DEI News and Spotlights
Spotlight
Congratulations to The Wistar Institute’s General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, Gelvina Rodriguez Stevenson, JD, who has been recognized by the Hispanic National Bar Association as Latina Attorney of the Year. Ms. Stevenson is a champion for inclusivity in the legal profession and a leader in health law, teaching courses on drug and device development.
The Wistar Institute is excited to present 2023 Nobel Laureate in Physiology or Medicine, Katalin Karikó, Ph.D. with the 2024 Helen Dean King Award on October 8. Dr. Karikó received the Nobel Prize aside her longtime colleague Dr. Drew Weissman for their contributions to mRNA technology that enabled the development of the COVID-19 vaccine. Dr. Karikó will present a lecture titled, “My journey to develop mRNA for therapy.” Register today.
Dr. Gauri Mirji’s childhood curiosity may have led her toward a career as a doctor or engineer, but she opted to take a different path – one that is not terribly common in many Indian households: biomedical research. “What could be better than finding answers to the biggest health challenges facing people today?” Learn more about her work, and why Philadelphia holds a special place in her heart, in the latest edition of “We Are Wistar.”
Congratulations to Wistar’s Dr. Jessie Villanueva for being a 2024 Diversity in Business Award honoree of the Philadelphia Business Journal! In her role as the associate director for DEI at Wistar, Dr. Villanueva relentlessly collaborates with her colleagues, championing a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion for all at Wistar.
Congratulations to the latest W-IDE Travel Award Winners! The Award, offered twice each year by The Wistar Institute Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity (W-IDE) Council, provides scholarships or travel assistance to trainees and junior researchers interested in attending career development conferences and meetings. The latest winners are:
Ricky Braithwaite (Villanueva Lab) – 2023 Society for Melanoma Research Congress
Brennah Britten (Zhang Lab) – Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) 2023
Ebony Gary (Weiner Lab) – International Society for Vaccines (ISV 2023)
As part of our commitment to foster diversity and inclusion at Wistar, the W-IDE (Wistar Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity) Council will provide scholarships/travel assistance to trainees and junior researchers from underrepresented groups (based on, but not limited to, the NIH definition, i.e., underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, first-generation college students, LGBTQIA+ individuals, individuals with disabilities, etc.).
Trainees and researchers who are not from underrepresented groups but who have contributed to enhance Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI) at Wistar are also eligible and encouraged to apply. Graduate and undergraduate students, postdocs, research assistants, and staff scientists may apply. Awards are intended to support networking, presenting posters or oral talks at scientific conferences, and career development/professional opportunities.
Meet our WIDE Travel Award Winners
In a conversation with Dr. Hao, Wistar discussed the journey to her current role at the Institute, being a researcher from a another country, and where her research will take her.
Dr. Deliard highlights her professional journey, biomedical research challenges, and the importance of investing in underrepresented groups to propel forward Wistar Science.
Dr. Giron discusses her scientific background, impacts of her research, and the persistence and drive it takes to pursue science.
Giselle Lopez Fernandez discusses her background as a biomedical researcher, hurdles in the lab, and the importance of teamwork to Wistar Science.
Dr. Richard’s early and deep interest in plants and their derivatives as medicines has taken him on a scientific journey from Botswana to Canada to Philadelphia.