The OHSU Knight Cancer Institute is an international leader in cancer research and personalized cancer treatment. With the mission of ending cancer as we know it, the Knight Cancer Institute continues to build its scientific and clinical leadership and cancer treatment resources. Every year, the institute treats about 6,000 patients and conducts about 1,400 research projects, including more than 400 clinical trials. Public support -- including from the State of Oregon and private philanthropy -- have provided crucial resources to advance our progress.
OHSU Knight Cancer Institute Director, Brian Druker, M.D.
Brian Druker, M.D., is the director of the Knight Cancer Institute. Druker helped usher in an era of personalized cancer medicine with his discovery that cancer cells could be shut down by disabling the molecules that drive their growth without harming healthy cells. The drug that resulted from that research, Gleevec®, revolutionized how cancer is treated. It also inspired a new wave of exploration of treatments that target cancer-causing molecules.
OHSU Knight Cancer Institute Deputy Directors Shivaani Kummar, M.D., and Lisa Coussens, Ph.D.
Shivaani Kummar, M.D., and Lisa Coussens, Ph.D., are deputy directors of the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute.
Dr. Kummar leads the division of hematology & medical oncology in the OHSU School of Medicine, co-directs the institute’s Center for Experimental Therapeutics, and oversees clinical and translational research.
Dr. Coussens is the chairwoman of the Department of Cell, Developmental and Cancer Biology, associate director for basic research in the Knight Cancer Institute and oversees the institute’s operations for basic and translational research.
Cancer Early Detection Advanced Research Center (CEDAR)
CEDAR, Cancer Early Detection Advanced Research Center, led by Sadik Esener, Ph.D., is the first large-scale early cancer detection program of its kind. The center's unique scientific research model is team-based, tackling problems from different angles to come up with creative solutions to cancer's biggest challenges.
Precision Oncology
One of the most highly cited scientists in the world, Gordon Mills, M.D., Ph.D., leads the institute’s efforts in precision oncology. Mills believes we are at an “inflection point” in changing the whole outcome for cancer patients, and sees his role as the director of the Precision Oncology program to be an integrative force across various efforts in progress at the institute, including the SMMART Cancer Clinical Trials.
- OHSU leading effort to make cancer trials more inclusive
- OHSU researchers identify promising next-generation cancer treatment
- OHSU Knight Cancer Institute tapped for participation in a national consortium to accelerate cancer drug discovery
- Study confirms the unique danger of postpartum breast cancers
- OHSU experts tapped for national Artificial Intelligence initiative
- A better roadmap for beating a deadly leukemia
- COVID-19 shutdowns caused delays in melanoma diagnoses, study finds
- New treatment strategy aims to stop rare liver cancer
- Nine organizations receive OHSU Knight Cancer Institute funding to address local cancer-related needs
- OHSU Knight Cancer Institute applauds updated Biden administration ‘Cancer Moonshot’ initiative
- OHSU Knight Cancer Institute: View and download multimedia from the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute
- Knight Cancer Challenge: View and download multimedia related to the successful completion of the $1 billion cancer fundraising challenge.
- Knight Cancer Research Building: View and download multimedia related to the Knight Cancer Research Building.