Oregon Public Broadcasting

Phil Knight gave Oregon Health and Science University its largest ever gift Wednesday, $100 million. Kristian Foden-Vencil reports.

The money will go to the ‘OHSU Cancer Institute,’ which will be renamed the ‘OHSU Knight Cancer Institute.’

The first $2 million will help finish a new research laboratory, to be named the Linda Conant Lab. She was a close friend of the Knight family and died of cancer in January. 

But Doctor Brian Druker, who led the development of the cancer drug Gleevec, says the bulk of the money will help attract the best and the brightest researchers. 

Brian Drucker: “We want those people working right here. Breaking down this complex disease, figuring it out, and bringing new treatments to people that live and work in our region as quickly as possible.” 

Phil Knight donated $100 million last year to the athletics department of his alma mater, the University of Oregon.