2025 GRATITUDE AND IMPACT REPORT
Inova Schar Cancer Research and Innovation
2025 by the numbers
Research turns hope into healing, and your generosity makes it possible.
At Inova Schar Cancer, we are committed to delivering the highest quality cancer care, from prevention and diagnosis through treatment and survivorship. Precision oncology allows our nationally renowned teams to move beyond one-size-fits-all approaches, tailoring care to each patient’s unique biology.
Because of your support, more individuals across our community have access to life‑saving treatments and innovative discoveries, accelerating progress toward better outcomes and renewed hope.
With gratitude,
John Deeken, MD President, Inova Schar Cancer
People enrolled in clinical trials
Interventional trials
New clinical studies
Research abstracts submitted
Accepted research manuscripts
Inova Schar Cancer was recognized for excellence and patient outcomes and named one of Becker’s 2025 Hospitals and Health Systems with Great Oncology Programs.
- Hospitals and Health Systems with Great Oncology Programs in 2025
- 2025 Press Ganey Health System of the Year
People enrolled in clinical trials
Interventional trials
New clinical studies
Research abstracts submitted
Accepted research manuscripts
Inova Schar Cancer was recognized for excellence and patient outcomes and named one of Becker’s 2025 Hospitals and Health Systems with Great Oncology Programs.
- Hospitals and Health Systems with Great Oncology Programs in 2025
- 2025 Press Ganey Health System of the Year
Leading the way in cancer research
Sekwon Jang, MD, Siewick Director, Cancer Research, led the launch of three new melanoma studies in 2025—highlighted by an innovative trial combining a personalized mRNA vaccine with Keytruda to improve first-line treatment for advanced melanoma.
Kathleen Harnden, MD, D’Aniello Director, Breast Cancer Research, spearheaded 16 clinical trials for breast cancer patients and notably led the nation as the top clinical trial accrual site for a practice changing international study in curative breast cancer care.
Shawna Willey, MD, Peterson Chair, Breast Cancer Research, is advancing more precise, personalized care through a multicenter trial of the Breast Cancer Locator (BCL) System—a 3D-printed tool that improves surgical accuracy—and the POWER II trial, exploring how pre-operative endocrine therapy may help older women avoid unnecessary radiation.
Jeanny Aragon-Ching, MD, Wohlscheid Director, Genitourinary Oncology Research, was honored in 2025 with the Fellow of the American Society of Clinical Oncology distinction for her exceptional service and significant contributions to the field.
Avani Rao, MD, Mather Director, Radiation Oncology Research, presented groundbreaking research on patient vitality during radiation therapy at the 2025 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting in Chicago.
Rebecca Kaltman, MD, Chair, Cancer Prevention, and Executive Director, Inova Saville Cancer Screening and Prevention Center, is Inova’s leader in the National Cancer Institute (NCI)-funded Cancer Screening Research Network (CSRN), which includes eight institutions nationwide. Additionally, she was featured as a co-author on Pathfinder 2, the largest prospective international multi-cancer detection (MCD) trial, and is currently leading the development of a new MCD research consortium alongside Dana Farber.
Bryan Bassig, PhD, Director, Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Research, at Inova Saville Cancer Screening and Prevention Center launched three new research initiatives including the Vanguard study, a nationwide clinical trial to evaluate new multi-cancer detection (MCD) blood tests in identifying various cancers at early, more treatable stages.
Sheinei Alan, MD, PhD, Director of the Inova Adult Sickle Cell Disease program, led exciting trials to treat this devastating disease, with Inova being the leading enrollment site for two international trials.
Precision Oncology: driving personalized cancer care
Thanks to philanthropic support, the Inova Molecular Tumor Board (MTB) and Proteomics program is advancing highly personalized cancer care—and delivering meaningful results for patients.
By expanding cutting‑edge molecular testing, including proteomics and genomics, we are uncovering new treatment options for patients, even when standard therapies are no longer effective. This innovative work recently reached a major milestone, with research from Inova’s MTB and Women’s Health Integrated Research Center (WHIRC) teams published in Nature, one of the world’s most respected scientific journals.
1 in 7 patients (13%) went on to join a therapeutic clinical trial
“Our efforts at Inova to measure what matters, namely the proteins, is uniquely driving an innovation renaissance for tailored cancer patient care and defining Inova as a world-class leader in precision oncology unlike any health care system in the nation.”
- Thomas Conrads, PhD, Schar Director, Clinical Proteomics, Inova Schar Cancer; Director of Research, Inova Women’s Services
Inova Schar Cancer is also helping shape the future of adaptive cancer care, starting with patients who have colorectal cancer. Inova is helping design and execute a groundbreaking, two-phase umbrella clinical trial alongside team lead MD Anderson Cancer Center and other leading cancer centers.
This evolutionary trial approach is designed to rapidly identify and target emerging treatment resistance by integrating drug-response biomarkers with resistance-targeting therapies.
Through the ADAPT platform, a wide range of molecular tests conducted across treatment lines and timepoints will deliver real-time insights to guide highly individualized care.
Each week, our multidisciplinary experts come together to ensure patients benefit from the very latest science—progress made possible by visionary donor support.
“This is perhaps the most ambitious collaborative effort of cancer treatment in the modern, precision medicine era. This project has the potential to develop a new paradigm of personalized cancer care, driving better outcomes, lowering cost, and saving more lives.”
- Timothy Cannon, MD, Sheridan Director, Molecular Tumor Board, Inova Schar Cancer
Innovation at its best—because of you!
Because of your support, Inova Schar Cancer continues to lead through innovation. Your generosity fuels advanced technologies that enable earlier detection and more personalized, effective treatments.
Group photo of the Inova robotic surgical team
Setting a new standard in robotic surgery and cancer treatment
Inova is proud to be among only 10 locations nationwide offering single-port robotic thoracic surgery, a groundbreaking, minimally invasive approach that means less pain, faster recovery and better outcomes for patients facing complex lung and mediastinal conditions.
Led by Dr. Michael Weyant, the thoracic surgery team preformed the first single port robotic thoracic procedure at Inova Fairfax Hospital. As the first surgeon in the Mid-Atlantic region trained in this technique, Dr. Weyant is bringing world-class care closer to home.
Michael Weyant, MD, President, Inova Surgery Service Line and Moran Chair, Thoracic Oncology, Inova Schar Cancer was recognized by the Washingtonian in the 2025 Top Doctors issue.
Turning soundwaves into a breakthrough cancer treatment
Thanks to The Randolph D. Rouse Foundation, Inova is one of only 28 facilities nationwide to offer histotripsy—a non-invasive treatment that uses focused soundwaves to pulsate liver tumors without surgery or radiation. In December 2025, Dr. Peter Learn, Mather Chair, Surgical Oncology, Inova Schar Cancer, performed the region’s first histotripsy case. The impact for patients includes:
- Fewer complications
- Closer access to treatment
- Faster recovery
Group photo of the Inova histotripsy surgical team
“Histotripsy represents a new frontier in soft tissue cancer treatment. We are excited to offer this option to patients who might not have been a candidate for other treatments, helping them receive a precise, effective, and noninvasive therapy as part of a comprehensive cancer care plan.”
- Peter Learn, MD, FACS, Mather Chair, Surgical Oncology, Inova Schar Cancer; Chief, Division of Surgical Oncology, Inova Surgery Service Line
Patients in our community have access to some of the most advanced stem cell and cellular therapies in the world—thanks to your support. In 2025, under the leadership of Stephen Medlin, DO, Chair, Cellular Therapies, Inova’s Stem Cell Transplant and Immunotherapy Program earned an internationally recognized accreditation from the Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy (FACT).
This recognition ensures excellence at every step of care—from cell collection to infusion—meeting the highest global standards and offering patients and families reassurance when they need it most.
Northern Virginia’s only FACT-accredited stem cell & CAR-T program
“FACT accreditation distinguishes Inova Schar Cancer as a leader in cellular therapy, recognizing the depth of expertise, innovation and rigorous standards upheld by our team. This recognition highlights the expertise and collaboration of our team and reinforces our dedication to delivering the highest standards of safety, quality and innovation for our patients.”
- Stephen Medlin, DO, Chair, Cellular Therapies, Inova Schar Cancer
Your support continues to expand excellence with the opening of our new state-of-the-art Stem Cell Transplant and Immunotherapy Cell Processing Laboratory. The lab ensures precise cell preservation, quality testing, and regulatory oversight, while positioning Inova to expand custom cell manipulation and research‑driven applications.
Together, these new achievements mean lifesaving therapies can reach patients faster, more effectively and without the burden of traveling far from loved ones.
- 34 total stem cell transplants in 2025
- 16 autologous transplants (using patient’s own cells)
- 4 allogeneic transplants (using donor cells)
- 14 CAR T-Cell infusions (first CAR T-Cell infusion in February 2025)
Thank you for your impact
Your partnership powers everything we do, thank you. Your philanthropic efforts help elevate the highest quality care closer to home starting with our first four critical areas:
- Inova’s Greatest Needs
- Leading with Compassion on the Cancer Journey
- Transforming Heart and Vascular Care
- Reimagining Behavioral Health
Thanks to your generous support, Inova has surpassed the midpoint of our Do. More. Together. comprehensive campaign, raising more than $250 million towards our goal.
Because of your commitment, Inova Schar Cancer delivers exceptional care, compassionate support, and life-enhancing advances to every patient and family we serve. Your generosity strengthens the foundation of our mission and fuels the progress we’re making together. We are profoundly grateful for all you make possible.
Learn more about Inova's Do. More. Together. $500 million fundraising campaign at Foundation.Inova.org/Do-More-Together.
And for more information on the impact of your giving, please contact Amy Richards, Assistant Vice President of Philanthropy at Amy.Richards@Inova.org.
