The Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center are working together to research ways to use patient immune systems to attack tumors. The Wall Street Journal reports that the alliance, which includes Seattle Children’s Hospital—starts with “one of the largest first-round financings in 2013 among life-science companies.” The alliance—called Juno Therapeutics—launched Wednesday with $120 million in investments.

The Journal notes that the collaboration is an end to a silo’d approach to this same research, capping around two decades of individual research about how to turn immune systems against tumors. The Journal adds that the Hutchinson Center and Memorial Sloan-Kettering collaborated in a Stand Up to Cancer effort and that this interaction helped bring the new team approach into play.

Former Dendreon EVP/COO Hans Bishop is CEO of the new company.