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The Wistar Institute Receives Two Biomedical Research Grants from the V Foundation for Cancer Research

Written by The Wistar Institute on . Posted in Press Releases.

PRESS RELEASE

Grants Fund Projects Aimed at Improving Cancer Therapy

PHILADELPHIA — (December 10, 2024) — The Wistar Institute assistant professors Nan Zhang, Ph.D., and Noam Auslander Ph.D., have both received independent funding totaling $1.2 million over the next three years for cancer research projects from the V Foundation for Cancer Research. The grants are awarded to cancer researchers deemed “V Scholars” and allow Zhang and Auslander to pursue separate projects aimed at new strategies to improve the effectiveness of certain cancer therapies.

Dr. Nan Zhang recently received a $600,000 V Foundation award, which makes it the second grant Wistar received from the Foundation this year. The funding expands on a promising pilot study that identified a factor that could cause ovarian cancer to resist chemotherapy: a protein called interleukin one beta, or IL1β. This grant is a first step in investigating possible anti-IL1β therapies for chemoresistant ovarian cancer.

Ovarian cancer is one of the most fatal cancers that affect women. While most patients with ovarian cancer respond to chemotherapy at first, the cancer can have potentially fatal consequences if it becomes resistant to treatment.

“This is an exciting opportunity to pursue a promising lead against a notoriously chemoresistant cancer,” said Zhang. “The V Foundation has made this research project possible through their generosity; I look forward to reporting on what we find from our investigation.”

Dr. Noam Auslander was awarded a V Foundation grant earlier this year through the Women Scientists Innovation Award for Cancer Research, and she is an expert in machine learning and computational methods in cancer research. Her $600,000 grant funds a project aimed at improving immunotherapy responses in cancer patients. She and her team want to identify reliable “biomarkers” — accurate indicators of biological states — that could predict the trajectory of a patient’s response to a given immunotherapy treatment. Auslander believes such biomarkers could have the potential to improve clinical decision-making and treatment outcomes by tailoring therapy strategies for individual patients.

“We’re grateful to The V Foundation for the opportunity to launch this important project,” said Auslander. “We know from past experience that large datasets from the microbiome carry important information that can predict health outcomes; with this funding, we hope to find patterns that will predict — and therefore inform — responses to immunotherapy.”

About the V Foundation
The V Foundation for Cancer Research was founded in 1993 by ESPN and the late Jim Valvano, legendary North Carolina State University basketball coach, ESPN commentator and member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. The V Foundation has funded nearly $400 million in game-changing cancer research grants in North America through a competitive process strictly supervised by a world-class Scientific Advisory Committee. Because the V Foundation has an endowment to cover administrative expenses, 100% of direct donations is awarded to cancer research and programs. The V team is committed to funding the best scientists to accelerate Victory Over Cancer® and save lives.

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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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Wistar Institute Researchers Design Novel Immunotherapy for Brain Cancer

Written by The Wistar Institute on . Posted in Press Releases.

PRESS RELEASE
Trispecific Design Controls Glioblastoma Tumors in Preclinical Models

PHILADELPHIA — (December 3rd, 2024) — The Wistar Institute’s David B. Weiner, Ph.D. — Executive Vice President, director of the Vaccine & Immunotherapy Center and W.W. Smith Charitable Trust Distinguished Professor in Cancer Research — and his lab have successfully tested a new immune therapy that, in preclinical lab testing, reliably improves survival and reduces tumor burden in glioblastoma. Their findings were published in the paper, “Novel tri-specific T-cell engager targeting IL-13Rα2 and EGFRvIII provides long-term survival in heterogeneous GBM challenge and promotes antitumor cytotoxicity with patient immune cells,” in the Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer.

“This study utilizes a novel design to build a glioblastoma-targeting ‘trispecific’ antibody deployed against a laboratory model of glioblastoma, which has the potential to be made entirely in patients as a glioblastoma therapy in the future,” said corresponding author, Dr. David Weiner. “We’re hopeful that this will have future applications for preventing tumor escape mechanisms that block response to therapy in a variety of cancers.”

Glioblastoma is the deadliest form of brain cancer, with less than a 5% five-year survival rate. One of the key contributors to glioblastoma’s poor outlook is its natural immunosuppression coupled with its intrinsic diversity — a one-two punch that limits immune successes against controlling glioblastoma in patients.

All cancers — particularly immune-silent, fast-growing cancers like glioblastoma — produce signals called antigens that scientists can use in immune therapies to manually alert the immune system to the presence of incognito cancers. But designing an effective immune therapy for glioblastoma is especially challenging because glioblastoma antigens can vary greatly. That variability means that any effective immune therapy would need to deliver a large amount of information to the immune system.

The team designed a unique trispecific antibody encoded in a DNA-encoded delivery mechanism. Their DNA-encoded trispecifics, named “DTriTEs,” linked cancer-killing T cells through the CD3 protein with two different glioblastoma antigens: the IL-13Rα2 protein and the EGFRvIII protein. This allows the immune system’s T cells to be alerted and activated when they encounter diverse glioblastoma tumors expressing either or both of these antigens. 

In pre-clinical laboratory testing, one DTriTE design stood out for its anticancer potency. Not only did the design produce robust activation of anti-cancer killer T cells, but it also engaged another type of tumor-clearing cell, the Natural Killer (NK) T cells. The DTriTE design was the most potent treatment that provided sustained survival and tumor control in 100% of the glioblastoma challenge models for the duration of the study. In a long-term challenge model meant to evaluate the DTriTE’s ability to sustain anti-cancer efficacy over a longer period of time, 66% of the models treated with the DTriTE showed lasting tumor suppression and survival, which no other comparison treatment achieved.

“Based on this early-stage testing, our data show that, even for a cancer as resistant to treatment as heterogenous glioblastoma, the novel DTriTE design can induce a potent and lasting anticancer response, potentially adding a new tool to our arsenal of approaches,” said the paper’s first author and Weiner lab Ph.D. student, Daniel H. Park. “We’re excited to continue to expand on these designs for potential treatment of glioblastoma and, in the future, for other types of cancer that haven’t responded to immunotherapy due to similar immune issues.”

Co-authors: Daniel H. Park,1,2 Pratik S. Bhojnagarwala,1 Kevin Liaw,1 Devivasha Bordoloi,1 Nicholas J. Tursi,1,2 Shushu Zhao,1 Zev A Binder,2,3 Donald O’Rourke,2,3 and David B. Weiner1,2

1 The Wistar Institute

2 The Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania

3 GBM Translational Center of Excellence at the Abramson Cancer Center

Work supported by: This research was funded by a sponsored research agreement from Inovio Pharmaceuticals. Dr. David B. Weiner is supported by the W.W. Smith Charitable Trust Professorship in Cancer Research, which covered aspects of the work.

Publication information: “Novel tri-specific T-cell engager targeting IL-13Rα2 and EGFRvIII provides long-term survival in heterogeneous GBM challenge and promotes antitumor cytotoxicity with patient immune cells,” from Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer

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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 Awarded $2 Million RACP Grant from Shapiro Administration for New Center for Advanced Therapeutics

Written by The Wistar Institute on . Posted in Press Releases.

PRESS RELEASE

RACP Investment Strengthens Regional Life Science Sector

PHILADELPHIA — (Nov. 27, 2024) — Governor Josh Shapiro’s Administration, through the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP), has granted The Wistar Institute $2 million to fund its new Center for Advanced Therapeutics. The Center will focus on early-stage drug discovery that bridges innovation in immunotherapy and vaccine biology to accelerate next-generation therapies and medicines.

“Wistar and its scientists are grateful to the Shapiro Administration and the Philadelphia Delegation in our state Capitol for their forward-looking investment in Wistar and foundational biomedical research as an unparalleled engine for creating the medicines of the future,” said Wistar president and CEO Dario Altieri, M.D., director of the Ellen and Ronald Caplan Cancer Center, and the Robert and Penny Fox Distinguished Professor. “Through the generous support of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, we will be able to bring to life a bold vision for our region, accelerating the pace of medical discovery, fostering innovation, and spearheading the launch of public-private partnerships for the benefit of all.”  

The funds support construction & renovation of the new Center from existing space within The Wistar Institute. More than 12,000 square feet of space will be converted into state-of-the-science laboratories.  

The RACP is a Commonwealth reimbursement grant program administered by the Pennsylvania Office of Budget. It provides financial assistance for the acquisition and construction of regional economic, cultural, civic, and historical improvement projects.

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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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Trailblazing Nobel Laureate Dr. Katalin Karikó Meets with Wistar Trainees

Written by The Wistar Institute on . Posted in Featured News.

Dr. Katalin Karikó, 2023 Nobel Laureate in Physiology or Medicine, received The Wistar Institute’s 2024 Helen Dean King Award and as a part of the day-long activities, Dr. Karikó spent time with Wistar trainees listening, answering their questions and offering advice about the challenges all scientists face in research.

Dr. Karikó’s core advice to the trainees was to not take themselves too seriously and find joy in what they do.

The trainees were captivated by Karikó’s candor and wisdom. She didn’t care about not receiving awards but stayed driven in her mission to improve mRNA — a drive that allowed Karikó to pave the way for the mRNA vaccines that would go on to save countless lives.

On struggles she endured due to a faculty demotion, she said, “I thought, ‘Where else if not here in America can I achieve my goals?’ I told myself, ‘Figure out the best experiments and do not waste time with feeling sorry for yourself.’”

She has a simple motto: life is not easy, so enjoy your work, and stay mentally & physically fit.

Everyone at the lunch table agreed resilience is necessary to work in a lab when experiments fail more often than they succeed. But Dr. Karikó reminded the group how fun and special it is to be a scientist and ask the tough scientific questions that may lead to something new & wonderfully unexpected.

Her reason for persisting in her research even when not taken seriously was her belief that, when you do right thing, you can do anything for however long, because you are happy in the belief you are doing the right thing. Resilience made her stronger and she was fine being an underdog.

Dr. Karikó told the trainees to remain in contact with fellow colleagues. It’s okay to work on a topic on the “periphery,” she said, as long you have a connection to someone who is “inside” with power and resources. On the outside, there was little money or prestige, but there was freedom to work on less funded projects. When she had no funding, she always had a colleague on the inside to support her and perform experiments. As she told her audience: the periphery is fine, as long as you do not crave titles and recognition.

These Wistar trainees are the next generation working in science and closing the inequity gaps that female scientists like Dr. Karikó experienced. They know how to put in the time, fight for their science and opportunities happen because of brilliant science they bring to the table. They appreciate and respect the huge impact Dr. Karikó made across the world, but also for her sage advice to believe the research is a success and that feeling of accomplishment carries on as happiness throughout life.

The Wistar Institute’s Dr. Rahul Shinde Shares Hopes for Future of Pancreatic Cancer Therapy

Written by The Wistar Institute on . Posted in Featured News.

For Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month, we sat down with Rahul S. Shinde, D.V.M., Ph.D., assistant professor in Wistar’s Ellen and Ronald Caplan Cancer Center who researches potential new therapies for treatment-resistant cancers like pancreatic cancer.

Why is pancreatic cancer so deadly and prognosis so poor, with only about 13% of people diagnosed going on to survive the next five years?

Actually, although we now have a 13% 5-year survival rate that may seem low, it nevertheless represents a vast improvement over what the outlook used to be. Just a few decades ago, that 13% was closer to 5%. We know that significant improvements are possible, but we urgently need to improve clinical outcomes.

Pancreatic cancer poses a large threat for a few reasons. 

  1. Pancreatic cancer tends to be diagnosed at later stages. A tumor in an internal organ is not immediately apparent in the same way that, for example, a suspicious mole might be, and surgery at those later stages — which is not always an option — tends to have a lower success rate.

  2. Pancreatic cancer develops very stubborn resistance to therapy.

 In my lab, we’re focused on understanding how we might develop new therapies by investigating the gut microbiome.

What role does the gut microbiome play in pancreatic cancer?

The gut microbiome, which is a shorthand term for all the diverse microbes, bacteria, etc. that are present within the intestinal tract, can influence different systems throughout the body, including tumors. Tumors are the ultimate biological survivors: they are constantly looking for ways to improve their capacity to grow.

As signals from the gut microbiome travel throughout the body, tumors can incorporate any signals that might be to their advantage.  We are focused on identifying key microbial signals that indirectly contribute to enabling a hospitable environment for pancreatic cancer to grow

Does that mean that diet plays a role in cancer risk?

Yes, we think diet plays a role.  A key question is how what we eat or drink alters the microbial environment. That may sound like a simple question, but it’s actually quite complicated; for example, if you drink a cup of coffee right now, the composition of your gut microbiome will be drastically different in an hour than if you hadn’t.

Now apply that complexity to everything that every person eats or drinks. We each carry vastly different and constantly changing microbial genomes. Even though the genome of every human on Earth is 99% identical, the composition of the microbiome from person to person can vary as much as 80% or 90%.

Our lab focuses on interventions that impact the crosstalk between pancreatic cancer and the gut microbiome. That intervention could be a diet change; a microbiome-targeted therapy; or disruption of the cancer’s metabolism so it doesn’t benefit as much from microbial proteins.

By identifying which signals from the gut microbiome can cause cancer to benefit or harmful immune cells to proliferate in the tumor, we can develop strategies to disrupt those cancer-causing signals.

You mentioned harmful immune cells in tumors as a problem in pancreatic cancer. But don’t immune cells kill cancer?

Like almost everything in biology, whether immune cells are good or bad for cancer depends on the context. When cancer starts to grow, the immune system responds by sending macrophages to fight the cancer — and that is a good thing.

But if a tumor has developed, that means the immune system’s first line of defense has already failed. By that point, the macrophages in and around the tumor have stopped hindering it and have begun to help the tumor.

Tumor-associated macrophages can be thought of almost like traitors: instead of fighting cancer, they have been reprogrammed to help the cancer grow and resist treatment. That reprogramming process can be sped up or worsened by harmful signals from the gut microbiome, which is what we aim to stop.

What makes you hopeful about the future of pancreatic cancer research?

I’m hopeful for our ability to fight cancer because, more than ever before, researchers are armed with access to data of a quantity and quality that would have been unimaginable years ago. With modern analysis techniques — from genome-wide analysis to wide-ranging bioinformatics support — we are beginning to find patterns within the noise. Science is only becoming more collaborative. I’m confident that, working together, we can assemble the pieces of the cancer puzzle.

Wistar Institute Researchers Discover New Combination Therapy Approach for Metastatic Ovarian Cancer

Written by The Wistar Institute on . Posted in Press Releases.

PRESS RELEASE

Zhang Lab Demonstrates Novel Combination of Beta Glucan and Interferon Gamma Results in Tumor Regression

PHILADELPHIA — (November 21, 2024) — The Wistar Institute’s Nan Zhang, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Ellen and Ronald Caplan Cancer Center’s Molecular and Cellular Oncogenesis Program, and lab have discovered a new approach to treating ovarian cancer that, in preclinical laboratory testing, shrinks tumors and improves survival rates while simultaneously making tumors more receptive to chemotherapy treatment. Their findings were published in The Journal of Experimental Medicine in the paper, “Myeloid activation clears ascites and reveals IL27-dependent regression of metastatic ovarian cancer.”

“This is the first time researchers have been able to indirectly target ovarian cancer cells in peritoneal fluid by inducing an immune reaction, in preclinical models,” said Zhang. “We look forward to taking this research further — particularly our findings on the role of IL27 — so we can continue to identify other strategies to improve this new anti-ovarian-cancer approach.”

Ovarian cancer is the deadliest gynecological cancer; patients with metastatic ovarian cancer have a 30% chance of surviving for five years after their diagnosis. The danger of metastasis (when cancer spreads throughout the body) is exacerbated in ovarian cancer for two main reasons:

  1. Ovarian cancer is naturally resistant to chemotherapy, so its presence anywhere is difficult to combat.
  2. Ovarian cancer tends to metastasize through peritoneal fluid into the peritoneal cavity that’s the larger space in the body that houses the stomach and intestines. Cancer in the peritoneal cavity is especially dangerous because the area is naturally immunosuppressive and limits the body’s response to any tumors.

To combat the challenge of ovarian cancer, Zhang and his collaborators turned to a possible solution from nearly a century ago. In the late 1800s & early 1900s, New York surgeon William B. Coley achieved a cure rate greater than 10% for some cancers by injecting patients with dead pathogens. Scientists later reasoned that this anti-cancer effect was the result of the immune system’s activation of myeloid cells those are the plentiful cells in the peritoneal cavity that when activated can mount a cancer-killing response.  

Building on this concept, Zhang & team designed an approach that specifically activates myeloid cells within the peritoneal cavity through combination treatment with β-glucan, a pathogen-derived activator of myeloid cells, and interferon-gamma (IFNγ).  Preliminary reports suggest the approach can work to reverse immunosuppression around tumors.

Their findings confirmed that this combination therapy worked when tested in preclinical lab models.  After treating metastatic ovarian cancer models with both β-glucan and IFNγ, total tumor burden shrank substantially relative to controls. This disease reversal was consistent even in chemotherapy-resistant strains of ovarian cancer, which the team also modeled.

“Our work has opened the door to a possible new method of treating a particularly aggressive cancer,” said Brennah Murphy, Ph.D., first author of the paper. “Ovarian cancer is infamous for resisting treatment, but we’ve shown — at the preclinical level — our treatment overcomes that resistance.”

Co-authors: Brennah Murphy, Bryan S. Manning, Gauri Mirji, Alessio Ugolini, Toshitha Kannan, Daniel T. Claiborne, Yulia Nefedova, Andrew Kossenkov, Filippo Veglia, Rahul Shinde, and Nan Zhang of The Wistar Institute; Taito Miyamoto and Kohei Hamada of the Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine; Yanfang Peipei Zhu of The Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University; Lu Huang of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences; and Rugang Zhang of the MD Anderson Cancer Center

Work supported by: This study was supported by National Institutes of Health grants P50CA228991, K99AI151198, 1R01NS131912, 1R37CA280869, 1R21CA259240, 5R21AI175738, P30CA010815, and T32 CA009171; Department of Defense grant HT94252410206; W.W. Smith Charitable Trust grant C2205; and Japan Society for the Promotion of Science grant 202360517.

Publication information: “Myeloid activation clears ascites and reveals IL27-dependent regression of metastatic ovarian cancer” from The Journal of Experimental Medicine

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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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Wistar Trainee Research Symposium

Written by The Wistar Institute on . Posted in Events.

Special Event
Friday, Feb. 28, 2025

The Wistar Institute Trainee Research Symposium is an annual all-day event showcasing academic research excellence and diversity in the Philadelphia area. Trainees who are interested in presenting their research are encouraged to submit an abstract for poster sessions. Wistar’s Trainee Association will select a few of the most exciting trainee abstract submissions to give brief talks at the Symposium. Prizes will be given to the best poster presentations by postdoctoral fellows, graduate, undergraduate, and open categories.

Keynote Address: Eyal Gottlieb, Ph.D.
Vice President for Research and Faculty of Cancer Biology and Molecular and Translational Biology programs at MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Houston Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences

Special Presentation: Irene Bertolini, Ph.D.
Caspar Wistar Fellow, Molecular and Cellular Oncogenesis Program, Ellen and Ronald Caplan Cancer Center

Reception to follow in Tobin Family Foundation Atrium.

Don’t delay!

– Talk abstracts due: December 16, 2024
– Poster abstracts due: January 10, 2025
– Final registration deadline: February 21, 2025

Inquiries and submissions: education@wistar.org

The Wistar Institute
3601 Spruce Street
Philadelphia, PA 19144

Register Here

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Collaboration between The Wistar Institute and Cameroon Researchers Reveals HIV Latency Reversing Properties in African Plant

Written by The Wistar Institute on . Posted in Press Releases.

PRESS RELEASE

PHILADELPHIA — (November 19, 2024) — A collaboration between The Wistar Institute and the University of Buea in Cameroon has uncovered the mechanisms for a medicinal plant with anti-HIV potential in Croton oligandrus Pierre & Hutch, a species of African tree that has been used in traditional healing in Cameroon to treat a variety of diseases and conditions including cancers and diabetes.

The research team — a collaboration between Fidele Ntie-Kang, Ph.D., an Associate Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Buea and the Director of the University of Buea Centre for Drug Discovery, and Ian Tietjen, Ph.D., Assistant Professor and Education Director of Global Studies & Partnerships at The Wistar Institute’s Hubert J.P. Schoemaker Education and Training Center — published their findings in the Journal of Experimental Pharmacology in their paper, “Croton oligandrus Pierre & Hutch (Euphorbiaceae) extracts and isolated compounds reverse HIV-1 latency.”

This research is one of several discoveries on African chemical compounds that came from the collaboration between Wistar and the University of Buea Centre for Drug Discovery, which began in 2021. In addition to helping to advance HIV cure research in Cameroon, this collaboration also provided an opportunity for lead author Chantal Emade Nkwelle to travel from Cameroon to work at Wistar for five months, learn many of Wistar’s laboratory techniques on HIV research, and transfer them back to the University of Buea.

“This work demonstrates the value of global partnerships to the search for an HIV cure,” said Luis Montaner, D.V.M., D.Phil., Wistar Executive Vice President and director of the HIV Cure and Viral Diseases Center, who leads Wistar’s HIV research efforts and served as a co-author on the paper. “An effective cure will need to reach people around the world, and by leveraging traditional African ethnomedicine, we’re making progress toward a cure with accessibility in mind.”

Even though HIV can be managed effectively throughout the world with antiretroviral therapy, or ART, the disease still doesn’t have an accessible cure. Even with lifelong ART treatment, the virus remains latent in reservoirs throughout the body that can reactivate at any time, and over the long-term, these reservoirs can contribute to chronic inflammation and comorbidities.

To address the need for HIV cure strategies in Sub-Saharan Africa, Wistar researchers joined forces with the team at The University of Buea in Cameroon to assess the activities of C. oligandrus chemical extracts on HIV latency.

“This Croton species was chosen for study because it has a long history, along with related African plants, of use in ethnomedicine. For thousands of years, people in Cameroon and neighboring countries have relied on traditional, plant-based medicine from healers to treat a variety of illnesses, from cancer to diabetes and, more recently, even HIV. Our collaboration with The Wistar Institute over and above scientific discovery has also provided us with human development capacity building,” says Dr. Ntie-Kang.

Building on work from similar species of plants used in African ethnomedicine, the research team investigated whether the medicinally active compounds in C. oligandrus could be latency-reversing agents, or LRAs, substances that reactivate latent HIV. LRAs are a critical component of HIV cure research due to their role in what is called “kick and kill,” the idea that HIV can be reawakened and actively targeted to eliminate the viral reservoir.

By isolating compounds from dried powder from the plant’s bark, Drs. Tietjen, Ntie-Kang, and their teams were able to run assays designed to test whether the compounds reversed HIV latency in vitro — a hypothesis that was confirmed for four out of six isolated compounds. Notably, some of these compounds synergized — that is, achieved “greater than the sum of its parts” latency reversal — when administered with preexisting LRA compounds.

“Our work shows that there’s reason to be hopeful about C. oligandrus’s potential in aiding in the HIV cure effort,” said Dr. Tietjen, the corresponding author on the paper from Wistar. “Forcing HIV out of hiding so that researchers can kill the virus is a challenge, so identifying an LRA compound that synergizes with other LRAs to improve their strength is a victory — especially given its discovery in a part of the world where HIV cure research will make such a large impact. We are also demonstrating the importance and value of traditional knowledge that local healers have used for generations, so it’s vitally important to respect and support this knowledge. We look forward to learning more about how compounds from this plant can aid in the HIV cure research efforts in Cameroon and worldwide.”

According to Ms. Chantal Emade Nkwelle, the visit to The Wistar Institute was a unique opportunity to conduct research in state-of-the-art partner laboratories and generate publishable results that will contribute towards her Ph.D., with all living costs covered through the Calestous Juma Science Leadership Fellowship awarded to Dr. Ntie-Kang and thirteen other African scientists by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.    

The study also featured work from trainees in the Biomedical Technician Training (BTT) Program and students in the Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU), who participated in cytokine ELISA experiments as part of Wistar’s dedication to providing trainees with research-driven scientific experience.

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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’s Education & Training Center Receives $100,000 NIIMBL eXperience Grant

Written by The Wistar Institute on . Posted in Press Releases.

PRESS RELEASE

Grant to be used to develop a week-long immersive training experience

PHILADELPHIA — (NOV. 14, 2024) — The Wistar Institute’s Hubert J.P. Schoemaker Education and Training Center was the recipient of a $100,000 eXperience grant from NIIMBL to support an immersive weeklong training program at the Institute. The program is designed to foster diversity within the biopharmaceutical industry and introduce first- and second-year college students to new career possibilities.

Scheduled to begin Sunday, June 22 to Friday, June 27, 2025 at The Wistar Institute in Philadelphia, the program will offer immersive laboratory training, industry insights, and valuable networking opportunities.

“This program is an exceptional chance for undergraduates who are interested in biotechnology to get a deeper understanding of the industry and the science behind the discoveries,” explained David Zuzga, Ph.D., associate dean of biomedical studies and principal investigator on the grant. “The opportunity for students to gain exposure to biomedical laboratory techniques and receive input from career scientists can be a life-altering opportunity that propels their science careers forward.”

The NIIMBL eXperience @Wistar aims to deepen participants’ understanding of the life science industry, inspire confidence in pursuing biotechnology careers, and build professional networks to support their career development.

Participants will gain practical experience in cutting-edge laboratory techniques essential for cell and gene therapy manufacturing. The program introduces the complete lifecycle of a biotechnology company, including academic research, company formation, financing, clinical trials, regulatory approval, and commercial manufacturing. Students will also explore Philadelphia’s vibrant life science ecosystem through tours of local biotech firms and interactions with industry professionals.

The program also offers opportunities to participate in networking sessions with early-career professionals to learn about their experiences in the biotechnology field. Additionally, students will create a practical roadmap outlining steps for their career advancement and receive support in applying to future programs.

“We launched our signature Biomedical Technician Training (BTT) Program 25 years ago, and over time, we’ve continued to expand and adapt our programs to the needs of both students and the life science industry,” explained dean of biomedical studies Kristy Shuda McGuire, M.S., Ph.D. “This latest program is designed to provide motivated students an opportunity to not only engage in hands-on science, but also gain a deeper understanding into how research discoveries are translated into new therapies.”

Students selected for the program will receive a $1000 stipend, and the costs for travel, hotel accommodations and meals are covered. Interested students can find more information and apply at www.niimbl.org/workforce/niimbl-experience.

Since its launch in 2019, the NIIMBL eXperience has introduced 139 college students from 88 academic institutions to biopharmaceutical industry careers.

Funding Statement

This project was developed with an award from the National Institute for Innovation in Manufacturing Biopharmaceuticals (NIIMBL) and financial help from the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Institute of Standards and Technology (70NANB21H086).

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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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Chronic Disease and Corgis: The Varied Interests of Wistar’s Dr. Samantha Soldan

Written by The Wistar Institute on . Posted in Featured News.

Infectious disease specialist & senior scientist in Wistar’s Lieberman lab, Dr. Soldan studies the connection between M.S. and Epstein Barr Virus. She is most intrigued with how the body responds to disease—why sleeping viruses reactivate, how age contributes to disease and the origins of disease and its effects on culture and humanity.

When did science become a passion that you wanted to follow?

I would like to say it was a very well-thought-out strategic plan that got me to the career and the position I’m in now, but it really wasn’t. I had a balanced education and liked natural history & animals, so I was set on becoming a veterinarian as a child. I didn’t have a particularly pronounced scientific aptitude, so I was not solely on a science track.

Tell us about growing up.

As a kid, I moved a lot because my father was an architect. I was born in New York, moved to Denver, then LA and then London. I graduated from high school in London, then my parents moved back to LA.

Where did you go to college?

I went to Mount Holyoke, an all-women’s college. Again, I intended to become a veterinarian, but my father actually talked me out of it. He said, “You think it’s going to be all kittens and puppies, but really, you’re going to be in a field with your hand up the back end of a cow and you are not suited to it.” Upon reflection, I should have ignored this advice.

I did an anthropology minor and that jump-started my interest in infectious diseases because I focused on how infections, plagues, and other diseases influenced culture and evolution — all these ways that our lives have been impacted by biology behind the scenes.

After I graduated, I moved to DC for no other big reason than that’s where my friends were going because they all wanted to be lawyers and lobbyists. I stumbled into an entry level technician position at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), not really appreciating the magnitude or significance of where I was.

What was your first job?

My first job was at Kentucky Fried Chicken.  My first significant job out of college was at the NIH where I stayed for graduate school with Dr. Steven Jacobson, with whom we still collaborate today. He was a big influence on my graduate education and career. After leaving Mount Holyoke, I interviewed at several labs at NIH focused on malaria research and went to interview with Steve Jacobson’s lab and the neuro-immunology branch thinking that I was probably not interested in joining his lab. He was working on multiple sclerosis (MS), which was something I did not think had anything to do with infectious disease— but, at the same time, I had somebody very close to me who had been diagnosed with MS, so I interviewed there and unexpectedly learned about the suspected connections between infectious agents and the etiology of MS. I chose to join his lab, which had a major impact on my trajectory.

In addition to work exploring the role of viruses as causative agents in MS, Steve was working on human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV-1), which is a retrovirus that causes adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL), and a chronic progressive neurologic condition called tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP). So that’s where I started my research career in earnest. And then decided I wanted to go to grad school and was able to stay working at Steve’s lab while doing coursework at George Washington University, where I got my Ph.D.

Tell me about Steven Jacobson.

Steve is well-known for his research in viruses in MS and in HAM TSP, the latter of which is relatively unknown in the US because it’s a virus that’s endemic in southern Japan, parts of Africa, and the Caribbean.

HTVL-1 — the virus that causes HAM TSP — is similar to EBV in that it’s typically a latent, symptomless virus in the people it infects. With EBV, 98% of us have it and1.5% of cancers are caused by EBV, but for most people, it is considered a lifelong, benign infection. Similarly, HTLV-1 causes HAM TSP in about 5% of those infected and about 2% develop adult T-cell leukemia. But most people who have this virus go through life totally fine and will die from some other cause. The enigmatic role of ubiquitous viruses in disease in a subset of those infected was a focus of my graduate school thesis and carries through to our work in the Lieberman Lab, trying to understand the role of EBV in cancer and autoimmunity, again, in a subset of those infected with the virus.

Why did you choose the Lieberman lab?

I was eager to be part of a larger group and there was nascent work on the Epstein-Barr Nuclear Antigen-1(EBNA1) inhibitor led by Paul and Troy Messick. EBNA1 is expressed in all EBV-related cancers and necessary for those cancer to grow. It was appealing to be part of something that could and did result in a clinical trial.

The potential association between EBV and MS was still incredibly interesting to me when I joined the Lieberman lab. Support for the link between in EBV and MS had been mounting and, in 2022, a large epidemiological study focused on over 10 million members of the US military convinced most in the MS field to acknowledge EBV as a major causative factor—perhaps even prerequisite in MS. I have remained in regular contact with Steve and we had been thinking of different ways to collaborate on the question of EBV in MS.  This was a somewhat difficult proposition for me without regular access to clinical  samples.

Steve and I came up with the idea of focusing some initial studies on spontaneous lymphoblastoid cell lines in lieu of primary clinical samples. If you put Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMCs) from MS patients and culture the cells, you are more likely to get spontaneously transformed lines than with PBMCs from healthy controls. These spontaneous lymphoblastoid cell lines are B cell lines that are transformed by the patient’s own EBV, which distinguishes them from the lymphoblastoid lines that we generate regularly with laboratory strain EBV in the Lieberman lab and at other labs at The Wistar. So, Steve’s lab generated spontaneous lymphoblastoid cell lines for the Lieberman lab from MS patients and controls, which allow us to study the effects of EBV infection in B cells of MS patients.

Building on that progress, the Lieberman lab has opened up collaborations with researchers at Penn and Jefferson to connect our findings with what’s happening in patients. We want more insight, but we’re increasingly confident that EBV is a major etiologic factor. We still don’t know how EBV leads to a heterogenous neurologic disease, like MS, in a very small percentage of those infected. Does it continue to drive disease relapses and disease progression? Does it have to be in the brain? Or is something in the periphery triggering events in the brain? What about the host’s background (age, sex, genetics) influences how the immune system interacts with EBV and predisposes an individual to develop MS? We’re focused on all these questions.

Your husband is also a scientist. How did you meet Jonathan?

I met him in DC, and he was working for an environmental lobbying firm. His interest is in ecology and biomechanics. Now, he’s chair of the biology department at St Joseph’s University.

Are your sons are going to be scientists?

I think my younger son will definitely become a scientist, but my older son will be a finance bro. Somebody has to support the rest of us!

Why do you think your youngest will be a scientist?

He taught me about Dyson spheres the other day. It’s a sci-fi concept that’s hypothetically feasible, where you build an energy-capturing sphere around a star that can power an advanced civilization sustainably. So he’s into that, but the older one, not as much. My eldest wants to be an engineer, but then possibly go to business. They’re very different.

Do you have a hobby?

We’re big dog people. When we moved to Philly, my husband and I had trouble agreeing on what kind of dog we wanted. He wanted a very chill dog, and I grew up with Dalmatians, so I wanted a dog that was more high-energy and an active buddy. I tricked him a bit with the Corgi we got. Corgis look very chill because they’re somewhat stout, but they’re very much not chill. They were bred to herd cattle, so they’re low enough and can do this type of roll to avoid the angle of the kick. They’re tough little dogs.

The breeder sent info on sheep herding and mentioned, “Oh, it may be fun to just take your corgi Xena for an instinct test.” On a lark, I took her, and she was amazing and passed. Then I ended up taking Xena to herding lessons in New Jersey. Xena was our first Corgi and we spent a lot of time competing. Now we have a second corgi named Thorin who also goes to herding lessons—he’s not as talented, but we both enjoy it, nonetheless. Turns out I do enjoy standing in a field with livestock.

What drives you and keeps you most excited and passionate about the science that you do?

I think an ongoing curiosity and a hope that, someday, something that you do ends up leading to a treatment or a preventive measure.

Any good books you would like to recommend?

A good book that Dr. Italo Tempera recently shared with me is Trust by Hernan Diaz. It’s about a wealthy couple during the 1920s and the stock market crash, and it’s written from four different, unreliable perspectives on what was really happening at the time — so the reader has to work to piece together the truth, which was very interesting.