The Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) Knight Cancer Institute has received a record-breaking $2 billion donation from Phil and Penny Knight, marking the largest single gift ever made to a U.S. university, college, or academic health center. The gift is intended to transform the future of cancer care and set a global standard in research, diagnosis, treatment, and patient care. The Knights emphasized their commitment to building on the revolutionary work led by Dr. Brian Druker, integrating scientific discovery with comprehensive patient care, and establishing the Knight Cancer Institute as a self-governed entity within OHSU.
Phil Knight, co-founder of Nike, and Penny Knight have long supported the Knight Cancer Institute and its groundbreaking work in precision medicine. Dr. Druker, holder of the JELD-WEN Chair of Leukemia Research, developed Gleevec, a drug that revolutionized treatment for chronic myeloid leukemia by targeting cancer cells while sparing normal cells. Previous support from the Knights, including the $1 billion Knight Cancer Challenge, helped fund early cancer detection programs, develop new blood tests, and advance targeted therapies and precision medicine.
The $2 billion investment aims to fully integrate these scientific advances with patient-centered cancer care. The initiative will expand diagnostics, enhance access to clinical trials, and provide patients with a comprehensive range of support services including nutritional, psychological, genetic, and financial counseling, symptom management, survivorship programs, and complementary therapies. Dr. Druker highlighted the importance of simplifying the healthcare experience for patients and families while continuing to innovate treatments.
To manage this expanded mission, the Knight Cancer Institute will operate as a self-governed entity within OHSU under a new organization called the Knight Cancer Group. This group will have its own board of directors, and Dr. Druker will serve as its inaugural president. OHSU President Shereef Elnahal and Oregon Governor Tina Kotek praised the gift as a groundbreaking investment that will benefit patients in Oregon and serve as a model for cancer care nationwide.
Steve Stadum, former interim OHSU president, noted that the gift will not only elevate the Knight Cancer Institute but also strengthen OHSU and the state of Oregon, providing unparalleled support to individuals battling cancer and positioning Oregon as a global leader in innovative cancer research and care.
