Nike co-founder Phil Knight and his wife, Penny Knight, have pledged a record-breaking $2 billion to Oregon Health & Science University’s Knight Cancer Institute. The announcement, made on August 14, 2025, marks the largest donation ever to a U.S. university or academic health center. It surpasses the previous record of $1.8 billion given by Michael Bloomberg to Johns Hopkins University in 2018.

The gift will accelerate cancer research, expand clinical trials, and reshape patient care. It also creates the Knight Cancer Group, a self-governed entity within OHSU. Leading the group is Dr. Brian Druker, best known for developing the leukemia drug Gleevec. The Knights describe their vision simply: to “end cancer as we know it.”

Funding will support a range of initiatives. These include early detection programs, advanced diagnostics, and new therapies in precision medicine and immunotherapy. A new hospital wing, set to open in 2026, will add 128 beds for cancer patients and four floors of specialized care. Just as important, patients will gain access to wraparound services like nutrition support, genetic counseling, mental health care, and survivorship programs.

The couple’s commitment to OHSU is not new. In 2013, they pledged $500 million in a challenge gift that successfully launched major advances in cancer detection. This new donation, however, raises the stakes dramatically. Officials say it will position Portland as a global leader in cancer innovation and provide hope well beyond Oregon’s borders.