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The Wistar Institute is dedicated to basic biomedical research that answers fundamental questions related to cancer and infectious disease.

Our research enterprise is organized into two main Centers, focused on cancer research and vaccine and immunotherapy development, respectively. The Centers operate in a highly interdisciplinary environment and benefit from several core facilities that provide state-of-the-art technical support. Investigators with common research interests are also organized into additional research groups that reflect their shared focus.

A culture that fosters collaboration is key to Wistar’s success as a discovery engine. The Institute takes a team science approach to its research endeavors to advance the process of translating basic research discoveries to clinical therapies.


cancer center general lab

Cancer Center

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 that produces advances in cancer prevention, diagnosis and therapy.


vaccine and immunotherapy center

Vaccine & Immunotherapy Center

The Institute’s work in immunology, virology, and other research disciplines improve public health around the globe through the creation of new vaccines for some of the most dangerous and widespread diseases. Building on the most recent advances in vaccine and immunotherapy technology, the Center also develops novel immunotherapeutic strategies for the treatment of cancer.


Center for Systems and Computational Biology

Center for Systems and Computational Biology

The Center for Systems and Computational Biology (CSCB) is an interdisciplinary unit that bridges the Institute’s research programs, provides space and resources to encourage scientific interactions, and allows for more efficient use of centralized computational and other advanced technological platforms.


HIV Cure and Viral Diseases Center

HIV Cure and Viral Diseases Center

The Wistar Institute’s HIV Cure and Viral Diseases Center advances Wistar’s dedication to cure research to meet the worldwide challenge of HIV, with the goal of moving beyond current life-long treatments and eradicating the virus.

“We are committed to our collaborators and loyal to our inventors.”

Heather Steinman, Ph.D., MBA
Senior Vice President, Business Development & Executive Director, Technology Transfer