OHSU Knight Cancer Institute

06/04/2026

Everyone! Meet Doc.🦮💙 Doc is our newest hospital facility dog, joining the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute as the Director of Cuddles.

And fun fact… Doc is Darby’s brother! She’s showing him the ropes - and toys - so he’ll be extra ready when he visits patients.

If you see Doc around, be sure to give him a pat, or paw! 🐾

05/29/2026

🎙️ Dr. Brian Druker joined the Precision Signals podcast to discuss Gleevec, precision oncology, and the future of cancer research:

Dr. Brian Druker helped change the course of modern oncology throug...

05/29/2026

A new study found that veterans diagnosed with cancer face a higher risk of su***de attempts, especially in the months following diagnosis, and that risk can persist for years.

“Cancer care can’t just focus on treating tumors. We have to care for the whole person — their mental health, their quality of life and the existential distress that comes with serious illness.” - Dr. Donald Sullivan:

Large, national study finds su***de attempt risk among veterans is highest after diagnosis, remains elevated for years; highlights need for continued mental health support.

05/21/2026

05/18/2026

"It’s like you’re putting a transparent window in the human body. You can observe as things happen, but we’re doing that in the lab."

Dr. Luiz Bertassoni joined OPB's"Think Out Loud" to discuss OHSU's work in 3D printing cancer cells from a patient and miniature versions of organs: https://bit.ly/3RCasRC

05/16/2026

Researchers found that a cancer-driving protein also helps damaged tumor cells survive treatment by repairing their DNA.

It is a discovery that could lead to new strategies to make chemotherapy and other DNA-damaging therapies more effective:

OHSU study shows how protein contributes to tumor resistance to chemotherapy, other treatments.

05/14/2026

In 1998, Mel Mann was told he had Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) and that he had three years to live.

Fast forward to 2026 ⏩ Mel's still healthy and training for his next marathon. 🏃

Listen (via NPR):

25 years ago, the FDA approved a pill that would change the way scientists treat cancer … for good. The pill was called Gleevec; it was designed specifically to treat CML, chronic myeloid leukemia, and it was one of the first targeted cancer therapies available. A quarter century after approval, i...

05/13/2026

This week marks the 25th Anniversary of Gleevec, the drug used to fight CML, developed by Dr. Brian Druker.

One of his patients is Oregon State Representative Hai Pham, who was diagnosed nearly 20 years ago.

"Gleevec is a game changer. It saved my life. It’s given me a second chance at life. It's allowed me to pay it forward.”

The FDA approved Gleevec in 2001. Now, 25 years later, millions of leukemia patients around the world who faced a death sentence are living full lives.