Cancer Research
Learn about the Knight Cancer Institute’s innovative scientific research programs and centers of excellence
The OHSU Knight Cancer Institute has an international reputation for innovative research. It's no accident. Team science is fundamental to our mission.
We seek a diversity of scientific disciplines, expertise and voices. Whether you’re a graduate researcher starting your career or a seasoned investigator looking for partners, we want to work with you.
You’ll join more than 900 researchers, including faculty, post-docs, scientists, technicians, technologists, computational biologists, biostatisticians and others. Our members are faculty in 36 departments, centers and institutes across OHSU.
Our devotion to collaboration has helped us:
- Develop lifesaving therapies such as Gleevec, CAR T-cell therapy and NK therapy.
- Conduct early-detection research and hundreds of clinical trials.
- Gain national recognition for work in targeted therapy, cell therapy, precision oncology, surgical oncology, early detection, biofabrication and many other fields.
Scientific research programs
The OHSU Knight Cancer Institute holds the National Cancer Institute's top designation as a Comprehensive Cancer Center. The National Cancer Institute P30 Cancer Center Support Grant supports our research to advance the understanding of cancer.
Our faculty members are advancing the understanding of the root causes of cancer, and finding ways to improve detection, diagnosis, treatment and prevention. Our research spans basic, quantitative and translational science as well as clinical trials and the study of at-risk populations.
Through collaboration with the Oregon Health Authority, we emphasize research into high-priority cancers affecting patients across Oregon and beyond.
Our research faculty are spread across four focused scientific research programs:
- Cancer Biology: The Cancer Biology Program explores genetic, molecular and cellular mechanisms that start tumors, drive cancer progression and shape responses or resistance to therapy.
- Cancer Prevention and Control: The goal of the Cancer Prevention and Control Program is to reduce cancer incidence, morbidity and mortality. Our innovative transdisciplinary research applies discoveries from basic, clinical and population health science to underserved populations, such as in rural areas, and those with high cancer risk.
- Quantitative Oncology: The Quantitative Oncology Program combines technology development, measurement science, computational modeling and AI-enabled integration to power cancer research.
- Translational Oncology: The Translational Oncology Program supports bench-to-bedside research, using biomarkers and precise therapies to improve patient outcomes.
- Program faculty members: See all members of our scientific research programs.
Centers of excellence
The Knight’s centers of excellence are highly collaborative, specialized centers focused on specific areas of cancer research:
Help us create a world without cancer
Join us in ending cancer. Our doctors and scientists are striving to stop cancer through:
- Early detection: The sooner we find cancer, the better we can treat it.
- Immunotherapy: We're finding ways to harness the immune system to fight cancer, with fewer side effects.
- Precision medicine: When we can match treatments to cancer's specific properties,
we raise hopes for a good outcome.