Dr. Thomas Lynch Jr. has dedicated his career to transforming cancer care, an inclination rooted in his family history and personal experiences.
Growing up in Hackensack, New Jersey, Lynch was heavily influenced by his father, Dr. Thomas Lynch Sr., a pioneering figure in hematology and oncology. His father treated patients from their home office, exposing Lynch to the profound impact cancer had on individuals and families.
“I like to say I entered the family business in a way,” Lynch Jr. reflects. Since February 2020, he has served as the president and director of Fred Hutch Cancer Center, a role he took on at a challenging time as the world grappled with the pandemic.
Throughout his esteemed career, Lynch has held significant positions, including chief scientific officer at Bristol Myers Squibb and leadership roles at Massachusetts General Physicians Organization and Yale Cancer Center.
His academic prowess is underscored by a professorship at Harvard Medical School. Lynch’s contributions to lung cancer treatment are noteworthy; he was part of the pioneering team that helped establish how targeted therapies could substantially improve patient outcomes.
Under Lynch’s leadership, Fred Hutch Cancer Center has undergone remarkable growth, especially with the recent merger with the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance.
In a bold move to revolutionize cancer research and care, Fred Hutch launched the Cancer AI Alliance (CAIA) last fall. This collaborative partnership among top cancer centers is designed to leverage artificial intelligence in pursuit of innovative treatments and understanding of cancer biology. Supported by over $40 million in funding from tech giants like Amazon Web Services, Microsoft, NVIDIA, Deloitte, and Slalom, CAIA represents a significant leap forward in cancer research.
Lynch reminisces about his father’s admiration for the Fred Hutch institution, recounting how cancer patients traveled from across the country for pioneering procedures like bone marrow transplants. He recalls his father saying, “They were doing things that nobody else was.”
“That’s why it was such an important institution,” he added, expressing a sense of personal continuity in taking on the leadership role at Fred Hutch.
Reflecting on his transition to Seattle, Lynch admits that neither he nor his wife anticipated the city’s hilly terrain, but he appreciates how it has contributed positively to his lifestyle through biking and outdoor activities.
“AI is completely changing the face of medicine,” Lynch explains, identifying three primary ways in which it will reshape healthcare.
The first way is through administrative improvements; AI technology is streamlining tasks related to scheduling appointments, checking lab results, processing bills, and interfacing with insurance companies.
The second area is research, a critical focus of CAIA. Lynch emphasizes that AI will enable researchers to gain essential insights into cancer cells, tumors, and their patient-specific trajectories, thus enhancing basic science, clinical inquiry, and drug development.
Lynch has personally utilized AI in his medical practice, frequently turning to tools like ChatGPT for the latest literature on specific cancer treatments. He highlights a recent breakthrough in rectal cancer treatment, noting how AI enabled him to quickly gather and synthesize research findings.
“The impact of AI in clinical practice will be immense,” he predicts, stating that AI systems will increasingly assist in documentation and decision support, reducing the administrative burden on healthcare providers.
The collaborative nature of CAIA is about overcoming traditional hurdles associated with data sharing between institutions. Lynch points out the inefficiency of lengthy legal negotiations, explaining how AI can expedite the data-sharing process necessary for collaborative research.
He acknowledges that while AI has incredible potential, medical schools and the training of physicians are irreplaceable. “Doctors still have to be trained and know what makes sense. AI is not going to completely replace the physician,” he affirms.
The advancements in AI tools over short periods astound him. He cites a significant difference in ChatGPT’s capabilities from July 2023 to July 2025, while also stressing the importance of vigilance regarding the accuracy of AI-generated information.
Ethics is another crucial consideration he brings forth, particularly regarding the diversity of datasets upon which AI models are trained. Lynch is committed to ensuring that underrepresented populations, including native Alaskans, are included in research initiatives, particularly those addressing health disparities in rural areas of Washington State and Alaska.
The goal of CAIA is ambitious: to utilize federated learning across datasets from leading cancer centers to answer critical clinical questions. Lynch is optimistic about the technical feasibility of this initiative.
“The real promise is when the questions get better and the answers become more important,” he observes. He envisions a future where the exponential growth in technological capabilities unlocks unprecedented data insights, paving the way for next-generation cancer therapies.
He emphasizes the necessity for rigorous patient profiling and comprehensive genomic analysis to maximize the benefits of these advancements. Lynch praises Seattle’s innovative spirit, attributing the region’s vibrant ecosystem of companies like Amazon, Microsoft, and Starbucks to this can-do attitude, which permeates Fred Hutch.
“Collaboration is way more common in medicine than you might think,” Lynch states, encouraging a greater understanding of partnership dynamics in cancer research.
He recounts a recent collaborative study that demonstrated the possibility of curing rectal cancer with a single drug, eliminating the need for surgery or radiation—an outcome he describes as astounding and a significant advancement in cancer treatment.
Lynch highlights the considerable strides made in treating myeloma, leukemia, and lymphoma in the Pacific Northwest, attributing these successes to the collective efforts of the region’s healthcare ecosystem.
As he looks to the future, Lynch expresses concern over potential interruptions to federal funding for research, emphasizing the historically strong support from the U.S. government that has fostered scientific breakthroughs.
“I think you’re going to find that specific cancers will be cured,” he forecasts, while acknowledging the complexity of cancer as a multifaceted disease.
In his view, progress over the next decade will lead to real cures for some cancers, with additional breakthroughs to follow shortly thereafter.
In the realm of infectious diseases, he notes that even as we advance in curing cancer, challenges will persist.
Looking towards the next 50 years, Lynch is optimistic about Fred Hutch’s trajectory, having solidified a strong campus footprint in downtown Seattle that bodes well for future growth.
He is focused on attracting world-class scientists to Fred Hutch and actively recruits high-caliber talent for cancer research.
He expresses gratitude to the Seattle community for its unwavering support.
“Philanthropy is crucial,” he asserts, underscoring that the institution’s achievements are also reliant on the public’s commitment to initiatives like Obliteride, which funds cancer research.
Lynch emphasizes that community support has played an instrumental role in the success of Fred Hutch, which he regards as an integral part of Seattle’s identity and cultural fabric.
image source from：seattlemag
