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Herbert is a 4-year-old toy poodle and bichon frisé mix, originally from Indianola, Iowa. While he's a tiny dog, he has a big personality and regularly protects his home from other dogs by barking at them through the window at a safe distance. He is in constant need of attention, though that bodes well when he needs to visit the groomer or veterinarian. Herbert enjoys walks, snacks, and toys that crinkle (including an odd obsession with plastic bottles that crinkle).

In a study from Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah (the U) and NYU Langone Perlmutter Cancer Center, researchers found that a specialized chatbot can effectively assist patients in deciding whether to pursue genetic testing, offering an alternative to traditional genetic counseling.

Growing up in the remote Uintah Basin, Echo Warner witnessed firsthand how isolation, limited resources, and distrust of the medical system could shape health outcomes. Driven by her experience, she now studies cancer, caregiving, and rural health—using tools like micro-videos and community engagement to make care accessible and understandable. Learn how her journey from a farm in Altamont to the University of Utah is helping change lives back home.

Professor Dr. Crystal Lumpkins participated in the Communicating Evolving Cancer Information Ideas Lab this summer, hosted by the National Cancer Institute (NCI). The Lab brought together researchers with interdisciplinary expertise to generate innovative approaches to communicating complex and evolving cancer information.

Huntsman Cancer Institute investigator Jakob Jensen, PhD, was working in his own lab when he identified a mole on his arm that he would soon find out was melanoma—the deadliest form of skin cancer. This was not his first cancer diagnosis.

After his prostate cancer spread, Dennis Freire could have sought treatment anywhere—yet he chose Huntsman Cancer Institute. What followed was a partnership founded on compassion, consistency, and shared decision-making. Over five years of treatments, setbacks, and recovery, Dennis and his oncologist forged more than a clinical relationship—they found a guide, an advocate, and a tether of hope in uncertainty.

Cancer misinformation—information that is inaccurate or incomplete based on current scientific understanding and medical recommendations—is an issue many people have concerns about. Some health misinformation, like avoiding going outside in the cold with wet hair, is harmless, and most people encounter far more accurate health information than inaccurate health information. However, aging populations, including cancer patients, are vulnerable to detrimental effects of health misinformation.

One faculty member in the College of Humanities has been appointed with the University of Utah’s prestigious designation of Distinguished Professor. Kimberly Kaphingst, professor of communication, associate chair of the department, and researcher at the Huntsman Cancer Institute, was recommended by the Distinguished Professor Advisory Committee and approved by the U’s Board of Trustees, Mitzi Montoya, senior vice president for academic affairs, and President Taylor Randall.