Drexel Institute

Goals - Facilities - Community Value
Graduate Programs - Seminar Series

In July 2004, the Hepatitis B Foundation established a new academic partnership with Drexel University to share resources to further their mutual research goals. “This is an exciting beginning and with Drexel’s scientific resources, this partnership will be the catalyst for a major hepatitis B research effort,” said Timothy Block, Ph.D., President, Hepatitis B Foundation and Institute for Hepatitis and Virus Research; Director and Professor of the Drexel Institute.

Drexel University College of Medicine, created the Drexel Institute for Biotechnology and Virology Research (Drexel Institute), a new research division located at the site of the former Jefferson Center of Thomas Jefferson University, in Bucks County, PA. Dr. Timothy Block is Director of the new Drexel Institute, and Professor of Biochemistry at Drexel University College of Medicine.

The new academic partnership with Drexel University and the creation of the Drexel Institute was accomplished under the energetic leadership of Bill Stephenson, Ph.D., Vice Provost for Research and Dean of Graduate Policy at Drexel University, and CEO of the Drexel Research Foundation. “We have exciting plans for direct involvement with the Hepatitis B Foundation in its research efforts, arguably one of the best hepatitis B research programs in the world,” said Dr. Stephenson.

Drexel University, located in Philadelphia, PA, is ranked by U.S. News and World Report as one of America’s top doctoral universities. The Drexel University College of Medicine, formerly MCP Hahnemann University, has been educating students in biomedical sciences for over 150 years. It is the largest private medical school in the nation and a leader in health science education and research.

Goals

The Drexel Institute is dedicated to virology in general, and viral hepatitis research in particular. It specializes in molecular virology, proteomics, glycobiology, antiviral and vaccine research. A complementary goal of the Drexel Institute is to nurture biotechnology development in the region. The outstanding faculty, scientists and staff are all encouraged to utilize the extensive research facilities at the Drexel Institute and interact with commercial enterprises, where such partnerships might be mutually beneficial. Several successful collaborations resulted from the former Jefferson Center that helped raise the profile of biotechnological development in the Southeastern Pennsylvania region. The Drexel Institute will continue this innovative tradition.

Facilities

The Drexel Institute is a modern state-of-the-art molecular biology laboratories, BL-3 labs, instructional facilities and offices. It also includes 2,500 square feet of new greenhouse research space. Drexel Institute faculty, staff and students, as well as HBF-sponsored scientists are currently conducting biomedical research in this state-of-the-art research facility.

Community Value

As an academic facility with scholarly resources, workforce training is a major strength of the Drexel Institute and has emerged as a significant attraction to regional commercial enterprises, enhancing the region's value as a location for businesses with high demand for a skilled workforce and in sustaining existing commercial activities. The Drexel Institute is located in Doylestown, PA (Bucks County), which is conveniently located to Philadelphia and New York City, and within an easy train commute from Washington, DC.

Graduate Programs

Students accepted into the Ph.D. Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology Program at Drexel University College of Medicine may take classes and study with members of the faculty at the Drexel Institute in Bucks County, PA.

Seminars and Colloquia

Drexel Institute, sponsored in part by the Hepatitis B Foundation and its research affiliate the Institute for Hepatitis and Virus Research, hosts a weekly seminar series with nationally recognized speakers from both academic and industrial arenas involved in the latest biomedical and biotechnology advances.