Partnerships

Drexel Institute for Biotechnology and Virology Research

In July 2004, the Drexel Institute for Biotechnology and Virology Research (Drexel Institute) was established as a new research division of Drexel University College of Medicine. It is the result of an innovative academic partnership between Drexel University and the Hepatitis B Foundation to share resources to further their mutual research goals and is located in Bucks County, PA.

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.

Scientists from the Institute for Hepatitis and Virus Research, the research partner of the Hepatitis B Foundation, will work closely with the Drexel Institute in drug discovery and translational biotechnology. The driving force behind these interlocking and complementary nonprofit and academic institutions is Dr. Timothy Block, the volunteer President of the Institute for Hepatitis and Virus Research and the Hepatitis B Foundation; Director of the new Drexel Institute; and Professor of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine.

Located in Philadelphia, PA, Drexel University College of Medicine represents a union of the two oldest medical colleges in the United States: the Medical College of Pennsylvania (MCP; formerly Women's Medical College - founded in 1850) and the Hahnemann University (founded in 1848). Hahnemann University was the first in the United States to incorporate basic sciences into physician training and MCP was the world's first medical school for women. Today, with an enrollment of more than 1000 medical and over 300 graduate students, Drexel University College of Medicine is the largest private medical school in the country.