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The Wistar Institute

Contact Information

3601 Spruce Street Philadelphia, PA 19104
(215) 898-3700

The Wistar Institute was founded in 1892 as the first freestanding biomedical research institution in the United States. The originator, Dr. Caspar Wistar, was a well-known Philadelphia physician and author of the first American medical book on anatomy. Shortly thereafter in 1906, the scientists at the Institute bred the Wistar rat, the first standardized experimental animal for laboratory use. Over 50 percent of all laboratory rats in America are the offspring of the first Wistar rat pedigree.

The earliest experimental models of mesothelioma were induced in Wistar rats in 1989, facilitating important research in the treatment of this cancer. Located in the University City section of Philadelphia, the institute currently conducts advanced cancer research in more than thirty specialized laboratories, with research programs centering on molecular and cellular cancer origins, cancer gene expression, and immunology.

The Wistar Institute promotes interdisciplinary cooperation and coordination among its faculty by way of meetings and seminars as well as collaboration with researchers from other cancer centers. The wealth of center publications co-authored by members from other research centers, as well as the number of federal grants jointly shared by Wistar and other facilities, readily demonstrates the remarkable collaborative efforts of this organization.

Since 1972, the Wistar Institute has been a National Cancer Institute-designated "Cancer Center", with its basic biomedical research focused on understanding the causes of cancer and the methods of treating cancer. The center also holds one of only three Specialized Programs of Research Excellence (SPORE) federal grants focusing on skin cancers. Institute researchers are internationally recognized for their achievements in the areas of gene expression, gene silencing, and genomics. Peter C. Doherty, Ph.D., an Institute member since 1975, won the Albert Lasker Award for Basic Medical Research in 1995 and the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1996. Other illustrious members include Hilary Koprowski, M.D., Ruth Patrick, Ph.D., and Stanley Plotkin, M.D., all recipients of numerous international science awards.

With approximately $48 million in research money per year, the Wistar Institute has spearheaded impressive discoveries. The Albert R. Taxin Brain Tumor Research Center, in the Wistar system, is making great strides in the treatment of brain cancer. Wistar's scientists are also working on the development of a blood test that would detect lung cancer at an earlier stage, opening up more treatment options, which would be great news for those at risk of developing mesothelioma. The discovery of a significant tumor enzyme has led the way for the development of new cancer drugs. Other accomplishments include the identification of genes coding for breast, prostate, and lung cancer, the development of antibodies employed in the study of tumor development, and improved methods of cancer detection and treatment, including promising new avenues in mesothelioma treatment. Photodynamic therapy, immunotherapy, and gene therapy for mesothelioma are all currently undergoing human clinical trials.

Training future researchers has been an integral part of the Wistar quest since it was founded. In the past ten years, Wistar has trained nearly 1,000 promising researchers, ranging from medical students to fellows. The center also engages the Philadelphia community by hosting lectures and community educational events. Science mentoring programs, internships, tours, contests, and other instructional offerings for high school students in the Philadelphia School District round out the outreach initiatives of Wistar. A two-year biotechnological training program is also provided in conjunction with the Community College of Philadelphia. The Wistar Institute works closely with the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, the University of Pennsylvania, and other cancer research organizations in the Philadelphia area.