The OHSU Knight Cancer Institute (previously the OHSU Cancer Institute) is a research institute within
Oregon Health & Science University
Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) is a
public research university focusing primarily on health sciences with a main campus, including two hospitals, in Portland, Oregon. The institution was founded in 1887 as the University of Oregon Medi ...
. The
National Cancer Institute
The National Cancer Institute (NCI) coordinates the United States National Cancer Program and is part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which is one of eleven agencies that are part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. ...
(NCI)
designated cancer center is led by director
Brian Druker
Brian J. Druker (born April 30, 1955) is a physician-scientist at Oregon Health & Science University, in Portland, Oregon. He is the director of OHSU's Knight Cancer Institute, Jeld-Wen Chair of Leukemia Research, and professor of medicine. In 200 ...
.
It is the only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center in the state of Oregon.
The institute is named after
Phil Knight
Philip Hampson Knight (born February 24, 1938) is an American billionaire businessman. He is the co-founder and chairman ''emeritus'' of Nike, Inc., and was previously chairman and CEO of the company. As of October 3, 2022, Knight was ranke ...
and his wife, who donated over $600 million to the center; $100 million in 2008 and $500 million in 2013. The $500 million gift required a matching $500 million, which led to a $100 million donation by
Columbia Sportswear
The Columbia Sportswear Company is an American company that manufactures and distributes outerwear, sportswear, and footwear, as well as headgear, camping equipment, ski apparel, and outerwear accessories.
It was founded in 1938 by Paul Lam ...
chairwoman
Gert Boyle
Gertrude Boyle (''née'' Lamfrom; March 6, 1924 – November 3, 2019) was a German-born American businesswoman in the U.S. state of Oregon. After her family fled Nazi Germany, her father founded the business that became Columbia Sportswear, wher ...
in 2014.
History
The institute was first designated as a NCI Designated Cancer Center in 1997 and was awarded the status of comprehensive cancer center in 2017. Brian Druker was named the director of the then OHSU Cancer Institute in 2007.
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Research areas
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. The Cancer Biology program focuses on tumorigenesis, signal transduction, and the tumor microenvironment. 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. The Quantitative Oncology program focuses on technology development, molecular characterization, and systems biology. The fourth research program, Translational Oncology, has themes of target validation and high-impact interventions.
References
{{authority controlExternal links
Official website
Oregon Health & Science University
NCI-designated cancer centers
Medical and health organizations based in Oregon
Cancer organizations based in the United States
Medical research institutes in the United States
Research institutes in Oregon