how to get one:

MSK has research studies, also called clinical trials, that explore therapeutic vaccines for some cancers. We also offer approved cancer vaccine treatments. Here’s how you can learn more.

If you’re a patient at MSK: Talk with your MSK doctor about whether a cancer vaccine clinical trial or approved cancer vaccine is right for you. A cancer vaccine may not the best choice for you. Your MSK doctor also can talk with you about other treatment options.

If you’re not an MSK patient: Please call 800-525-2225. Our Care Advisors will connect you to an MSK doctor. They can talk with you about whether a cancer vaccine clinical trial or approved cancer vaccine is right for you. If they’re not good options, our Care Advisors will help you find other cancer treatments at MSK.

Patients who come to MSK for surgery may qualify to participate in one of our cancer vaccine trials.

Jeffrey Drebin, MD, PhD Chair, Department of Surgery