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Philadelphia Drug Discovery Forum

The PDDF, in partnership with The Wistar Institute’s Center for Advanced Therapeutics, brings together scientists from academia, biopharma, and government to accelerate drug discovery.

We aim to build networks that span the full spectrum of drug discovery—from target identification and assay development to medicinal chemistry and clinical candidate selection. These efforts cover both chemical entities and complex biologics at the interface of chemistry and biology. The PDDF fosters an open, interactive environment that encourages networking, sparks new ideas, and fuels collaborations. The PDDF’s long-term mission is to strengthen regional partnerships that drive innovation for the benefit of patients and the global community.

Event Details

Unless otherwise stated, the Forum will be held at The Wistar Institute in the Matthew and Sarah Caplan Auditorium, typically from 4 – 6 p.m.

View for parking information and directions to The Wistar Institute.

Upcoming Events

Mark you calendar for upcoming PDDF events:

  • September 17, 2025
  • November 19, 2025
  • January 21, 2026
  • March 18, 2026
  • May 20, 2026

Visit our Events Page for registration details.


Organizing Committee

Paul M. Lieberman, Ph.D. 
Hilary Koprowski, M.D., Endowed Professor and Program Leader, Genome Regulation and Cell Signaling Program, Ellen and Ronald Caplan Cancer Center

Troy Messick, Ph.D.
Research Associate Professor, Genome Regulation and Cell Signaling Program, Ellen and Ronald Caplan Cancer Center

Jessie Villanueva, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Molecular and Cellular Oncogenesis Program, Ellen and Ronald Caplan Cancer Center

Ian Tietjen, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Vaccine & Immunotherapy Center

Joseph Salvino, Ph.D.
Professor, Molecular and Cellular Oncogenesis Program, Ellen and Ronald Caplan Cancer Center

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