Board of Trustees conducting president & CEO search process
PHILADELPHIA — (Jan. 26, 2026) — The Wistar Institute, a biomedical research leader in cancer, immunology and infectious disease, announces Dario C. Altieri, M.D., Wistar’s president and CEO, director of the Ellen and Ronald Caplan Cancer Center, and Robert and Penny Fox Distinguished Professor, will step down from his leadership role effective December 2026. In the interim, the Board of Trustees will undertake a comprehensive national search process to identify his successor.
During Dr. Altieri’s distinguished tenure of more than 11 years as president and CEO and over 16 years as director of the Ellen and Ronald Caplan Cancer Center, he has led the Institute through a period of significant growth and scientific innovation resulting in unprecedented expansion. Through his leadership, the Institute quadrupled its annual budget to greater than $100 million, tripled the organization’s endowment to $277 million, guided the Cancer Center’s designation as a National Cancer Institute (NCI) Basic Cancer Center – the only such one in Pennsylvania to be renewed three times with the highest possible “Exceptional” rating, doubled the scientific footprint of the Institute with the creation of two new research Centers (Center for Advanced Therapeutics and HIV Cure and Viral Diseases), grew the scientific staff from 30 independent labs to 41, and supported the first, non-traditional, life science apprenticeship program recognized by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
“It has been the utmost privilege to work alongside the incredibly talented and dedicated scientists and staff at The Wistar Institute and our Board of Trustees,” says Dr. Altieri. “I am proud of the unprecedented success that Wistar experienced during this time and look forward to dedicating my time to the values of work that have defined me since I was a medical student: laboratory research, teaching and mentoring.”
A native of Milan, Italy, Dr. Altieri joined Wistar in 2010 as director of its National Cancer Institute-designated Cancer Center and chief scientific officer. He assumed the role of president and chief executive officer in 2015. Dr. Altieri’s research focuses on fundamental and translational cancer biology with emphasis on mechanisms of tumor progression and therapeutic resistance. He is the author/co-author of more than 260 publications and named inventor for 13 patents. Dr. Altieri is a former director of the UMass Memorial Cancer Center and founding chair of its Department of Cancer Biology.
“On behalf of Wistar’s Board of Trustees, I want to thank Dario for his many years of dedication to Wistar and his energetic, visionary leadership, which will have an enduring impact on Wistar and the life science community at large,” said Rick Horowitz, Wistar Board of Trustees Chair. “Due in large part to Dario’s efforts, Wistar is exceptionally well positioned for continued growth and success. We look forward to his support and guidance in facilitating this leadership transition.”
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
