Research Partnerships

The Wistar Institute is the nation’s first independent institution devoted to medical research and training. The Wistar Institute has evolved from its beginnings as an anatomical teaching museum to its present-day status as an international leader in basic biomedical research.

In 1972, The Wistar Institute was designated a National Cancer Institute Cancer Center in basic research — a distinction it holds to this day.

Wistar discoveries have led to the development of vaccines for rabies, rubella, and rotavirus, the identification of genes associated with breast, lung, and prostate cancer, and the development of monoclonal antibodies and other significant research technologies and tools.

A.I. du Pont Hospital for Children (AIDHC) is a part of Nemours, an independent non-profit entity that provides health care, including cancer treatment, to children at multiple sites in Delaware and Florida. During the past ten years, the hospital in Delaware has experienced tremendous growth, developing into a full-service children’s hospital with a full range of pediatric specialties, such that Nemours is now the nation’s largest group medical practice devoted to pediatric patient care. This division provides direct support to 15 programmatic laboratories, seven core laboratories, and seven clinical research laboratories. The clinical research labs emphasize generation and adoption of new clinical diagnostics. AIDHC investigators are currently involved in 19 clinical trials, 32 non-federal grants and 22 federal grants.

KidsHealth.org was launched in 1995 and is now the world’s largest provider of doctor-approved healthcare information. The large contingent of staff that is committed to maintain and expand this service demonstrates the extraordinary commitment of Nemours to its community outreach programs. Nemours is committed to expanding its biomedical research efforts. Additional investigators have been recruited, state-of-the-art equipment purchased and core research facilities strengthened. A Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) grant supports a Center for Pediatric Research (CPR) that is designed to train basic and physician-scientists whose work focuses directly on disorders in children including pediatric cancer.

The Delaware Biotechnology Institute is a magnet for life science research and development. The institute supports multidisciplinary, collaborative academic research at all of Delaware’s research organizations including the University of Delaware, Delaware State University, ChristianaCare, Nemours / A.I. du Pont Hospital for Children, Wesley College, and Delaware Technical and Community College. The institute fosters academic-industrial research partnerships and work to support the local bioscience industry (from start-ups to multinationals) in partnership with the Delaware Bioscience Association. The institute is also committed to inspiring the next generation scientist and the professional development of their teachers through our Science for All Delawareans outreach programs.

The institute is the physical home to a number of research laboratories with scientists, students, and faculty working on problems related to agriculture, human health, and energy and the environment. The institute is also home to a number of high end instrumentation facilities that are accessible for use by the entire life science community in Delaware and our infrastructure, mission, and staff allow us to support life scientists (academic, not for profit, and industrial) from around the region. The institute’s research has been recognized internationally.