OHSU highlights future of research and changes happening at Knight Cancer Institute
Oregon Health & Science University’s research mission, which exceeded $580 million during the 2024 fiscal year, continues to deliver life-saving scientific discoveries, the university’s board of directors heard during its regular public meeting Friday, April 25.
Peter Barr-Gillespie, Ph.D., OHSU chief research officer and executive vice president, outlined several high-impact OHSU research stories from the past year, including:
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The development of the first blood test for pancreatic cancer.
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Work on a one-time universal flu vaccine.
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A new technique to treat infertility by turning a skin cell into an egg capable of producing viable embryos.
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A groundbreaking method to control human body temperature in people experiencing life-threatening events, such as heart attacks or strokes.
The board heard an update from interim Chief Executive of the Knight Cancer Institute Shivaani Kummar, M.D., FACP, on the history of the Knight and the current organizational structure, including the recent promotion of Lisa Coussens, Ph.D., FAACR, FAIO, to interim director.
Kummar described the Knight Cancer Institute’s continued focus on aligning oncology efforts across the three missions of OHSU – health care, research and education, and how the institute serves more than 35,000 patients per year. She also highlighted the work of some of the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute’s signature initiatives, including the Center for Experimental Therapeutics, the Cancer Early Detection Advanced Research Center and community partnership programs.
“Cancer evolves over time, especially under pressure of treatment,” Kummar said. “Our SMMART trials, where we sample tumors over time, deeply characterize them and use this information to inform treatments, has resulted in an increased understanding of cancer evolution.”
In other business:
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In addition to highlighting innovative research, Barr-Gillespie discussed the thousands of additional biomedical research programs active at OHSU, where scientists are using basic science, clinical, translational and community research approaches to study a wide range of topics. Many of these research programs are at risk of being dismantled if federal cuts to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding continue, Barr-Gillespie said. The proposed 40% cut to the NIH budget, which includes a drastic cap on indirect costs for institutions, would likely devastate biomedical research at OHSU. Barr-Gillespie highlighted some of the ways OHSU is trying to mitigate these risks, in particular OHSU’s Research Restructuring Commission. The RRC was formed by OHSU Interim President Steve Stadum, J.D., and is responsible for developing a plan that outlines changes to the research mission that would be necessary to operate within new financial constraints the university may be facing.
Barr-Gillespie acknowledged the significant headwinds facing the research mission because of changes in the regulatory and funding environments and discussed the work ahead for OHSU to continue to deliver world class research for the people of Oregon and beyond.
He also discussed the critical research taking place at the Oregon National Primate Research Center and the campaign by anti-animal research activists to close it. He outlined the devastating impacts the center’s closure would have on the careers and livelihoods of the hundreds of people who work there, the loss of innovative research projects that positively impact human health, the challenge in rehoming thousands of nonhuman primates, and the potential $100 million cost to close the center, among other impacts.
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Lawrence Furnstahl, OHSU executive vice president and chief financial officer, presented on the 2025 fiscal year budget and projections for 2026. Based on the financial performance year to date, he is projecting OHSU will end FY25 with a loss of $95 million, a negative 1.7% margin budget. The loss OHSU had budgeted was $25 million. Despite increased patient volumes and higher revenues, Furnstahl said expenses continue to exceed revenues. Next year’s proposed budget seeks to cut OHSU’s operating loss in half and keep a negative margin of no worse than negative 1%. To meet this negative 1% margin, OHSU proposed to the board specific steps to minimize expense increases in FY26, including providing a flat 2% across-the-board pay increase for employees in Unclassified Administrative and faculty roles; implementing tighter review and control of positions; delaying construction on the perinatal addition (also known as Doernbecher addition); and limiting or foregoing other expenses.
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The board adopted a resolution of its appreciation for the dedication of Calvin Jara, a Med25 student, who completes his service as student representative on the board when he graduates this year.