Northwest Prostate Institute

The Northwest Prostate Institute (NPI) was a specialized clinical and research center located at Northwest Hospital in Seattle, Washington, dedicated to the advanced treatment of prostate cancer. Founded and led by Dr. Haakon Ragde, a pioneer in ultrasound-guided brachytherapy, the institute was globally recognized for its work in developing and validating radioactive seed implantation techniques. NPI's landmark clinical studies, including long-term follow-up data published in major oncology journals, demonstrated that brachytherapy achieved cure rates comparable to radical surgery with significantly lower morbidity. The institute played a pivotal role in establishing minimally invasive radiation therapy as a standard of care for localized prostate cancer before its parent hospital was integrated into the UW Medicine system.