A generous gift from Phillip (LAS ’69) and Ann Sharp is advancing the mission of the Cancer Center at Illinois.
Written by Kim Schmidt
Photo caption: Nobel winner Phillp Sharp and Rohit Bhargava, Phillip and Ann Sharp Director of the Cancer Center at Illinois
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Cancer has touched all of us, whether through the loss of someone we loved or the shock of our own diagnosis. In fact, nearly 40% of Americans will hear the words “you have cancer” at some point in their lives. Behind that sobering statistic are patients waiting for options and families clinging to possibilities. Thankfully, there are also scientists driven by the belief that developing tomorrow’s treatments will rewrite the odds that today feel inevitable.
Hundreds of those hopeful scientists are on the Illinois campus tackling the issue together as part of the Cancer Center at Illinois (CCIL). Drawing specifically on Illinois strengths in basic science and engineering, CCIL has emerged as an influential force in cancer research by breaking down academic silos and forging strong research relationships across disciplines. Recently, Nobel Prize winner Phillip Sharp (LAS ’69) and his wife, Ann, made a generous and visionary gift to CCIL — a powerful endorsement of the groundbreaking work taking place at Illinois.
Organizing for impact
The CCIL is now a campus-wide research institute with roots formed almost 15 years ago when a group of around 50 faculty began gathering to share research and investigate ways to work together. Rohit Bhargava, a bioengineering professor, was among the founding members, and today he leads the CCIL as the Phillip and Ann Sharp Director, together with 120 faculty and over 700 students engaged in cancer research.
Today, CCIL faculty are moving multiple projects toward clinical impact. “Organizing as a center brought a sense of urgency because we can see that innovation can have impact in our lifetimes,” said Bhargava. “Our cancer center is an innovative and novel way of accelerating fundamental discovery into medical applications that improve patient’s lives. And to make a significant impact, you need the necessary infrastructure and support.”
The role of philanthropic support
Geneticist and molecular biologist Sharp won the 1993 Nobel Prize in Medicine for his discovery of RNA splicing in 1977 — a breakthrough that led to the field of biotechnology as we know it today. Sharp received his Ph.D. in chemistry at Illinois, and Ann supported their family as he pursued his graduate studies.
Both Ann and Phillip look back on their time at Illinois as transformative. “Illinois is a very honest, welcoming place to new people. I felt that I was in the presence of really extraordinarily gifted people, particularly in the chemistry department,” said Phillip. “It’s easy to say, but [being at Illinois] did change my life in a very significant way. It changed both of our lives.”
Sharp has gone on to spend much of his career at MIT, where he led the Center for Cancer Research, now the Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, from 1985 to 1991. His prize-winning work at MIT around RNA splicing paved the way to a deeper understanding of the connection between gene expression and disease. It redefined biological research and set the stage for breakthroughs in modern medicine.
“Phil is a visionary,” said Bhargava. “To have put his name and his support behind the CCIL is a tremendous validation for this campus and the work we do at the Center.”
Both Sharps dedicated their careers to education and share a deep commitment to supporting students. In addition to funding critical research, they see this gift as a way to provide younger scientists a glimpse into the exciting opportunities in healthcare research.
“There are a lot of exciting reasons to support the Cancer Center at Illinois. It supports a campus that demands excellence but is supportive at the same time,” Sharp said. “It also provides students an understanding of the many research opportunities available in healthcare. It is a very fulfilling industry to be involved in because you are helping others.”
Looking ahead, Sharp foresees a profound transformation in how we understand and deliver care. “Healthcare now makes up nearly 18% of our GDP, and close to one in five Americans will work in the field,” he said. “The entire system is going to be reengineered.”
It’s a prediction grounded not in speculation, but in a lifetime spent at the forefront of scientific discovery. The Cancer Center at Illinois is poised to help turn that vision into reality with its focus on cancer engineering. Sharp and Bhargava were among the organizers of a recent National Academies workshop at the convergence of these two disciplines.
“Phil is an amazing individual with foresight and the bravery to imagine big concepts that can change lives,” said Bhargava. “We’re humbled by his support as we invent the future on this campus. Our engineers, biologists, and innovators are coming together with one shared goal: to change the way we understand and fight cancer.”