The Wistar Institute: Pioneering Biomedical Research in University City

Nestled among the venerable buildings of the University of Pennsylvania’s campus, a comparatively small but mighty force in the field of biomedical research and training has been developing breakthrough scientific technology in the fields of immunology and cancer research for over 125 years.

Founded in 1892, The Wistar Institute is the nation’s first independent nonprofit biomedical research institute in the United States, holding the prestigious Cancer Center designation from the National Cancer Institute since 1972.  The Wistar Institute Cancer Center is the only Basic Laboratory Cancer Center in Philadelphia — and one of just seven in the United States — focused on developing innovative and groundbreaking discoveries through early-stage scientific inquiry. Wistar scientists have discovered some of the genetic changes associated with breast, lung and prostate cancers, created some of the first diagnostic and therapeutic monoclonal antibodies and developed diagnostic tests.

Just as significant as Wistar’s cancer research is its Vaccine and Immunotherapy Center, where research has shaped the foundations of modern medicine — rubella, rotavirus and rabies vaccines all have their roots in Wistar’s labs. Today this innovation continues to flourish, through research of the most pressing and devastating diseases of our time. Wistar scientists, through partnerships in industry and academia, are advancing DNA vaccines as the new frontier to defeat global threats such as Zika, MERS and Ebola to name just a few, and has been leading HIV research for more than 20 years.

Beyond this local research with global implications, Wistar is striving to ensure a robust and inclusive talent pipeline to support the research discoveries benefitting public health. Wistar’s Biomedical Technician Training (BTT) Program — provided in conjunction with the Community College of Philadelphia — has been blazing a pathway into life sciences careers since 2000. Founded by William Wunner, Ph.D., one of the lead researchers of the wildlife rabies vaccine, the two-year program provides hands-on education and technical training to equip graduates to become entry-level research assistants. 

BTT is a gateway into STEM careers for people traditionally underrepresented in the field. Since its founding, more than 140 people have graduated from the program, 72% of whom are women, 56% of whom are minorities. Many have become research assistants at Wistar as well as other local institutions, fueling University City’s burgeoning Eds and Meds economy, including Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Drexel University, University of the Sciences, University City Science Center, and the University of Pennsylvania to name a few. 

Developed as an extension of the BTT Program, the Biomedical Research Technician (BRT) Apprenticeship, is a 9-month intensive program that provides the skills and training necessary to attain more advanced biomedical research technician positions in a research lab and roles that more directly support a lab’s primary investigator.

In 2017, the BRT became the first registered, nontraditional apprenticeship in biomedical research to be approved by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry (L&I), and is the first of its kind in the nation. The first two BRT apprentices are set to graduate this summer and have already secured positions. University City is fortunate to be the home to Wistar, an institution making a tremendous impact on global health, while creating career opportunities right here in the community.