The OHSU Knight Cancer Institute (previously the OHSU Cancer Institute) is a research institute within Oregon Health & Science University. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) designated cancer center is led by director Brian Druker.[1][2] It is the only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center in the state of Oregon.[2] The institute is named after Phil Knight and his wife, who donated over $600 million to the center; $100 million in 2008 and $500 million in 2013.[3] The $500 million gift required a matching $500 million, which led to a $100 million donation by Columbia Sportswear chairwoman Gert Boyle in 2014.[4]
The institute was first designated as a NCI Designated Cancer Center in 1997 and was awarded the status of comprehensive cancer center in 2017.[5] Brian Druker was named the director of the then OHSU Cancer Institute in 2007.[4]
The Knight Cancer Institute employs over 200 investigators who are affiliated with one of four Cancer Research Programs: Cancer Biology, Cancer Prevention and Control, Quantitative Oncology, and Translational Oncology.[6][7] The Cancer Biology program focuses on tumorigenesis, signal transduction, and the tumor microenvironment.[8] It is led by researchers Mara Sherman and Melissa Wong. Susan Flocke and Kerri Winters-Stone lead the Cancer Prevention and Control research program, which explores cancer prevention and risk reduction, screening and early detection, and survivorship.[9] The Quantitative Oncology program focuses on technology development, molecular characterization, and systems biology.[10] The fourth research program, Translational Oncology, has themes of target validation and high-impact interventions.[11] This program is led by Lara Davis and Jeffrey Tyner.