A generous gift from Phillip (LAS ’69) and Ann Sharp is advancing the mission of the Cancer Center at Illinois.

Written by Kim Schmidt

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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.”

In many ways, we know exponentially more now about how the world works than we did a century ago. But certain things remain unexplained — including the very organ that makes it possible for us to land on the moon or perform life-saving surgeries. The brain still holds mysteries for us to solve, and even though scientists from many fields are studying the brain and behavior, this work is often confined within a particular area of study.

The new Kellner Center for Neurogenomics, Behavior, and Society at Illinois takes a holistic approach to studying genes, brain, and behavior, specifically around the issue of mental health. Researchers from the Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology (IGB), the School of Social Work, and the Center for Social & Behavioral Science are coming together in a unique partnership to conduct research and policy work that can have long-reaching implications for how we view and treat mental illness in our country.

This exciting new collaboration between biological and social scientists tackles the issue of mental illness from its genetic and molecular origins in the brain to refining medicinal and therapeutic treatment options and improving policies around mental health.

The center was made possible through a generous gift from Bill and Julie Kellner, longtime supporters of the University of Illinois System. The couple hopes the work at the Kellner Center will lead to a deeper understanding of the biological roots of mental illness, which will change people’s attitudes about those afflicted.

“Too often, the individual suffering from a mental illness is ostracized,” Julie said. “Our hope is that one day mental illness will be looked upon in the same regard as physical illnesses such as cancer — with empathy, understanding and a desire to find effective and affordable medications and treatments. We envision a time when society is more understanding and supportive and when there are more tools to help the mentally ill.”

A new era of collaboration

The center is led by Alison Bell, a professor in the School of Integrative Biology. Bell leads the Gene Networks in Neural and Developmental Plasticity research theme at the IGB, where groups of researchers study brain gene expression, social behavior, and biological diversity. In her lab, the team focuses on the stickleback fish, whose rich repertoire of fascinating behaviors and extensive variation within and among populations has attracted scientists’ attention for almost a century. Sticklebacks are a good model of humans because the variation they exhibit in traits like risk-taking and sensation-seeking behaviors, parental care, and aggressiveness has deeply conserved biological origins.  

Bell says the inclusion of non-human animal research makes the center stand out in the field.

“Understanding how the brain generates behavior — including the role of genetics, environment, and social context — has implications for understanding the spectrum of human experience,” Bell explained. “In non-human animals, we are able to control certain variables as we test the function of genes that we just can’t do in humans for good reason. These animals have something important to tell us about what actually matters to humans.”

The Kellner Center is organized around three main tasks: conducting basic biological research into how genes in the brain work together to create complex behaviors; finding new ways to help those with mental illness by applying these newly understood intersections between biology and social influences on behavior; and working with practitioners, policy makers, and the public to bridge the gap between research and real-world application.

Why private support matters

Typically, federal agencies or foundations fund this type of research. Bell and her colleagues have found, however, that federal funding agencies aren’t always equipped to review grant applications that bring disparate subjects together. “Some of the problems we run into is that our grant proposals are viewed as ‘too ambitious.’ Sometimes we get caught in between fields.”

That’s why the private funding from the Kellners is so important. “It takes an open-minded donor,” Bell explains. “Yes, this is a hard and complicated problem to solve, but it is worth investing in. The Kellners have helped us lay a strong, secure foundation by supporting the center.”

Philanthropy is important to the Kellners, a practice that reaches back into both their childhoods. Giving back was an expectation in their families, whether through acts of service or financial support. Their first gift to the university was $25 in 1991. At the time, they could not have predicted that over 30 years later, they would be able to leave such an enduring legacy in Illinois.

“It has been really exciting to work with Alison and the team. They understand and share our passion. They are setting incredible goals, bringing in the right people, and really making a difference. We’re blown away,” Bill said. “We felt that this gift could provide more than a band-aid to the issues around mental illness — we believe this center can create valuable systemic changes.”

Bell appreciates the Kellners’ faith in the center and the value they see in the work being done.

“The Kellners understand the importance of basic biological studies and know there is a long road between data that we might be generating by looking at gene expression in the brain of a honeybee, a fish, or a mouse to actually translating that into a practical impact in society. We’re all on board with this long-term investment.”