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The first National Cancer Institute-designated Cancer Center in the nation for basic research since 1972.

The mission of the Ellen and Ronald Caplan Cancer Center is to merge basic, translational and disease-relevant cancer research in a single scientific continuum with a focus on cancer prevention, diagnosis and therapy. The Ellen and Ronald Caplan Cancer Center has a history of significant advances in cancer genetics, cancer biology, tumor immunology, and virology, including the identification of genes associated with different tumor types, the development of monoclonal antibodies used to study pathways and proteins involved in tumor development, and contributions to improved cancer treatments and diagnostic tests.

The Ellen and Ronald Caplan Cancer Center is structured into two research programs. Taking an interdisciplinary approach to cancer research, our scientists are working to advance knowledge in the following areas:

  • The molecular pathways underlying some of the most prevalent and deadly types of cancer, to develop new targeted therapies and move forward in the direction of personalized cancer treatment
  • The crosstalk between tumor cells and the tumor microenvironment and how it orchestrates tumor progression and response to therapy
  • Cancer genomics and epigenetics
  • The mechanisms of therapy resistance and how they can be overcome
  • Tumor immunology and immunotherapy
  • Tumor cell metabolism and how it affects metastatic competence
designated cancer center

Announcing the Ellen and Ronald Caplan Cancer Center; Celebrating 50 years of Wistar’s National Cancer Institute-Designated Excellence.


Leadership and Members

Senior Leaders

Dario C. Altieri, M.D.

  • President and Chief Executive Officer
  • Director, Ellen and Ronald Caplan Cancer Center
  • Robert and Penny Fox Distinguished Professor, Genome Regulation and Cell Signaling Program

Maureen Murphy, Ph.D.

  • Deputy Director, Ellen and Ronald Caplan Cancer Center
  • Ira Brind Professor and Program Leader, Molecular and Cellular Oncogenesis Program
  • Associate Vice President for Faculty Affairs

Research Program Leaders

Genome Regulation and Cell Signaling Program

Program Leader: Paul Lieberman, Ph.D.
Program Co-Leader: Bin Tian, Ph.D.

Molecular and Cellular Oncogenesis Program

Program Leader: Maureen Murphy, Ph.D.
Program Co-Leader: Chengyu Liang, M.D., Ph.D.


Associate Directors

Michele Conlin, Associate Director for Finance

Mark Drinker, Associate Director for Administration

Luis J. Montaner, D.V.M., D.Phil., Associate Director for Shared Resources

Nicholas J. Petrelli, M.D., Associate Director for Translational Research

Kristy Shuda McGuire, M.S., Ph.D., Associate Director for Cancer Research Training and Education Coordination

Italo Tempera, Ph.D., Associate Director for Cancer Research Career Enhancement

Jessie Villanueva, Ph.D., Associate Director for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion


Contact Us

For more information on the Ellen and Ronald Caplan Cancer Center, please contact:

Mark Drinker
The Wistar Institute
3601 Spruce Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104
215-898-3789
mdrinker@wistar.org

Wistar Celebrates 10 Years as a CEO Cancer Gold Standard Employer


Wistar is committed to spreading awareness about cancer prevention among its employees. The accreditation recognizes employers who prioritize workplace wellness initiatives and a commitment to a tobacco-free work environment.