Walter Gerhard, M.D.

Professor Emeritus

Walter Gerhard, M.D., was named professor emeritus in 2007 when he retired after 33 years at the Institute. A world-renowned scientist with an exemplary career in the field of viral immunology, Gerhard made groundbreaking contributions to the understanding of immune responses to influenza virus. 

Gerhard was recruited to Wistar as a research associate by Hilary Koprowski, M.D., in 1973 and was promoted to professor of immunology in 1982. His research focused on developing a more effective influenza vaccine, based on an element common to most strains of the virus, that could eliminate the need for annual flu shots. Gerhard developed a prototype  influenza vaccine that continues to be developed at The Wistar Institute Vaccine Center.

Gerhard was known as an excellent teacher and mentor to his students. A symposium titled “Immunology at the Virus—Host Interface,” was held in November 2007 in Gerhard’s honor and featured Nobel Prize winner Peter C. Doherty, Ph.D., a former Wistar faculty member, along with a number of Gerhard’s former students.