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The Wistar Institute Recognizes 58 Students Completing Summer Education & Training Programs

The Wistar’s Institute’s Caplan Auditorium was filled to capacity to recognize 58 students who had completed one of Wistar’s four summer Education and Training programs. The event – the culmination of months of class work and laboratory training – recognized both high school students and undergraduates who had committed to building their skills in biomedical research.

Wistar President and CEO Dr. Dario Altieri kicked off the ceremony by emphasizing the value of pursuing a career in life sciences. “We hope that this is not just going to be an award you put on a shelf,” he said. “Science is … about the opportunity to ask questions, and to seek answers. No other job in the world allows you to do that.”

Dr. Kristy Shuda McGuire, dean of biomedical studies for The Wistar Institute’s Hubert J.P. Schoemaker Education and Training Center, then introduced the four summer programs  represented at the event: the Biomedical Technician Training (BTT) Program; the Cheyney University Internship; Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU); and the High School Program in Biomedical Research.

All four programs provide a diverse cross-section of students at the high school and undergraduate levels with hands-on laboratory training and the opportunity to contribute to Wistar biomedical research, with the goal of preparing students for continuing education and careers in the life sciences.

Representatives from each class gave brief remarks before faculty and staff presented certificates to each student. Jalen Garcia Martinez, a REU student from James Madison University, explained that the experience was about more than just learning research skills. “It was the beginning of lasting friendships and a supportive network that would carry us through the summer and beyond,” he said.

Dr. Bill Wunner, Wistar professor emeritus who founded the Biomedical Technician Training Program 25 years ago, was the keynote speaker at the event. Dr. Shuda McGuire acknowledged the Program’s anniversary by presenting Dr. Wunner with an award recognizing him for his contributions. “I am happy to present this award … in sincere appreciation for founding the Biomedical Technician Training Program, and its continued success 25 years later,” she said.

“It’s an honor and a privilege to come and be able to share with you my thoughts,” said Dr. Wunner. “Your experiences, how you have taken to the research environment, how you have recognized the value of working with people, the team effort, and learning skills – I’m just filled with a wonderful delight that this has happened after all these years.”

Dr. Wunner then provided the students with some advice gleaned from his long career as a researcher and teacher. “Continue to explore opportunities,” he advised the students. “Science is not done single handedly…it’s teamwork….so seize the opportunities and chase the goal of continuously learning.”

After receiving certificates of completion, students, family and friends were treated to a reception in the Tobin Family Atrium.

The Wistar Institute Grows Research Enterprise Signs New Lease at uCity Square

Wistar Expands Presence to Wexford’s uCity Square Knowledge Community

PHILADELPHIA, PA – August 13, 2024The Wistar Institute and Wexford Science & Technology, LLC announced that Wistar has signed a lease for new laboratory and office space at uCity Square in Philadelphia to expand its capacity and resources essential for making groundbreaking discoveries that advance human health. Research teams from Wistar will move to 25,000 square feet of space on the 14th floor at 3675 Market Street later this month. The building is located within the dynamic uCity Square Knowledge Community being developed by Wexford and its partners the University City Science Center and Ventas, Inc.

“Wistar is excited to expand its research and administrative presence into uCity Square by joining Philadelphia’s most diverse and dynamic community of university and commercial research activity,” said Dr. Dario C. Altieri, president and CEO, director of the Ellen and Ronald Caplan Cancer Center and Robert and Penny Fox Distinguished Professor, at The Wistar Institute. “Establishing our new HIV Cure and Viral Diseases Center here allows us to attract the best talent, collaborate with new partners in industry and academia, and deliver the breakthrough new discoveries for which Wistar has been known for the last 130 years.”

The expansion marks an exciting new chapter in Wistar’s storied history as the nation’s first independent nonprofit institution devoted exclusively to foundational biomedical research and training. With this move, Wistar will have additional capacity for research on both its current campus and in uCity Square. This strategic expansion complements Wistar’s facilities at nearby 3601 Spruce Street, by providing its scientists with convenient, flexible, move-in ready lab spaces and direct access to state-of-the-art resources and shared facilities including CIC’s Innovation Labs, Charles River Laboratories CRADL facility, and the regular platform of programming offered by the Science Center, Wexford, and their other collaborators.

“We are thrilled that The Wistar Institute has chosen to expand to uCity Square, reinforcing our community as a premiere location to attract talent and accelerate innovation,” said Pete Cramer, Vice President and Market Executive at Wexford Science & Technology. “Wistar is a pioneering, forward-thinking, and accomplished institution within Philadelphia’s life sciences ecosystem and truly embodies our community’s culture of collaboration and innovation. We could not be more excited to support Wistar’s growth and look forward to its next generation of new discoveries.”

This announcement further expands the collaboration between Wistar and uCity Square. Earlier this year, Wistar, along with PIDC, The Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia, and the West Philadelphia Skills Initiative, announced the first-ever, multi-employer workforce recruitment plan for the Biomedical Technician Training (BTT) Program. It is currently underway with uCity Square tenant Integral Molecular and Navy Yard tenant Iovance Biotherapeutics. The 24-week paid training program begins with 10 weeks of evening classes at Wistar focused on preparing participants with a foundation in cellular and molecular biology as applicable to the life science industry. After the first 10 weeks, participants will take part in a full-time, hands-on laboratory orientation at Wistar before transitioning to externships at Integral Molecular at uCity Square or the Iovance iCTC (Cell Therapy Center) at the Navy Yard. Upon successful completion of the training program, applicants will have an opportunity to interview for open positions with Integral Molecular or Iovance Biotherapeutics with roles starting at $21/hour.

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About The Wistar Institute
The Wistar Institute is the nation’s first independent nonprofit institution devoted exclusively to foundational biomedical research and training. Since 1972, the Institute has held National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated Cancer Center status. Through a culture and commitment to biomedical collaboration and innovation, Wistar science leads to breakthrough early-stage discoveries and life science sector start-ups. Wistar scientists are dedicated to solving some of the world’s most challenging problems in the field of cancer and immunology, advancing human health through early-stage discovery and training the next generation of biomedical researchers. For more information, visit wistar.org.

About uCity Square
Located in Philadelphia’s University City neighborhood, uCity Square is an 8.0 million-square-foot mixed-use community consisting of laboratory, clinical, academic, office, retail, and residential space. As Philadelphia’s central hub for medical and life science innovations, particularly in cell and gene therapy, uCity Square is connected to top-tier colleges and universities, independent research institutions, world-renowned hospitals, and is a center of connectivity for residents, students, professionals, and entrepreneurs alike. uCity Square is a dynamic environment for innovation and collaboration among private industry and top-tier research institutions such as the University of Pennsylvania and its Hospital, Drexel University, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Monell Chemical Senses Center, and The Wistar Institute. uCity Square is a development of Wexford Science & Technology, LLC, in partnership with the University City Science Center as the community’s primary engagement partner and Ventas, Inc. (NYSE: VTR) as the primary investor. For more information about uCity Square, visit www.ucitysquare.com.

About Wexford Science & Technology, LLC
Wexford Science & Technology, LLC, is a real estate company exclusively focused on partnering with universities, academic medical centers, and research institutions to develop vibrant, mixed-use, amenity-rich are built on a foundation of discovery, innovation, entrepreneurial activity, corporate engagement, and community inclusioncreate visible outcomes in the form of substantial economic growth, new and diverse jobs, and community transformation. Wexford targets strategic opportunities with top-tier research universities that are . Presently Wexford has developed or is developing seventeen Knowledge Communities across . For more information about Wexford, visit www.wexfordscitech.com.

For media inquiries, please contact:
Jen Tran for Wexford Science & Technology, 610-401-8421, jen@jentranconsulting.com
Darien Sutton for The Wistar Institute, 215-870-2048, dsutton@wistar.org

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HIV – We’ve Never Been Closer to a Cure

29 years ago, Dr. Luis Montaner started an HIV cure research program at The Wistar Institute. Today, he is the newly minted founding director of Wistar’s HIV Cure and Viral Diseases Center. His innovative work spans the globe, across research groups in Philadelphia and throughout the U.S., to South Africa, Vietnam, and beyond. His collaborators include top advocacy groups & activists, community members, pharmaceutical & biotech industry leaders; academic scientists; and government officials all united toward the goal of a cure to HIV.

Tell us about your research and the need for a center for HIV cure research.

Our HIV cure research focuses on the fundamental biomedical science & mechanics of HIV and understanding the context of this disease in relation to our greater society. I want to know: How can we manipulate the immune system to rid the body of HIV? But also, how do we develop scientific answers that can also help address the health care barriers & stigma of living with this incurable disease? Curing HIV will result in a great many benefits to the individual but also to the greater society.

The new HIV Cure and Viral Diseases Center is a natural extension of the momentum building now to find a cure for HIV. Wistar’s $24 million investment in the Center comes at a time of increased global enthusiasm to develop an HIV cure — so, this Center is the right investment at the right time.

Where is HIV research today?

Right now, we can manage the virus with antiretroviral drugs, also referred to as “ART,” or antiretroviral therapy. But to achieve an HIV cure, we want to eradicate and remove HIV from the body. When we talk about an HIV cure, we talk about living without antiretrovirals. These drugs have saved lives, but they are taken throughout one’s lifetime and treatments come with the risk of complications upon long-term use.

Why a cure?

We want to develop an HIV cure strategy that works and then make sure it is accessible around the world, because the value of an HIV cure extends beyond HIV itself. HIV is a challenge because of its capacity to mutate — the immune system starts to catch on to the threat, but then the virus changes itself to evade our natural defenses, ensuring its persistence. In addition, once a patient starts ART, the virus can persist without replication by hiding in immune cells over time — ready to come out again and flare up if ART stops.

Accessibility to drugs and therapies is also a big problem. A lifelong drug regimen costs money, living with HIV can also raise stigma and discrimination, and we’ve seen that access to therapy can be worse in developing countries — where most HIV cases in the world happen. Health disparities and access to care & therapies are critical components we would still need to address in our health systems in the United States and globally once we find a strategy to cure HIV.

It is also important to stress that HIV research benefits our understanding of other diseases and vice versa. Hepatitis C treatment and eradication, as well as the RNA COVID vaccine, were greatly aided by the work done in HIV research on protease inhibitors and HIV vaccines, respectively. CAR T-cell therapy for cancers, which is available to patients today, was also greatly accelerated by the preclinical work on using CAR T-cells against HIV. And in turn, Wistar’s research on Epstein-Barr virus and other diseases has helped us to advance our HIV cure research. Anything that we can discover that would cure HIV will carry important lessons for all viral research.

How does the new HIV Cure and Viral Diseases Center distinguish itself in this area?

The HIV Cure and Viral Diseases Center supercharges our research efforts to get an HIV cure to persons living with HIV as we advocate strongly for awareness and change. Our network has a record of success sharing information with groups that otherwise may not have access. We provide seminars to persons living with HIV within our community, and we have community advisory boards that bring feedback from the community into research and clinical processes. We want to end stigma and discrimination with an HIV cure so that persons living with HIV can be permanently free of the virus.

To find a cure you need science — but you also need commitment and investment. The new Center now gathers all three under one roof with a common mission: realizing an HIV cure within our lifetime.

Jozef Madzo, Ph.D.

  • Assistant Professor, Genome Regulation and Cell Signaling Program, Ellen and Ronald Caplan Cancer Center

  • Scientific Director, Bioinformatics Facility

Madzo is interested in approaches to cancer research informed by computational biology, particularly in the areas of DNA methylation drift during normal aging; disease-driven inflammation; and neoplastic transformation.

Dr. Madzo has a Ph.D. in Biomedicine from Charles University in the Czech Republic and a Professional Science Master’s degree in Bioinformatics from Temple University. He joined The Wistar Institute’s Genome Regulation and Cell Signaling Program as an assistant professor in 2024. 

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The Madzo Laboratory

(215) 898-3842

jmadzo@wistar.org

The Madzo Laboratory

The Madzo lab focuses on computational biology, particularly on understanding DNA methylation drift during normal aging, disease-driven inflammation, and neoplastic transformation. Previous work has shown that cells exhibit changes in DNA methylation patterns during aging. Notably, diet and calorie restriction have been found to slow down age- or inflammation-related DNA methylation drift. Interestingly, cells undergoing malignant transformation display similar DNA methylation drift, suggesting that cancer cells exhibit a phenotype akin to accelerated aging.

Research

Epigenetic Regulation of Repetitive Elements

We are particularly focused on utilizing epigenetic drugs, such as inhibitors of DNA methyltransferases, to reactivate silenced repetitive elements in cancer cells. Reactivation of these elements leads to an inflammation-like phenotype, making the cancer cells more immunogenic and sensitized to immunotherapy.

We are working on multiple projects related to epigenetic changes during aging and cancer development. Our projects involve the integrated analysis of multiple sequencing datasets, including RNAseq, ATACseq, and scRNA-seq, to uncover the mechanisms involved in the genetic and epigenetic regulation of repetitive DNA.

A substantial part of our work involves querying high-dimensional data from publicly available sources such as TCGA, ENCODE, and GEO portals. We utilize existing open-source bioinformatics tools along with custom Python and R scripts. In our data analysis, we apply statistical methods such as permutation, multivariate analysis, and machine learning techniques like random forest, XGBoost, and stochastic gradient descent.

Madzo Lab in the News

Selected Publications

  • DREAM: A Simple Method for DNA Methylation Profiling by High-throughput Sequencing

    Jelinek, J., & Madzo, J. (2016). DREAM: A Simple Method for DNA Methylation Profiling by High-throughput Sequencing. Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)1465, 111–127.

  • DNA methylation entropy as a measure of stem cell replication and aging

    Vaidya, H., Jeong, H. S., Keith, K., Maegawa, S., Calendo, G., Madzo, J., Jelinek, J., & Issa, J. J. (2023). DNA methylation entropy as a measure of stem cell replication and aging. Genome biology24(1), 27.

  • Non-pathogenic microbiota accelerate age-related CpG Island methylation in colonic mucosa

    Sun, A., Park, P., Cole, L., Vaidya, H., Maegawa, S., Keith, K., Calendo, G., Madzo, J., Jelinek, J., Jobin, C., & Issa, J. J. (2023). Non-pathogenic microbiota accelerate age-related CpG Island methylation in colonic mucosa. Epigenetics18(1), 2160568.

  • Promoter-independent synthesis of chemically modified RNA by human DNA polymerase θ variants

    Tredinnick, T., Kent, T., Minakhin, L., Li, Z., Madzo, J., Chen, X. S., & Pomerantz, R. T. (2023). Promoter-independent synthesis of chemically modified RNA by human DNA polymerase θ variants. RNA (New York, N.Y.)29(8), 1288–1300.

  • The three-dimensional structure of Epstein-Barr virus genome varies by latency type and is regulated by PARP1 enzymatic activity

    Morgan, S. M., Tanizawa, H., Caruso, L. B., Hulse, M., Kossenkov, A., Madzo, J., Keith, K., Tan, Y., Boyle, S., Lieberman, P. M., & Tempera, I. (2022). The three-dimensional structure of Epstein-Barr virus genome varies by latency type and is regulated by PARP1 enzymatic activity. Nature communications13(1), 187. 

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Media Advisory: Wistar Celebrates Accomplishments of 58 Diverse, Next-Gen Students & Pre-apprentices Completing Summer Science Education & Training Programs

MEDIA ADVISORY

WHAT: Wistar Celebrates Accomplishments of 58 Diverse, Next-Gen Students & Pre-apprentices Completing Summer Science Education & Training Programs

WHERE: The Wistar Institute, 3601 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19104

WHEN: Thursday, August 8 at 2 p.m. (program 2-4 p.m.; reception 4-5 p.m.)

WHO: Presentations by:

    • Dario C. Altieri, M.D., Wistar President and CEO
    • Dr. Kristy Shuda McGuire, Wistar Dean of Biomedical Studies
    • Dr. William Wunner, Wistar Professor Emeriti and Founder of Biomedical Technician Training Program
  • Wistar marks the 25th Anniversary of the Institute’s Biomedical Technical Training (BTT) Program and celebrates participants of its Summer 2024 Education & Training Programs during a completion ceremony on August 8, 2024.
  • Dr. William Wunner, founder of the Institute’s Biomedical Technician Training Pre-Apprenticeship, will be the event keynote speaker.
  • More than 58 students from the City, Greater Philadelphia region, and across the nation will be recognized.
  • The students are completing one of four summer training programs at Wistar: the Biomedical Technician Training (BTT) Pre-Apprenticeship; the Cheyney University Internship; Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU); and the High School Program in Biomedical Research.
  • All four programs provide diverse, non-traditional students at the high school and undergraduate levels with hands-on laboratory training and the opportunity to contribute to Wistar biomedical research, with the goal of preparing students for continuing education and careers in the life sciences. The Wistar Institute’s Hubert J.P. Schoemaker Education and Training Center oversees all the organization’s education and training programs, which in 2023 included more than 450 students and fellows.
  • Wistar has developed and run biomedical research training programs for at least 30 years, starting with its high school summer program in 1994.
  • Wistar’s mission includes training a diverse and skilled workforce for the life sciences through engagement with authentic biomedical research. Wistar’s education and training programs serve high school students through postdoctoral fellows and include workforce training for adults, pre-apprenticeships and apprenticeships.

ABOUT THE WISTAR INSTITUTE:

The Wistar Institute is the nation’s first independent nonprofit institution devoted exclusively to foundational biomedical research and training. Since 1972, the Institute has held National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated Cancer Center status. Through a culture and commitment to biomedical collaboration and innovation, Wistar science leads to breakthrough early-stage discoveries and life science sector start-ups. Wistar scientists are dedicated to solving some of the world’s most challenging problems in the field of cancer and immunology, advancing human health through early-stage discovery and training the next generation of biomedical researchers. wistar.org


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2024 Helen Dean King Award Ceremony

Special Event
Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024

Each year, The Wistar Institute recognizes women in science as a tribute to geneticist Dr. Helen Dean King, the first woman hired as a Wistar scientist. She worked at the Institute from 1909 to 1950. The Wistar Institute is excited to honor 2023 Nobel Laureate in Physiology or Medicine, Katalin Karikó, Ph.D. as the 2024 Helen Dean King Award recipient. Dr. Karikó’s lecture is entitled, “My journey to develop mRNA for therapy”.

About the 2024 Awardee

Dr. Karikó is a professor at the University of Szeged in Hungary, and adjunct professor of Neurosurgery at the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania.

Dr. Karikó received last year’s Nobel Prize alongside her longtime colleague, Dr. Drew Weissman, for their discoveries that enabled the modification of mRNA in such a way that it could be packaged and delivered to cells and trigger the appropriate immune response to fight disease. A testament to the fortitude, wisdom and vision of Dr. King and early women scientists, Dr. Karikó has spent her career working in the field of mRNA vaccine technology, an area of research that was once misunderstood and underfunded. Dr. Karikó pushed past the barriers to follow science and commit to the work she loves.

Read Wistar’s press release for more information.

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Gauri Mirji: Searching for a Pancreatic Cancer “Game Changer”

Dr. Gauri Mirji, Ph.D., is a research fellow in Wistar’s Molecular and Cellular Oncogenesis Program of the Ellen and Ronald Caplan Cancer Center.

When we walk together, exchanging our ideas and our knowledge, we can start to find better solutions.”

How did you become a scientist?

When I was a kid, I was very curious, always asking the question “why.” I think that’s where the roots lie for me to become a scientist. At the same time, I didn’t want to become a doctor or engineer, which is the default path in many Indian households. I wanted to do something different. I pursued biotechnology for my Bachelor’s and Master’s, and then I thought about going deeper into the actual research questions. I also wanted to do something for society. What could be better than finding answers to the biggest health challenges facing people today? This is how I decided to get into basic research and to be a scientist.

What drew you to immunology?

I had very good teachers who sparked my curiosity about this field. Immunology is the study of our body’s defense system. It’s one of the most important functions of your body, protecting you from the environment and from pathogens. It’s also highly complicated to understand. We still don’t really know exactly how these immune cells interact with each other, and how they keep us healthy and protected from different diseases. There are so many questions that are still unanswered in the field, and that’s fascinating to me.

Did you have any mentors or role models who inspired you in pursuing a career in science?

My Ph.D. mentor is a big role model for me, because she was an early female in the field. There weren’t many female immunologists back in my country at that time, she worked very hard and put a lot of dedication to be what she is today. She started from scratch, and then she started her own lab. Eventually she climbed up to the topmost position and became director of the institute where she worked. That is really inspiring to me.

What brought you to Wistar?

Before coming to Wistar, I didn’t know much about it. When I was applying for postdoc positions I was going through the profiles of different scientists at the Institute, and I was really attracted to the way research is done here. The level of research here is really top notch, and the scientists are amazing. It’s really a world-class institute. At the same time, I was attracted to Philadelphia. It has a lot of history, which I like, and it’s also the city where the first female Indian doctor, Anandi Gopal Joshi, got her medical degree. As an Indian, I have a special place in my heart for this city.

What is a typical work day like for you?

I often plan my week or a day ahead of time. We mostly do in vivo tumor studies in mouse models. I also perform a wide range of in vitro assays on macrophages isolated from mouse bone marrows. One of the major techniques that we do in the lab is flow cytometry, which gives us a huge amount of data. So, I spend a lot of time doing data analysis, preparing presentations and again planning my next set of experiments.

What do you find most rewarding about your work?

Our focus is pancreatic cancer. The thing that is most rewarding is the possibility of finding — I won’t say a cure — but something that has the potential to be a cure for these patients. We are studying gut microbial metabolites and diet, looking at different aspects of these factors and how they impact cancer progression. If we can modulate the diet or the gut microbiome, can we affect the cancer or even push it back? Finding even one particular metabolite or one particular drug that we can use against it would be a game changer.

What are some of the scientific questions that inspire you most as a researcher?

Therapy response is the major challenge in the pancreatic cancer field. How to break the resistance of this cancer, how to make the tumor microenvironment more immunogenic, and how to make patients respond better to therapy so that we can improve survival. These are the most challenging questions, and we are working on solving them right now.

What do you enjoy most about working at Wistar?

The work environment here is awesome. The people here are very helpful and easy to connect with, and it’s highly collaborative. Another thing I like is the diversity. This is my first experience working abroad from India, so I have never been in a workplace which is so diverse. It’s exciting, personally. There are people from more than 20 different countries, chatting with each other, sharing their ideas, and collaborating with each other. It’s scientifically very strong.

What does diversity, equity and inclusion mean to you, and why do you think it’s important in science?

Every individual is unique and there is beauty in this diversity. Every human society has their own values and traditions, and we have to respect all of them. The challenges faced by human beings are seen everywhere. When we walk together, exchanging our ideas and our knowledge, we can start to find better solutions. So I consider diversity, equity and inclusion as an integral part of research.

Do you have any hobbies or passions outside of work?

My favorite hobby is photography. I love to click nature, landscapes, and animals. I really enjoy taking photos. I also spend time reading philosophical and spiritual books. I follow Rumi, Eckhart Tolle, and Sirshree, an Indian spiritual teacher. Reading or listening to these philosophical books really motivates me and keeps me grounded.

28th Annual Jonathan Lax Lecture Celebrates Nobel Laureate and New HIV Cure and Viral Diseases Center at The Wistar Institute

More than 200 attendees joined in-person and virtually from around the world to hear from 2023 Nobel Laureate Drew Weissman, M.D., Ph.D.Wistar’s 2024 Jonathan Lax Memorial Awardee, Roberts Family Professor in Vaccine Research, Director of Vaccine Research, and Director of the Institute for RNA Innovation at the University of Pennsylvania. As the recipient of the 28th annual Jonathan Lax Memorial Award, Dr. Weissman was honored for his contributions to HIV research, which he presented in this year’s lecture, “Development of novel therapies based on RNA: from COVID vaccines to anti-HIV strategies.”

Before the award ceremony began, Wistar president and CEO Dario Altieri, M.D., addressed the audience with a special announcement: Wistar’s $24 million investment in the HIV Cure and Viral Diseases Center was to be led by founding director and executive vice president Luis Montaner, D.V.M., D.Phil. Speaking to the importance of the moment for HIV research, Dr. Altieri emphasized the need to build on the progress made so far:

“Wistar’s HIV program has grown dramatically throughout its twenty-five-year duration, with members and participating institutions spanning the world. So the question for us is, how do we build on this legacy of accomplishments? I am absolutely ecstatic to be able to announce today—fittingly at the Jonathan Lax Memorial Lecture—the creation and launch of the new HIV Cure and Viral Diseases Center. We look forward to the leadership of Dr. Luis Montaner in bringing the new HIV Cure and Viral Diseases Center to new heights of collaboration, impact, and innovation.”

Following Dr. Altieri’s historic announcement, longtime CEO of Philadelphia FIGHT Jane Shull introduced the Jonathan Lax Lecture through a history of the people & activism behind today’s advances in HIV medicines. In speaking on the need for continued investment in science, Ms. Shull meditated on the nature of hope and what it meant to people like Jonathan Lax in the days before effective HIV treatments, let alone a cure.

She quoted former president of the Czech Republic, Vaclav Havel: “Hope is an orientation of the spirit, an orientation of the heart. It transcends the world that is immediately experienced and is anchored somewhere beyond its horizons.”

After receiving the Jonathan Lax Memorial Award, Dr. Weissman’s lecture highlighted the long journey of RNA from its discovery in the 60s to its role in mitigating the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic. The technology took years of refinement, Dr. Weissman said, but is now poised to transform several fields in human health — including, prominently, HIV cure research.

One key advantage of modern RNA approaches that use lipid nanoparticle (LNP) delivery is their comparative affordability as a scalable therapeutic. For example, the Weissman lab is developing strategies that use RNA as an alternative method for programming anti-HIV CAR T cells, which are a critical component of HIV cure strategies at Wistar and through the BEAT-HIV Collaboratory.

RNA-based approaches to CAR T cell therapy offer the potential to bypass the current ex vivo cell engineering process that can cause toxicity in patients — and at significant lower cost per-patient when compared to current approaches. As Dr. Weissman said, pointing to global population and resource-distribution maps, “Diseases are where the people are — but the people are not necessarily where the money is. So getting treatments everywhere around the world where they’re needed means finding treatments that are workable at scale.” At the conclusion of his talk, Dr. Weissman received a rousing standing ovation.

Wistar to Honor 2023 Nobel Prize Winner Dr. Katalin Karikó

PRESS RELEASE

Helen Dean King Award Ceremony Recognizes the Power of Women in Science

PHILADELPHIA — (July 25, 2024) — The Wistar Institute honors 2023 Nobel Prize laureate in Physiology or Medicine Katalin Karikó, Ph.D., as the 2024 Helen Dean King Award recipient. Dr. Karikó, professor at the University of Szeged in Hungary and adjunct professor of Neurosurgery at the University of Pennsylvania, is this year’s Helen Dean King Award winner and will speak at the annual event at noon (ET) at The Wistar Institute on October 8, 2024.

Wistar’s Helen Dean King Award highlights the fundamental role women researchers play in early-stage discovery and biomedical research. Each year, Wistar recognizes women in science as a tribute to geneticist Dr. Helen Dean King, the first woman hired as a Wistar scientist who worked at the Institute from 1909 to 1950. Dr. King’s contributions to biomedical research paved the way for women worldwide to create their own scientific legacy.

A testament to the fortitude, wisdom, and vision of Dr. King and early women scientists, Dr. Karikó is the personification of this award. As a biochemist who has spent her career working in the field of mRNA vaccine technology — an area of research that was once misunderstood and underfunded — Dr. Karikó pushed past barriers to follow science and commit to the work she loves.

“Like Helen Dean King, Dr. Karikó was driven to overcome the obstacles thrown in her path during her career, and the result was a profound and lasting impact on the health of humanity with her contributions to the deployment of an mRNA platform used to rapidly develop lifesaving vaccines during the pandemic. Dr. Karikó is a role model not just for every female scientist, but for every scientist who has harnessed their passion for knowledge to allow them to ignore obstacles and persevere,” said Maureen Murphy, Ph.D., deputy director of the Ellen and Ronald Caplan Cancer Center and Ira Brind Professor and program leader of Wistar’s Molecular & Cellular Oncogenesis Program.

Dr. Karikó received last year’s Nobel Prize alongside her longtime colleague Dr. Drew Weissman for their discoveries in mRNA modification technology, which enabled mRNA to be delivered to cells without triggering inflammatory response. This early work led to the development of the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna Covid-19 mRNA vaccines that were essential to combatting the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic. The same fundamental technology is now being used in more than 250 clinical trials evaluating mRNA for vaccine and many other therapeutic applications.

The daughter of a butcher in Hungary, Dr. Karikó always knew she wanted to be a scientist. She immigrated to the U.S. in 1985 with her husband and young daughter, and together, they started a new life in America and in the lab.

“Laboratories are a wonderful place,” Dr. Karikó said in a CBS Sunday Morning interview. “But it is important to go out and educate the public and inspire the next generation of scientists.”

The Helen Dean King Award Ceremony is a hybrid event. Tickets for the online ceremony are available at no charge, but registration is required. Registration online will begin August 1st. For more information, visit wistar.org.

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ABOUT THE WISTAR INSTITUTE:

The Wistar Institute is the nation’s first independent nonprofit institution devoted exclusively to foundational biomedical research and training. Since 1972, the Institute has held National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated Cancer Center status. Through a culture and commitment to biomedical collaboration and innovation, Wistar science leads to breakthrough early-stage discoveries and life science sector start-ups. Wistar scientists are dedicated to solving some of the world’s most challenging problems in the field of cancer and immunology, advancing human health through early-stage discovery and training the next generation of biomedical researchers. wistar.org


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The Wistar Institute Launches HIV Cure and Viral Diseases Center

PRESS RELEASE
Center Headquartered at New Wistar North Campus

PHILADELPHIA — (July 16, 2024) — The Wistar Institute — building on its history of leading advances in human health as the nation’s first nonprofit biomedical research institute — is creating a new HIV Cure and Viral Diseases Center, made possible by a $24 million institutional investment from Wistar. The HIV Cure and Viral Diseases Center will advance Wistar’s dedication to cure research to meet the worldwide challenge of HIV. The goal is to move beyond current life-long treatments to eradicate the virus. The Center marshals world-class scientific talent, research expertise, and community support to bring together the very best in foundational bench to bedside biomedical research to discover a cure for HIV and possibly a host of viral threats.

HIV’s capacity to mutate and evade immune responses has been a challenge to scientists, and the same challenge exists for many other viruses. In pursuing a mission to find an HIV cure, key insights to overcoming other persistent viral infections will emerge, which could lead to further cures as investments in HIV research have advanced other areas of research such as the Hepatitis C cure strategy.

When announcing the Center to tonight’s audience at the Jonathan Lax Memorial Lecture, Wistar president and CEO, Dario Altieri, M.D., spoke of the historic opportunity the HIV Cure and Viral Diseases Center presents for biomedical research:

“Wistar has always prioritized innovation and has provided leadership to advance solutions for global health priorities; this new Center, in combination with efforts already underway in our Vaccine and Immunotherapy Center, positions Wistar with a unique opportunity to accelerate innovative ideas for both an HIV cure and a vaccine — both major global health priorities.”

More than 39 million people around the world live with HIV, and without a cure, they must depend on life-long medications. Continued access to therapy can be a limitation for many due to significant global healthcare disparities, which makes a cure — not just treatment — all the more important. Thanks to researchers at Wistar and around the world and increased priority by funders to advance a cure, scientific efforts are moving ever closer to success; new technologies and strategies continue being refined and tested; and clinical trials move forward.

The HIV Cure and Viral Diseases Center will capitalize on this significant global momentum for cure-directed research with a robust investment to not only discover cure strategies, but prioritize those with potential for global deployment. In addition to current principal investigators already working on viral cures at Wistar, four to six additional principal investigators will be recruited to the new Center. Combining expertise in virology & immunology and together with industry and community partners, the Center will follow three concurrent aims:

  • integrate multi-pronged clinical, virus-fighting methods that mimic and enhance the natural strengths of the human immune system;
  • advance successes in personalized medicine to create tailored cure strategies for individual patients and patient groups;
  • expand international collaborations and capacity building to ensure cure-directed efforts include diverse researchers and persons living with HIV around the world.

Wistar’s HIV Cure and Viral Diseases Center is a historic, and timely undertaking also expanding Wistar beyond its signature campus at 3601 Spruce Street for the first time in its 130+year history. The Center will be headquartered at a new Wistar North campus with more than 25,000 square feet dedicated to laboratory and office space.

Building upon the tremendous successes of Wistar’s HIV Research Program to launch the Center, Wistar’s Luis Montaner, D.V.M., D.Phil. — Herbert Kean, M.D., Family Professor and co-principal investigator of the BEAT-HIV Delaney Collaboratory — will lead the HIV Cure and Viral Diseases Center as founding director and newly appointed executive vice president of the Wistar Institute. As one of the Institute’s longest-serving faculty members and an established leader in the field of HIV cure research, Dr. Montaner brings decades of expertise to his leadership of the Center.

“I am confident we will advance towards an HIV cure in my lifetime, and I am honored to have the privilege of leading this bold expansion of The Wistar Institute,” said Dr. Montaner. “The HIV Cure and Viral Diseases Center builds on Wistar’s history of strength in virology, our international collaborative networks, and our partnerships with industry and communities of persons living with HIV. With the launch of this Center, Wistar makes a clear and bold statement to the world that the time to get us to an HIV cure is now.”

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ABOUT THE WISTAR INSTITUTE:

The Wistar Institute is the nation’s first independent nonprofit institution devoted exclusively to foundational biomedical research and training. Since 1972, the Institute has held National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated Cancer Center status. Through a culture and commitment to biomedical collaboration and innovation, Wistar science leads to breakthrough early-stage discoveries and life science sector start-ups. Wistar scientists are dedicated to solving some of the world’s most challenging problems in the field of cancer and immunology, advancing human health through early-stage discovery and training the next generation of biomedical researchers. wistar.org


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