Penn Medicine Centers and Institutes
Many Department faculty members are engaged both in free-standing interdisciplinary Centers and Institutes at Penn as well as Departmental Centers. The overarching mission of these Centers is to support research toward innovative translational and therapeutic strategies, building on partnerships among investigators, academic institutions, industry, and funding agencies.
In addition, the broad scope of expertise of its faculty is available to provide support for scientific research projects. Investigators are encouraged to take advantage of this expertise. More information is available in the research support for investigators section.
Freestanding Penn Medicine Centers and Institutes with significant faculty involvement:
Abramson Cancer Center
The Abramson Cancer Center (ACC) enjoys a vibrant, well-funded research base, which continues to grow. The focus of this effort is on reducing cancer incidence, mortality and morbidity in the community while training future cancer researchers and improving our ability to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer. ACC members currently hold over $145 million in grant funding. Demonstrating the high level of cancer research being conducted at Penn, the Cancer Center ranks fifth in funding from the National Cancer Institute and fourth in American Cancer Society funding.
Penn Center for Precision Medicine
Directed by Department Chair Dr. David Roth, the Penn Center for Precision Medicine works to enhance the development of precision medicine efforts, as well as implement precision-medicine-based clinical care in the fabric of routine care. The Center builds on interconnections between the people who are making impactful scientific discoveries every day and the clinicians and clinical teams delivering outstanding care. The Center includes an interdisciplinary team with expertise in data analysis, biostatistics and health economics in order to measure both biological (medical) and economic (cost and cost avoidance) outcomes. PCPM also serves as a source of information for both programs and centers within the health system and for organizations outside that wish to explore partnerships with Penn.
Institute for Biomedical Informatics
The Institute for Biomedical Informatics (IBI) strives to provide an interdisciplinary home for basic science and clinical faculty and students with a research or applied interest in biomedical informatics.
Institute for Immunology
The mission of the Institute for Immunology (IFI) is to advance knowledge of the basic immunology of inflammation, autoimmunity, cancer, transplantation and infection and to translate this new knowledge to novel strategies for diagnosis, prevention and therapeutic intervention.
Institute for Medicine and Engineering
The mission of the Institute for Medicine and Engineering (IME) is to stimulate fundamental research at the interface between biomedicine and engineering/physical/computational sciences leading to innovative applications in biomedical research and clinical practice. The IME was created in 1996 by a mandate from the Trustees of the University to bring together the Schools of Medicine (SOM) and Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS) to pursue opportunities for collaborative research.
Contact: Kathleen J. Stebe, PhD, Richer & Elizabeth Goodwin Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and Glen N. Gaulton, PhD, Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Interim Directors, Institute for Medicine and Engineering
Institute on Aging
The University of Pennsylvania's Institute on Aging (IOA) was created in 1979 to improve the health of the elderly by increasing clinical and basic research as well as educational programs focusing on normal aging and age-related diseases across the entire Penn campus. Housed within Penn's Perelman School of Medicine, the Institute on Aging is deeply committed to forging new paths in basic science and clinical care for the benefit of older adults. Nearly 300 Institute on Aging fellows, representing faculty from 12 schools at Penn and aging experts outside of Penn, are focused on age-related areas of interest, including healthy aging, diseases of aging, public policy, law, nursing and economics.
Contact: David A. Wolk, MD, and Edward B. Lee, MD, PhD, Co-Directors
Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics
The Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics (ITMAT) supports research at the interface of basic and clinical research focusing on developing new and safer medicines. ITMAT includes faculty, basic research space, and the Center for Human Phenomic Science (CHPS), which now includes the former General Clinical Research Center (GCRC) of both Penn and the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). ITMAT also offers research cores, educational programs, and research centers.
Penn Center for AIDS Research
The Penn Center for AIDS Research (Penn CFAR) is one of 20 NIH-funded CFARs and includes HIV and AIDS investigators at the University of Pennsylvania, the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), and the Wistar Institute.
