About

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The ImmunOptimize Network is designed to collaboratively generate evidence-based strategies for treating and preventing infections in people at high risk — whether from cancer, an organ transplant, or an otherwise weakened immune system.

A doctor talks to a patient

The Problem

Over 6.6% of Americans are immunocompromised. The pandemic exposed how vulnerable people with weakened immune systems are to infectious diseases.

Unfortunately, we lack strong evidence on how to best protect those at highest risk of infection. Without this, people face unnecessary suffering.

Clinical trials focused on individuals with weakened immune systems require specialized expertise. Those who are immunocompromised may respond differently to therapies, need varied treatment dosing or duration, or experience unique side effects.

These issues can be addressed to enhance participation in trials and personalized evidence generation.

What We’re Doing to Help

Dr. Joshua Hill explains why a network focused on immunocompromised patients and research is needed.

We must do better to understand how to best protect susceptible populations and save lives.

Many infections, such as measles, can reemerge in high-risk individuals and spread, endangering even those without suppressed immune systems. By investing in protecting those most at risk, we strengthen the health of our entire community.

In 2024, a group of infectious disease clinicians and researchers with expertise in immunocompromised populations established the ImmunOptimize Network to facilitate research on therapies for those with weakened immune systems. They've engaged an interdisciplinary team across North America to build this Network through public and private partnerships, and are driving advocacy efforts across academic, government, and industry sectors.

Our Aims

To establish a consortium of centers to accelerate clinical studies of strategies to prevent and treat infections in immunocompromised patients, such as those with cancer, organ transplants, or autoimmune diseases.

To establish centralized operational, statistical, and laboratory cores to improve standardization and efficiency of network-sponsored clinical trials and studies.

To develop early and late-stage clinical trials to evaluate novel and existing therapeutics for infectious diseases, such as RSV.

ImmunOptimize Network structure flowchart
ImmunOptimize Network structure, created in BioRender Click for high-resolution image

Structure

The table to the right is the proposed structure and output of ImmunOptimize Network. The Network is designed to encourage participatory science, integration of diverse ideas into the Network’s scientific agenda, and innovative approaches to improve clinical trial conduct. This is an outline for the fully developed network, and a phased approach is underway to establish the initial core components.

Advisory Committee

Jeff Auletta

Jeff Auletta, MD

Senior Vice President, CIBMTR & Clinical Services, NMDP
Chief Scientific Director, Center for International Blood & Marrow Transplant Research (CIBMTR) NMDP
Professor, Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University
Physician, Hematology/Oncology/BMT and Infectious Diseases, Nationwide Children’s Hospital
Lindsey Baden

Lindsey Baden, MD

Director Infectious Diseases, Dana Farber Cancer Institute
Vice President of Clinical Research, Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Elizabeth G. and Gary J. Nabel Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School
Michael Boeckh

Michael Boeckh, MD, PhD

Professor and Head, Infectious Disease Sciences Program, Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutch
Professor, Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutch Cancer Center
Medical Director, Infectious Disease Consulting Service, Fred Hutch Cancer Center
Roy Chemaly

Roy Chemaly, MD, MPH

Department Chair, Department of Infectious Diseases
Endowed Gerald P. Bodey, Sr. Distinguished Professorship; Professor, Department of Infectious Diseases, MD Anderson Cancer Center
Adjunct Professor, The University of Texas School of Public Health
Adjunct Professor, Baylor College of Medicine
Limei Fan

Limei Fan, MBA

Senior Program Operations Director, Infectious Disease Sciences, Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutch Cancer Center
Natasha B. Halasa

Natasha B. Halasa, MD, MPH

Craig Weaver Professor of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Josh A. Hill

Josh A. Hill, MD

Associate Professor, Infectious Disease Sciences, Vaccine and Infectious Diseases and Clinical Research Divisions, Fred Hutch Cancer Center
Associate Professor, Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Washington
Holly Janes

Holly Janes, PhD

Professor and Head of Biostatistics, Bioinformatics and Epidemiology Program, Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutch Cancer Center
Professor, Biostatistics Program, Public Health Sciences Division, Fred Hutch Cancer Center
Kaley Childs Karaffa

Kaley Childs Karaffa, JD

Co-Chair, Patient and Family Engagement Activities, Fred Hutch Cancer Center
Deepali Kumar

Deepali Kumar, MD, FRCPC, MSc

Director of Transplant Infectious Diseases, University Health Network
Professor of Medicine, University of Toronto
Past President, American Society of Transplantation
Chair, Canadian Standards Association Committee on Cells, Tissues, and Organ Transplant
Steven Pergam

Steven Pergam, MD, MPH

Professor, Vaccine and Infectious Disease and Clinical Research Divisions, Fred Hutch Cancer Center
Medical Director, Infection Prevention, Fred Hutch Cancer Center
Professor, Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Washington

Participating Sites

Map of ImmunOptimize Network sites, March 2026

Network Coordinating Center: Fred Hutch Cancer Center

Principal Investigator: Dr. Joshua Hill

University of California San Francisco

Principal Investigator: Dr. Ajit Limaye

University Health Network / University of Toronto (International Site)

Principal Investigator: Dr. Deepali Kumar

University of Chicago

Principal Investigator: Dr. Michael Czapka

Boston Children's

Principal Investigator: Dr. Tanvi Sharma
 

Brigham and Women's Hospital

Principal Investigator: Dr. Lindsey Baden
 

Massachusetts General Hospital

Principal Investigator: Dr. Camille Cotton

University of Nebraska Medical Center

Principal Investigator: Dr. Carlos Gomez

NYU Langone Health

Principal Investigator: Dr. Anoma Nellore

Duke University

Principal Investigator: Dr. Cameron Wolfe

Cincinnati Children's

Principal Investigator: Dr. Laura Danziger-Isakov
 

Nationwide Children's Hospital

Principal Investigator: Dr. Monica Ardura

University of Oklahoma

Principal Investigator: Dr. Joseph Sassine

Vanderbilt University

Principal Investigator: Dr. Natasha Halasa

Houston Methodist Hospital

Principal Investigator: Dr. Eleftherios Mylonakis

Network Coordinating Center: Fred Hutch Cancer Center

Principal Investigator: Dr. Joshua Hill
 

Seattle Children's Hospital

Principal Investigator: Dr. Alpana Waghmare
 

Swedish Medical Center

Principal Investigator: Dr. Jason Goldman

MedStar Georgetown University Hospital

Principal Investigator: Dr. Rebecca Kumar

Join the ImmunOptimize Network

Interested in joining the ImmunOptimize Network? Fill out our inquiry form or email us at ImmunOptimize@fredhutch.org.