The Wistar Institute

Take a virtual tour of The Wistar Institute’s Genomics Facility. Click, drag, and zoom to explore the space and learn about what genomics entails, the value of studying genes, and the array of tools available for scientists to use in their research.

https://omnisightinc.com/virtual-tours/wistar-institute/genomics-facility-virtual-tour/

Wistar in the news: Thanks to WHYY for spotlighting The Wistar Institute's historic $24 million investment in the HIV Cure and Viral Diseases Center, which mobilizes top scientists in virology and immunology to advance cure strategies that can be tested and refined alongside the community of people living with HIV invested in working toward a cure.

“I’m very hopeful that this center is but the beginning of what is going to be a transformative scientific advancement that will not only benefit people living with HIV, but may benefit world health in general,” said Luis Montaner, D.V.M., D.Phil., Wistar Executive Vice President and director of the Center. Read the full story here: https://bit.ly/4cRPcxf/

Wistar Institute to build new Philly center dedicated to HIV cure research There is no general cure for HIV, a chronic disease that affects more than 39 million people globally, including more than 18,000 in Philadelphia.

Tomorrow, July 25th, join us in attending a special webinar from The American Association of Immunologists - AAI, "Addressing DEIA Objectives in the Face of a New Legal Environment," chaired by Wistar's Dr. Luis Montaner and featuring the Chronicle of Higher Education's J. Brian Charles and the National Institutes of Health (NIH)'s Michael S. Lauer, M.D.

Don't miss this opportunity to hear from leading voices on the changing landscape of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Access in research; register for free at the link below.

https://bit.ly/3L5fa4b

The Wistar Institute was pleased to honor 2023 Nobel Laureate in Medicine or Physiology, Dr. Drew Weissman of Penn Medicine, with the 28th annual Jonathan Lax Memorial Award in recognition of his outstanding achievements in HIV research. Thank you to everyone who joined Wistar and Philadelphia FIGHT for tonight's celebration of the progress that science is making in finding a cure for HIV.

Did you know that more than 210 cultural institutions are accessible from The Wistar Institute’s front door? And since Philadelphia is the 4th most walkable city in the US, many are just a short stroll away.

From the Philadelphia Art Museum and the Barnes Foundation to the Kimmel Center and the Academy of Music, Wistar has a world of culture at its doorstep.

Working in science? Work in Philly.

- Join host Dr. Maureen Murphy as she takes you into the labs and lives of scientists pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in biomedical research.

Today, we hear from Dr. Luis Montaner, a pioneer in HIV research and principal investigator of the BEAT-HIV Delaney Collaboratory. Listen, learn, and subscribe to the podcast so you never miss a chance to get Wistar Science Up Close.

Now available on all major podcast platforms:

Wistar Science Up Close This is Wistar Science Up Close, where we tell the stories of researchers who are global leaders pushing the boundaries of what's possible in biomedical research.

Thank you to everyone who joined us in Philadelphia for the annual BEAT-HIV Meeting, an opportunity for research collaborators around the world to share research updates and new directions, such as BEAT-HIV Co-Principal Investigator Dr. Luis Montaner’s continued investigation of the roles different interferons play in HIV — and how those roles can shape therapies.

The Wistar Institute is grateful to our collaborators in the community members, advocacy groups, government, pharma, and research institutions, whose support is essential to the continued search for a cure.

: In our latest issue of Focus Magazine, we showcase a new collaborative cancer biology Ph.D. program in partnership with PCOM.

Highlighting Wistar Science, Wistar People and Wistar Successes – Focus Magazine is now available online.

https://bit.ly/4bFmUVp

Ambitious biomedical research is not done in a vacuum. It is a people investment to drive breakthroughs in scientific research, forge powerful partnerships locally and globally, and educate and train the next generation of scientific innovators.

Glioblastoma is one of the most aggressive forms of brain cancer, made even more difficult to treat due to its ability to evade the immune system. That’s why Wistar’s Dr. Filippo Veglia wants to understand how glioblastoma disguises itself – a critical first step in exposing it to the body’s anticancer forces.

On , read our story about Dr. Veglia’s work here: https://bit.ly/3LnfGKK/

Wistar Scientists Discover New Immunosuppressive Mechanism in Brain Cancer Wistar Scientists Discover New Immunosuppressive Mechanism in Brain Cancer Press Releases

On July 25th, join us in attending a special webinar from The American Association of Immunologists - AAI, "Addressing DEIA Objectives in the Face of a New Legal Environment," chaired by Wistar's Dr. Luis Montaner and featuring the Chronicle of Higher Education's J. Brian Charles and the National Institutes of Health (NIH)'s Michael S. Lauer, M.D.

Don't miss this opportunity to hear from leading voices on the changing landscape of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Access in research; register for free at the link below.

https://bit.ly/3L5fa4b

The Wistar Institute announce its newest and boldest undertaking in the global fight against HIV and viral threats: The HIV Cure and Viral Diseases Center. Building on the tremendous progress of Wistar’s HIV Research Program and global momentum supporting cure research, the Center will marshal world-class scientific talent to advance strategies for viral cures at the new Wistar North campus.

Luis J. Montaner, D.V.M., D.Phil., leads this historic undertaking as the new Center founding director and newly appointed executive vice president of the Wistar Institute. Read our story here to learn more about this ambitious undertaking: https://www.wistar.org/press-releases/the-wistar-institute-launches-hiv-cure-and-viral-diseases-center/

The Wistar Institute Launches HIV Cure and Viral Diseases Center The Wistar Institute Launches HIV Cure and Viral Diseases Center Press Releases

Wistar expands education & training programs to more students and employers to meet the needs of our booming life science sector with a workforce of talented, next-gen scientists and leaders.

“Trying to be unique and different is what drives me to be creative, and being creative is how you find solutions in science.”

- Nan Zhang, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Immunology, Microenvironment and Metastasis Program

It’s , so this summer be sure to protect yourself against skin cancer. Researchers with The Wistar Institute Melanoma Research Center, a national leader in the study of melanoma, encourage you to educate, prevent and protect yourself from the fastest growing and most aggressive form of skin cancer – regardless of skin tone. Dr. Jessie Villanueva has some simple advice: know your family history; limit exposure to UV rays from the sun and tanning beds; wear protective clothing, sunscreen and sunglasses; and check your skin monthly for any spots, taking note of the ABCDs: Asymmetry, Border, Color, Diameter. These small steps can make a big impact on your health.

On July 16th, The Wistar Institute honors Nobel Laureate Dr. Drew Weissman with the 28th annual Jonathan Lax Memorial Award in recognition of his contributions to the field of HIV research. Read our story to learn more about the legacy of Jonathan Lax and Dr. Weissman’s talk, “Development of novel therapies based on RNA: from COVID vaccines to anti-HIV strategies”:

Nobel Laureate Drew Weissman, M.D., Ph.D., Delivers 28th Annual Jonathan Lax Memorial Lecture at The Wistar Institute Nobel Laureate Drew Weissman, M.D., Ph.D., Delivers 28th Annual Jonathan Lax Memorial Lecture at The Wistar Institute Press Releases

: In our latest issue of Focus Magazine, we talk with Dr. David Weiner about his Vaccines and Immune Therapeutics Class and its many world-class guest lecturers.

Highlighting Wistar Science, Wistar People and Wistar Successes – Focus Magazine is now available online.

https://bit.ly/45Rh0PJ

Join us for the 28th Annual Jonathan Lax Lecture, a special presentation on the therapeutic potential of RNA in treating HIV.

2023 Nobel Laureate in Physiology or Medicine Dr. Drew Weissman, Roberts Family Professor in Vaccine Research at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, delivers this year’s lecture: “Development of novel therapies based on RNA: from COVID vaccines to anti-HIV strategies.”

Don’t miss out — register to attend virtually or in person.

Virtual event registration: https://bit.ly/3X440Uo
In-person event registration: https://bit.ly/3VrgHHt

Wistar Science Up Close launches today. Join host Dr. Maureen Murphy as she takes you into the labs and lives of scientists pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in biomedical research.

Today, we hear from Dr. Luis Montaner, a pioneer in HIV research and principal investigator of the BEAT-HIV Delaney Collaboratory. Listen, learn, and subscribe to the podcast so you never miss a chance to get Wistar Science Up Close.

Now available on all major podcast platforms:

Wistar Science Up Close This is Wistar Science Up Close, where we tell the stories of researchers who are global leaders pushing the boundaries of what's possible in biomedical research.

The Wistar Institute and Accelerated Bio are pleased to announce a new collaboration to transform immune cell therapies based on Accelerated Bio’s proprietary technology.

"Collaborating with Accelerated Bio aligns perfectly with Wistar's research objectives to develop new strategies for immunotherapy based on our understanding of the human immune system,” said Wistar’s Dr. Luis Montaner. “We are excited to explore the innate capabilities of Accelerated Bio’s hTSCs and harness their potential to engineer superior allogeneic cell therapies against various diseases, such as HIV or cancer."

Revolutionizing Cancer Treatment: Wistar and Accelerated Biosciences Collaborate to Pioneer Transformative Immune Cell Therapies Revolutionizing Cancer Treatment: Wistar and Accelerated Biosciences Collaborate to Pioneer Transformative Immune Cell Therapies Press Releases

Check out the latest feature on some of the exciting research happening at The Wistar Institute from Technical.ly, who visited the labs of Drs. Amelia Escolano and Avi Srivastava. From searching for an effective vaccine for HIV to bringing together the power of computational & biological science, Wistar's researchers continue to explore key questions of human health every day.

Story here: https://technical.ly/civic-news/wistar-institute-hiv-vaccine-research/

Wistar is proud to call Philadelphia home, with its diverse and growing community of researchers, technologists, and entrepreneurs. Join us and help advance our premier life sciences community and contribute to its future growth.

Even when managed, chronic disease is a challenge for those who live with it. That’s why researchers at The Wistar Institute work to discover treatments and cures for chronic conditions millions of people suffer from every day.

Whether our scientists are working on HIV, cancer, or multiple sclerosis, Wistar Science aims to expand our toolkit against chronic disease — one discovery at a time.

Wistar scientists commit to excellence in research, collaboration and innovation. Here’s to the connectors who support junior scientists, and embrace AI & computational science to advance early stage-discovery.