The Wistar Institute

The Wistar Institute Founded in 1892, The Wistar Institute is an independent, nonprofit biomedical research institute wit

Founded as the first institution of its kind devoted to medical research and training in the United States, The Wistar Institute has evolved from its beginnings as an anatomical teaching museum to its present-day status as an international leader in basic biomedical research.

Join us next Wednesday, 3/18, for the Philadelphia Drug Discovery Forum!Join Mallika Singh, Ph.D., Senior Vice President...
03/13/2026

Join us next Wednesday, 3/18, for the Philadelphia Drug Discovery Forum!

Join Mallika Singh, Ph.D., Senior Vice President of Translational Research at Revolution Medicines, for her presentation on “Targeting the Oncogenic State of RAS.”

Whether you’re a scientist, student, biopharma leader, or simply curious about the future of drug discovery, this free event is your gateway to the latest breakthroughs shaping the field. Connect with innovators from academia, industry, and beyond!

📅 March 18, 2026
🕞 Doors open: 3:30 p.m.
🕓 Talk begins promptly: 4 p.m.
🥂 Reception + networking: 5 p.m.

👉 Register today! https://bit.ly/4qQkg6B

Wistar emeritus professor Dr. Stanley Plotkin was recognized by Life Sciences PA last evening with the 2026 Scientific A...
03/12/2026

Wistar emeritus professor Dr. Stanley Plotkin was recognized by Life Sciences PA last evening with the 2026 Scientific Achievement Award for his outstanding achievements in advancing scientific knowledge for the betterment of mankind. He was instrumental in the discovery of a vaccine against rubella, helping to prevent birth defects in newborns.

From rubella to rotavirus, his work turned once‑devastating diseases into preventable conditions. STAT writer Helen Branswell’s recent interview with Dr. Plotkin is a powerful example of how scientific innovation changes lives.

https://bit.ly/40dii5y

Note - this story may require registration.

The 2026 Vaccine Innovation Forum kicked off this week in Shanghai, China. Wistar’s Dr. David Weiner chaired a vaccine i...
03/12/2026

The 2026 Vaccine Innovation Forum kicked off this week in Shanghai, China. Wistar’s Dr. David Weiner chaired a vaccine innovation panel with experts from GSK, Sanofi and Chonnam National University Medical School, South Korea. They discussed opportunities and challenges in the field of vaccines and immunotherapies.

Dr. Michael Zhu, previously a postdoctoral fellow in the lab of Dr. Weiner, gave a science talk later in the day. He is starting an independent faculty position at the Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Learn more about the innovative work happening in Dr. Weiner's lab: https://bit.ly/46rgmcd

We’re delighted to welcome James Lovett back to The Wistar Institute Board of Trustees!James previously served on Wistar...
03/11/2026

We’re delighted to welcome James Lovett back to The Wistar Institute Board of Trustees!

James previously served on Wistar’s Board from 2015–2022 and brings decades of leadership experience in the life sciences industry. His expertise and deep understanding of Wistar’s mission will help guide our work as we continue advancing breakthroughs in biomedical research.

Read more: https://bit.ly/4rnvDDi

T cell lymphomas are among the most difficult blood cancers to treat—largely because immunotherapy struggles to differen...
03/10/2026

T cell lymphomas are among the most difficult blood cancers to treat—largely because immunotherapy struggles to differentiate cancerous T cells from healthy ones.

Now, Wistar scientists in Dr. David B. Weiner's lab, including first author Dr. Pratik Bhojnagarwala, have demonstrated a two-vaccine strategy that targets each tumor’s unique T cell receptor while countering the cancer’s immune evasion tactics. Published in Cancer Immunology, Immunotherapy, the study shows significantly improved tumor control and survival in preclinical models—offering new hope for patients facing this aggressive disease.

Read more about how targeting cancer clonality could change the future of T cell lymphoma treatment: https://bit.ly/4lrHuz4

Thanks to Carmen Leitch of Lab Roots for sharing Wistar’s Dr. Rahul Shinde’s latest Cell Reports research on a gut micro...
03/10/2026

Thanks to Carmen Leitch of Lab Roots for sharing Wistar’s Dr. Rahul Shinde’s latest Cell Reports research on a gut microbe–derived metabolite once thought to be harmless yet may play a powerful—and potentially dangerous—role in immune responses.

Read more: https://bit.ly/4uh7CRf

03/09/2026

In this week’s installment of Between Two Microscopes, we hear from Dr. David Zuzga, assistant dean of Biomedical Studies, and Dr. Kristy Shuda McGuire, dean of Biomedical Studies in the Hubert J.P. Schoemaker Education and Training Center. They discuss the power of their award-winning Biomedical Technician Training and how it helps build paths to successful careers in the life sciences.

Learn more about our education and training programs: https://bit.ly/44Q3U5d

134 years ago this month, The Wistar Institute was founded as the nation’s first biomedical research institute — and we’...
03/06/2026

134 years ago this month, The Wistar Institute was founded as the nation’s first biomedical research institute — and we’ve been driving life‑changing discoveries ever since.

From pioneering treatments for rabies, rubella, and rotavirus, to advancing new approaches in cancer, HIV, and infectious disease research, our scientists have helped shape modern biomedical science.

Through our award-winning Hubert J.P. Schoemaker Education and Training Center, we’ve also launched the careers of countless researchers and biomedical professionals, empowering the next generation of scientific leaders.

As the nation marks its 250th anniversary, we’re proud of our place in history as the first institute dedicated to biomedical research — and even prouder of the breakthroughs still to come.

Explore our history and see how Wistar continues to push science forward. https://bit.ly/4la8UJD

03/05/2026

Dr. Luis Montaner, executive vice president and director of Wistar’s HIV Cure and Viral Diseases Center, understands the true impact of supporting The Wistar Institute.

“If being part of change, part of the future, and part of better health outcomes is something you value, Wistar will give you that.”

Learn more about how you can invest in Wistar Science and help fuel the breakthroughs that address some of today’s most pressing health challenges: https://bit.ly/3IrAa77

For the second time, Wistar scientists Dr. Alessandro Gardini and Dr. Kavitha Sarma convened students, researchers and i...
03/04/2026

For the second time, Wistar scientists Dr. Alessandro Gardini and Dr. Kavitha Sarma convened students, researchers and industry experts in Cancun, Mexico for the Genome Regulation through RNA Conference. Created by the duo in 2024, this meeting has quickly become a hub for cutting-edge conversations at the intersection of RNA and epigenetics.

Discover the story behind this growing scientific gathering: https://bit.ly/4rdJ3lp

We’re excited to share that Dr. Chunlei Shao has received a $100,000 Mentored Investigator Grant from Ovarian Cancer Res...
03/03/2026

We’re excited to share that Dr. Chunlei Shao has received a $100,000 Mentored Investigator Grant from Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance! 🎉

This funding will empower Dr. Shao—part of Dr. Nan Zhang’s lab—to develop new therapies that will improve tumors' response to treatment and offer better options for patients with advanced ovarian cancer.

Support from organizations like OCRA fuels breakthrough ideas and helps Wistar scientists take on the hardest‑to‑treat cancers.

Learn more about the research of Dr. Zhang’s lab: https://bit.ly/4aOJAnt

03/02/2026

Ever wonder what scientists talk about behind the scenes? Introducing Between Two Microscopes—our new video series where Wistar scientists sit down for real, unscripted conversations about what drives their work, the twists and turns of their scientific journeys, and the discoveries that keep them inspired.

Episode one features Dr. Katherine Aird, professor and co-leader of the Molecular & Cellular Oncogenesis Program, and Dr. Amelia Escolano, assistant professor in the Vaccine & Immunotherapy Center, who share an honest and compelling look at their paths to science and what motivates them in the lab.

More conversations, more discoveries, and more inspiration are on the way. Stay tuned!

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