The Wistar Institute

10/30/2025

🌟 What a Stellar Night!

Wistar donors gathered for an unforgettable evening under the stars at the Franklin Institute’s Fels Planetarium during our annual President’s Dinner.

This special event celebrates members of the President’s Society and Legacy Society for their incredible commitment to advancing Wistar science and innovation.

✨ Interested in joining our donor community and supporting the future of biomedical research?

Learn more: https://bit.ly/4hvYZMo

10/29/2025

🚀 Join us at Advanced Therapies USA 2025!
📍 Pennsylvania Convention Center | November 18–19

Discover the future of biotech innovation with top minds from across the region. Don’t miss Wistar’s Dr. David Zuzga, Associate Dean of Biomedical Studies at the Hubert J.P. Schoemaker Education and Training Center, as he shares insights on workforce development and building a sustainable talent pipeline in advanced therapies.

🔗 Learn more: https://bit.ly/4ocKyzk

10/27/2025

🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️ More than 35 Wistar trainees, researchers, staff, family, and friends laced up their sneakers and hit the streets on October 26 for our annual Trot for Trainees!

Participants completed a scenic 2-mile course starting at The Wistar Institute and winding along the beautiful Schuylkill River Waterfront — all to raise funds for the Wistar Trainee Association.

Thanks to your support, we’re helping empower the next generation of biomedical researchers through training, education, and professional development.

👏 A huge thank you to everyone who ran, walked, donated, and cheered us on!

10/24/2025

Wistar’s impact goes beyond our own discoveries. We’ve also developed research tools that have been used by scientists around the world to make groundbreaking advances in medicine:

▶️We developed cell culture technologies critical for the development of vaccines in use throughout the world today.
▶️Our cell models are used around the globe to test new medicines and therapies.

What’s next at Wistar? Sign up for our newsletter to find out: https://bit.ly/4jAiDqw

News Sign up - The Wistar Institute, global leader in biomedical research

10/23/2025

Science Q: What does it mean to “age at the cellular level,” and why is it important to cancer research?

Cells divide and replicate many times over the course of their lives, but eventually, they stop. This final stage is called cellular senescence.

Cellular aging is a double-edged sword when it comes to cancer. Once cells stop replicating they can never restart, so senescence represents a potent mechanism for suppressing tumors. At the same time, senescent cells release certain molecules that can promote tumor growth.

Wistar’s Dr. Leonard Hayflick wasthe first to discover that human cell populations have a limited number of times that they can divide, which was crucial to defining the concept of cellular aging and laying the foundation for studying the role of senescence in cancer pathology.

Want to learn more about Wistar Science? Sign up for our newsletter today. https://www.wistar.org/news-sign-up/

10/22/2025

The Wistar Institute proudly congratulates Dr. Svetlana Mojsov, the 2025 recipient of the Helen Dean King Award, for her groundbreaking discovery of glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1).
Dr. Mojsov’s pioneering research has led to the development of transformative treatments for diabetes and weight loss, improving the lives of millions around the world. Like Helen Dean King herself, Dr. Mojsov is a trailblazer—advancing science and paving the way for women in biomedical research.
We were honored to celebrate her remarkable achievements and lasting impact on human health.
Thank you, Dr. Mojsov, for your visionary contributions to science!

10/21/2025

In collaboration with the The University of Pennsylvania's Perelman School of Medicine, AstraZeneca and Inovio Pharmaceuticals, The Wistar Institute has demonstrated for the first time that synthetic DNA can program human cells to produce protective antibodies that last over a year. In this Phase 1 trial published in Nature Medicine, 100% of participants showed sustained antibody expression for 72+ weeks.

“It was an honor to work together with this exceptional team whose combined skills and dedication to bring new creative solutions for patients benefit underpin this project’s important findings.” said Wistar researcher Dr. David Weiner, corresponding author on the paper.

Without the need for cold storage or multiple doses (shortcomings of other antibody therapies and vaccines), this DNA delivery model could democratize access to sophisticated biologics worldwide.

Read more: https://go.nature.com/47niYbz

10/20/2025

🎉 Three Times Exceptional!

The Wistar Institute’s Ellen and Ronald Caplan Cancer Center has once again earned an “Exceptional” rating from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) — for the third consecutive renewal.

This prestigious recognition reflects our unwavering commitment to collaboration, innovation, and impact. Our unique culture of partnership drives:

🔬 Breakthrough discoveries in cancer biology
💊 First-in-human clinical trials of novel therapies based on Wistar discoveries
🎓 Transformative education programs that create jobs and shape future scientific leaders

We’re proud to be at the forefront of cancer research — and even prouder to be recognized for the values that make it possible.

👉 Learn more: https://bit.ly/4kjqJF0

10/17/2025

Wistar’s Education and Training programs not only teach students the skills they need to excel in the biomedical sciences, but they also provide them with a critical component for future growth: confidence. Hear from Lillian Yost, a participant in our 2025 Biomedical Technician Training program, about her path of discovery.

Learn more about our Hubert J.P. Schoemaker Education and Training Center: https://bit.ly/44Q3U5d

10/16/2025

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month — a time to honor those affected and accelerate progress toward a cure.

At The Wistar Institute, our scientists are driving breakthroughs in biomedical research to transform how breast cancer is detected, treated, and ultimately prevented. From understanding the molecular drivers of cancer to developing innovative potential therapies, Wistar is at the forefront of life-saving science.

You can help fuel our vital breast cancer research with a gift to the Elaine M. Ominsky, Ph.D., Breast Cancer Research Fund at Wistar — named for a former Trustee who fought tirelessly for breast cancer funding .

Make your gift today: https://bit.ly/4hi0gqo

Together, we can advance science and save lives.

10/15/2025

Science that saves lives—wild and human alike.

Did you know that researchers at The Wistar Institute played a key role in developing the oral rabies vaccine used in RABORAL V-RG?

Thanks to the work of Drs. William H. Wunner, Peter J. Curtis, and Charles E. Rupprecht, this vaccine—first approved in 1995—has been used worldwide to protect wildlife populations like raccoons from rabies. By controlling rabies in animals, we reduce the risk to humans and help safeguard public health.

This is just one example of how Wistar’s biomedical research continues to make a global impact.

🔗 Learn more: http://bit.ly/47oZ0OL

10/14/2025

Wistar was proud to tee up support for our friends at Life Science Cares Philadelphia during their recent Mini Golf for Good event! ⛳💙

We applaud their mission to disrupt poverty by connecting individuals to educational opportunities and career pathways in the biomedical and biopharmaceutical industries—building financial stability and brighter futures.

Life Science Cares Philadelphia has been a steadfast supporter of Wistar, helping us deliver hands-on lab training and education in our high school, undergraduate and workforce development programs. Together, we’re shaping the next generation of life science professionals.

👏 Thank you, Life Science Cares, for driving real change in our community!