Press Releases
2026
Gene Editing Institute Receives $500K Federal Grant to Expand CRISPR Learning Lab
ChristianaCare’s Gene Editing Institute has received a $500,000 federal grant secured by Delaware’s congressional delegation to expand its Learning Lab, a hands-on program that introduces high school and college students to gene editing. With this new funding, more schools in Delaware will be able to offer the experience, with plans to expand it nationwide.
Gene Editing Breakthrough Offers New Hope for Head and Neck Cancer Patients
Researchers at the ChristianaCare Gene Editing Institute have made an important advance in treating head and neck cancers. By using CRISPR gene editing, the team found a way to restore how well chemotherapy works in tumors that have stopped responding to treatment. Their results, now published in Molecular Therapy Oncology, could change how doctors treat these aggressive cancers and give new hope to many patients who face limited options.
2025
Cancer Breakthrough: ‘Like an Arrow That Hits Only the Bullseye’
In a major step forward for cancer care, researchers at ChristianaCare’s Gene Editing Institute have shown that disabling the NRF2 gene with CRISPR technology can reverse chemotherapy resistance in lung cancer. The approach restores drug sensitivity and slows tumor growth. The findings were published Nov. 13, 2025, in the online edition of Molecular Therapy Oncology.
Gene Editing Institute Celebrates 10 Years of Innovation, Impact and Discovery
This anniversary is more than a reflection on the past — it’s a launchpad for the future. And if the last 10 years are any indication, the next 10 will be nothing short of extraordinary.”
With those words, Jennifer Schwartz, Esq., chief strategy and legal officer at ChristianaCare, kicked off a vibrant celebration on June 12, marking the 10th anniversary of the Gene Editing Institute.
2024
ChristianaCare’s Gene Editing Institute Earns Prestigious Spot on The Scientist’s Top 10 Innovations List for CRISPR in a Box™
ChristianaCare’s Gene Editing Institute’s CRISPR in a Box™ teaching toolkit has been named the #2 innovation on The Scientist’s Top 10 Innovations list for 2024. This cutting-edge toolkit has already empowered over 1,000 students this year, providing a hands-on experience with one of the most exciting technologies in modern science.
Scientists Use CRISPR Tools to Safely Disable Gene Mutation Linked to Advanced Skin Cancer
In a potential advance for melanoma patients, researchers at ChristianaCare’s Gene Editing Institute have used CRISPR gene editing tools to disable a gene mutation often seen in aggressive forms of this dangerous skin cancer that renders promising treatments ineffective.
Carolina Partners with ChristianaCare Gene Editing Institute to Launch CRISPR in a Box™ Kits for High School Science Labs
Carolina and the Gene Editing Institute introduce Nobel Prize-winning technology and STEM 2023 Awards Finalist kit to give students hands-on, cutting-edge lab experience of cell-free gene editing.
2023
Eric Kmiec, Ph.D., Named Editor-in-Chief of Gene and Genome Editing
Eric Kmiec, Ph.D., executive director and chief scientific officer of ChristianaCare’s Gene Editing Institute, has been selected as editor-in-chief of the scientific journal Gene and Genome Editing. Kmiec served three years on the journal’s board prior to this new position.
ChristianaCare Gene Editing Institute’s Amanda Hewes Selected as a 2023 Outstanding Delaware Woman in STEM by Million Women Mentors
Hewes was among honorees at a special event held at Delaware Legislative Hall
On Unique Field Trip, High School and College Students Experiment With CRISPR in a Box™
Gene Editing Institute opens special learning lab on STAR Campus offering free experiences with revolutionary technology
2022
ChristianaCare’s Gene Editing Institute Travels to Salem for ‘Innovation Days’ Workshop
Gene Editing Institute scientists travel to North Carolina to teach workshops and bring CRISPR gene editing to high school students from diverse backgrounds
Scientists Put CRISPR on Safer Path to Patient Treatments with New Process for Evaluating Impacts of Gene Edits that Alter Rather than “Knock Out” DNA Code
In a new study in journal Gene Therapy, researchers at ChristianaCare’s Gene Editing Institute describe how the advance is validating the safety and efficacy of their novel approach for using CRISPR to improve lung cancer treatments
ChristianaCare’s Gene Editing Institute brings all-female team of scientists from Delaware to teach gene editing with CRISPR in a BoxTM at all-girls high school in North Carolina
Students at Salem Academy first to learn with the innovative tool in North Carolina as interest grows nationwide
2021
ChristianaCare’s Gene Editing Institute and DETV produce video series to engage high school students in the latest biomedical technologies and encourage them to pursue scientific careers
CRISPR in a Box Educational Toolkit™ – a gene editing experiment developed by the Gene Editing Institute for teaching – and the videos are already being used in classrooms in Delaware; Goal to reach students of color
St. Georges Technical High School is first high school in the U.S. to use the Gene Editing Institute’s CRISPR in a Box Educational ToolkitTM
Toolkit is easily incorporated into any laboratory science course
Affordable CRISPR app reveals unintended mutations at site of CRISPR gene repair
Study in The CRISPR Journal from ChristianaCare’s Gene Editing Institute reports the app advances CRISPR gene therapy R&D; 18-year-old software savant helped lead the app’s development
2020
Researchers tackle sickle cell disease with CRISPR-based gene editing
$1 million grant will advance personalized medicine using gene editing at ChristianaCare’s Gene Editing Institute
New CRISPR Advance May Solve Key Quandary: How to Safely Disable Gene that Helps Cancer Tumors Evade Treatment — But Also Keeps Normal Cells Healthy
2019
New Tool for Rapidly Analyzing CRISPR Gene Edits Reveals Frequent Production of Unintended Edits Near Site of DNA Repairs
Study in Communications Biology-Nature from ChristianaCare’s Gene Editing Institute debuts new method that unmasks all DNA changes caused by CRISPR in two days vs. two months; most errant edits may be harmless, but insights essential to gauge patient risks
Christiana Care Health System’s Gene Editing Institute takes the next step toward its first investigational drug application for FDA approval to treat lung cancer with CRISPR
Gene Editing Institute’s study will be a novel investigation of the use of CRISPR technology to treat K-ras-positive non-small cell lung cancer
Researchers Confirm New CRISPR Tool Executes Multiple Edits Simultaneously, Leading to Unique Partnership to Deliver More Precise Cancer Treatments
Technology from The Gene Editing Institute licensed to biotech firm NovellusDx to drive next-generation personalized cancer care
Byung-Chun Yoo, Ph.D., Appointed Associate Director of the Gene Editing Institute of Christiana Care’s Helen F. Graham Cancer Center & Research Institute
Biotechnology expert Byung-Chun Yoo, Ph.D., has been appointed associate director of Christiana Care Health System’s Gene Editing Institute of the Helen F. Graham Cancer Center & Research Institute. Dr. Yoo brings more than 18 years of experience leading projects in genome editing, advanced molecular biology and biochemistry to this position
Federal guidelines will speed bench-to-bedside research and advance clinical trials using gene editing technology
ChristianaCare and Delaware BioScience Association event explores new FDA Guidances and other challenges and opportunities in gene editing
2018
Scientists Report CRISPR Restores Effectiveness of Lung Cancer Treatment by Deleting Gene in Tumors Linked to Chemo Drug Resistance
New study from Gene Editing Institute at Delaware’s Christiana Care Health System embodies cautious, patient-focused approach to cutting-edge tool
Experts Address Ethical, Legal and Insurance Issues Surrounding CRISPR Gene Editing Technology
Christiana Care Health System and Delaware Biotechnology Association Symposium Opens Dialogue about CRISPR
The Gene Editing Institute of Christiana Care Health System Receives FirstEver Life Sciences and Bio Innovation Award from Philadelphia-Israeli Chamber of Commerce
The new award was created to recognize a company, researcher or individual in the tri-state area that has the potential to make a significant impact on health care
Researchers Use CRISPR to Edit DNA Outside of the Cell for the First Time
Delaware’s Gene Editing Institute Discovery Could Rapidly Advance Personalized Cancer Care
2017
$1 Million NSF grant to Christiana Care’s Gene Editing Institute and Delaware Technical Community College ushers Delaware to the forefront of gene editing education and research
The NSF Advanced Technical Education (ATE) grant will support development of a gene editing curriculum for community college students
The Gene Editing Institute of Christiana Care’s Helen F. Graham Cancer Center & Research Institute signs agreement with ABS to modify cell lines to accelerate cancer therapies
Molecular biologists at Christiana Care Health System's Gene Editing Institute have developed a new system that allows them to not only repair damaged DNA within human cells, but also to determine when the DNA repair machinery has introduced unwanted genetic changes alongside, or instead of, the desired repair
Christiana Care Health System’s Gene Editing Institute Awarded Grant from BIRD Foundation for Genomic Cancer Research
Partnership with NovellusDx for research in the development of new gene editing technologies that can lead to personalized cancer therapies
Researchers at the Gene Editing Institute at Christiana Care Health System develop new system to perform precise ‘surgery’ on the human genome
Molecular biologists at Christiana Care Health System's Gene Editing Institute have developed a new system that allows them to not only repair damaged DNA within human cells
2016
Research at Christiana Care’s Gene Editing Institute Shows that Oligonucleotides Promote Successful Gene Editing and Mutation Repair
Genetic researchers at Christiana Care Health System’s Gene Editing Institute have demonstrated that short pieces of synthetic single-stranded DNA when used in gene editing with the CRISPR/Cas9 technique, can promote the repair of genetic mutations, help achieve a cleaner “cut” of the gene, and reduce the degree of genetic fraying
Helen F. Graham Cancer Center & Research Institute and The Wistar Institute Partner to Expand Research in Gene Editing
To accelerate breakthrough cancer research in the human genome, the Gene Editing Institute at Christiana Care’s Helen F. Graham Cancer Center & Research Institute has entered into an agreement with The Wistar Institute
