Featured Post from ChristianaCare

Partnership with Hims & Hers Expands In-Person Healthcare Access in Four States

Nov 10, 2022

3 min

Hims & Hers Health, Inc. (“Hims & Hers”, NYSE: HIMS), the trusted consumer-first platform focused on providing modern personalized health and wellness experiences to consumers, and one of the nation’s premier health systems, ChristianaCare, today announced a partnership that will expand access to healthcare services and create a more seamless care journey for patients. The partnership will benefit customers in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, and expands the Hims & Hers’ partnership network with providers to now include 10 states and Washington D.C.



Hims & Hers offers treatments for a broad range of conditions, including those related to sexual health, hair loss, dermatology, mental health and primary care. This collaboration allows licensed medical providers on the Hims & Hers platform to connect patients with ChristianaCare’s industry leading Center for Virtual Health and extensive primary and specialty care provider network when appropriate. Referrals may occur if a patient presents with a complex medical history, requires additional in-person follow up or evaluation, or needs care for a condition that the Hims & Hers platform does not support.


This collaboration advances the Hims & Hers mission to expand access to high-quality, convenient and affordable care by adding another high-quality health system to its growing network of provider relationships.


“ChristianaCare stands for excellence in healthcare and is rated as one of the best hospitals in America, making them an excellent and trusted partner in ensuring a high-quality care experience throughout a consumer’s journey,” said Hims & Hers Chief Operating Officer Melissa Baird. “Healthcare consumers today want easy-to-use, on-demand access to high-quality care both digitally and in-person, so our proprietary platform, coupled with partnerships such as ChristianaCare, help them smoothly navigate more of their healthcare needs.”


ChristianaCare is one of the country’s most dynamic healthcare organizations that is committed to improving health outcomes, increasing access to high-quality care and lowering the costs for patients. Its Center for Virtual Health makes health care accessible and convenient, available 24/7 through computer, tablet or smartphone.


By partnering with Hims & Hers, ChristianaCare gains access to a broader patient population for its Center for Virtual Health and extensive network of primary care, outpatient services, and specialty care services, including its comprehensive stroke center and regional centers of excellence in heart and vascular care, cancer care and women’s health.


“ChristianaCare is thrilled to partner with Hims & Hers to make high-quality health care available to its customers who have complex needs or need additional services that Hims & Hers does not provide,” said Sharon Anderson, MS, RN, FACHE, ChristianaCare’s chief virtual health officer and president of ChristianaCare’s Center for Virtual Health. “At ChristianaCare, our Center for Virtual Health provides personalized health care consultations that are immediate, coordinated, continuous and available 24/7, delivering value to our patients and making a positive impact on health,” she said.


This partnership with ChristianaCare builds upon established relationships with other high-quality providers, including Carbon Health in California; Oschner in Louisiana; Mount Sinai Health System in New York City; and Privia in the District of Columbia, Georgia, Maryland, Texas, and Virginia. ChristianaCare will provide support to select counties within Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Maryland.

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National Cancer Institute Renews Wistar—ChristianaCare Cancer Center Support Grant with Exceptional Score

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) has renewed the Cancer Center Support Grant (CCSG) for The Wistar Institute and ChristianaCare’s Helen F. Graham Cancer Center & Research Institute, awarding $16.3 million over the next five years. The renewal received an “exceptional” rating — the highest possible — recognizing the strength and impact of a partnership that combines world-class basic science with leading community-based cancer care. A One-of-a-Kind National Model This collaboration is the only one of its kind in the nation, joining Wistar, an NCI-Designated Basic Cancer Center, with ChristianaCare, one of the country’s premier academic community cancer centers and a National Cancer Institute Community Oncology Research Program. Together, they focus on driving advances against some of the most challenging cancers, including pancreatic, melanoma, breast, lung and ovarian cancers. The grant supports shared infrastructure, scientific resources and programs that enable researchers and clinicians to work seamlessly across both institutions. By connecting laboratory breakthroughs at Wistar with ChristianaCare’s ability to rapidly apply new approaches in a diverse patient population, the partnership accelerates the path from discovery to care. NCI highlighted the collaboration’s effectiveness, noting that “the ongoing alliance with the Helen F. Graham Cancer Center & Research Institute is where most clinical translation into active oncology trials is occurring, supported by productive collaboration between Wistar investigators and Graham Cancer Center oncologists.” Impact on Patients and Community “At ChristianaCare, we are committed to bringing innovation directly to the people we serve. Our collaboration with Wistar connects the best of basic science with the realities of patient care,” said Thomas Schwaab, M.D., Ph.D., Bank of America Endowed Medical Director of the Helen F. Graham Cancer Center & Research Institute. “The NCI’s exceptional score recognizes the promise of this work and the progress we are making together. It is a powerful affirmation that our patients are benefiting from research at the highest level.” “This renewal from the NCI is proof that we are building a model for how cancer research and community care can come together,” said Nicholas J. Petrelli, M.D., director of the Cawley Center for Translational Cancer Research at the Helen F. Graham Cancer Center & Research Institute and associate director of Translational Research at The Wistar Institute Cancer Center. “Through our partnership with Wistar, patients in Delaware and beyond are gaining access to cutting-edge research and therapies for some of the toughest cancers we face.” Dario Altieri, M.D., president and CEO of The Wistar Institute and director of its Ellen and Ronald Caplan Cancer Center, added: “An exceptional rating from the NCI is a reflection of the scientific excellence and real-world impact of this partnership. What makes this collaboration unique is its ability to take discoveries in areas such as melanoma and ovarian cancer and bring them rapidly into clinical practice through ChristianaCare.” NCI underscored the alliance’s reach, noting that “the partnership with the Graham Cancer Center brought cutting-edge cancer research to the community and advanced groundbreaking discoveries to first-in-human oncology clinical trials.” A Pipeline of Research Advancing Faster Than Ever Research achievements supported by the Wistar—ChristianaCare partnership include: Advancing multiple Wistar discoveries into investigator-initiated, first-in-human oncology clinical trials, including studies in pancreatic, melanoma, lung, breast and ovarian cancers. Launching joint research programs across several cancer types, with expanding efforts in cancer risk and population health. Increasing access to high-quality biospecimens — including tumor tissue, biopsies and blood samples — that fuel translational research. Strengthening shared scientific infrastructure supporting immunotherapy research, organoid development, xenograft models and molecular profiling. The Wistar—ChristianaCare partnership, established in 2011, has grown into a nationally recognized alliance that bridges science and medicine. With this CCSG renewal, the collaboration will expand research in pancreatic, melanoma, breast, lung and ovarian cancers and continue advancing prevention, early detection and training programs for the next generation of physician—scientists. The Helen F. Graham Cancer Center & Research Institute depends on grants and community support to keep this work moving forward. To learn more or make a gift, visit Support the Helen F. Graham Cancer Center & Research Institute.

3 min

Expanding Comprehensive Cancer Services to Middletown, Delaware

ChristianaCare’s Helen F. Graham Cancer Center & Research Institute is expanding access to high-quality, comprehensive cancer care for residents in Middletown and nearby communities. These services will be offered at the new Middletown Health Center, now under construction and expected to open in May 2027. “Our vision is to expand and grow our services throughout the region so that more patients can access high-quality cancer care close to home,” said Thomas Schwaab, M.D., Ph.D., Bank of America Endowed Medical Director of the Helen F. Graham Cancer Center & Research Institute. “By bringing our full cancer-care team and advanced technology to Middletown, we can provide highly precise, coordinated treatment while maintaining the same high standard of care our patients expect.” The cancer care services offered at the Middletown Health Center will reflect the same high-quality, comprehensive care provided at ChristianaCare’s Helen F. Graham Cancer Center & Research Institute in Newark. Patients will have access to specialists across all major cancer types, supported by the Graham Cancer Center’s participation in the National Cancer Institute Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP), which brings advanced treatments and clinical trials directly to the community. In Middletown, this means coordinated multidisciplinary treatment planning, advanced radiation therapy, infusion services, consultations with oncologists and surgeons, nurse navigation, supportive care, clinical trial participation and both in-person and virtual visit options. Advanced Technology Enhances Precision and Comfort When services open in Middletown, patients will have access to advanced radiation therapy using the Varian TrueBeam linear accelerator, one of the most sophisticated radiation therapy systems available. TrueBeam delivers highly precise, image-guided treatments for a wide range of cancers, allowing physicians to target tumors more accurately while minimizing radiation to healthy tissue. “The TrueBeam system represents a major step forward in how we deliver radiation therapy,” said Adam Raben, M.D., chair of Radiation Oncology at ChristianaCare. “Treatments that once took 30 minutes can now be completed in just a few minutes, with real-time imaging ensuring precision. This means better tumor control, fewer side effects and a more comfortable experience for patients.” A Growing Community with Expanding Health Care Needs Middletown is one of Delaware’s fastest-growing communities, with its population projected to rise 8% by 2029, nearly twice the statewide rate, according to the US Census Bureau. Since 1990, the town’s population has grown more than 550%, and the number of residents age 65 and older has increased 24% since 2020, driving demand for accessible, high-quality health care. With continued growth and an aging population, cancer service demand in Middletown is expected to increase by 11% over the next decade, according to health care forecasts from Sg2, a Vizient company, underscoring the need for expanded local care options. Expanding Access to Meet Future Cancer Care Demand By expanding services in Middletown, ChristianaCare is responding to both the region’s population growth and the increasing need for cancer care. The new site will help patients receive timely diagnosis and treatment while reducing travel time and improving coordination with the full Graham Cancer Center team. “As our community grows, so too does the need for locally accessible, state-of-the-art cancer services,” said Schwaab. “This expansion represents a pivotal investment in the health of the Middletown—Odessa—Townsend corridor and beyond.” $92 Million Investment in Middletown’s Health The $92.3 million Middletown Health Center reflects a deep investment in the health and vitality of the state. It is part of ChristianaCare’s larger plan, announced in July 2025, to invest more than $865 million in Delaware over the next three years. In addition to cancer care, the Middletown Health Center will offer a full range of services, including primary and specialty care, women’s health, behavioral health, cardiovascular care, pediatrics, neurology, imaging, diagnostics and lab testing. The center’s healing environment will also include walking trails and abundant natural light, making high-quality, convenient and coordinated care more accessible and welcoming for patients and families. The 87,000-square-foot Health Center will be located at 621 Middletown Odessa Road, next to ChristianaCare’s existing freestanding emergency department.

3 min

ChristianaCare Launches Organoid Core to Personalize Cancer Treatment

ChristianaCare’s Cawley Center for Translational Cancer Research has unveiled a first-of-its-kind organoid core in a community cancer center program. The new laboratory facility within the Helen F. Graham Cancer Center & Research Institute grows and tests living, patient-derived tumor models, giving doctors and researchers a faster, more precise way to identify the therapies most likely to work for each patient. This innovation could change how cancer is treated in Delaware and serve as a model for community centers nationwide. There are only a handful of organoid core centers, or “tumor-on-a-chip” programs, in the United States, and ChristianaCare’s is the first within a community cancer center setting. What the Organoid Core Does Tumor organoids are tiny, three-dimensional cultures grown from a patient’s tumor tissue. They preserve the genetic and molecular traits of the original tumor, making them far more accurate than traditional cell lines. “These mini-tumors enable researchers to screen drugs faster, identify new biomarkers and discover which treatments are most likely to work for each patient,” said Thomas Schwaab, M.D., Ph.D., Bank of America Endowed Medical Director of ChristianaCare’s Helen F. Graham Cancer Center and Research Institute. “This core is a bridge between the lab and the clinic. By growing living tumor models from cells of individual patients, we can test real-world drug responses and tailor treatments for them in ways that were not possible before.” How It Advances Patient Care The organoid core strengthens the Cawley Center's research capabilities by enabling drug screening and biomarker discovery. It will bank organoids representing the wide variety of tumors seen in the community, giving scientists a realistic system for testing therapies. ChristianaCare treats more than 70 percent of cancer patients in Delaware, giving researchers unique access to treatment-naïve samples. These are tumor tissues that have not yet been exposed to chemotherapy or other therapies. Studying them provides a more accurate picture of how cancer behaves naturally and how it might respond to new treatments. Bringing a new cancer drug to patients is expensive and risky. Estimates show it can cost $1.3 to $2.8 billion, with up to a third spent on preclinical development, and only about one in 10 compounds ever reach human trials. Traditional mouse models often fail to fully mimic human tumors, making early testing less reliable. By using organoid screening, the Cawley Center can test therapies more accurately, reduce costs and failure rates and move promising treatments into clinical trials faster. Combined with existing tissue collection programs, clinical trial infrastructure and community partnerships, these resources create a direct pathway to bring lab discoveries to patients faster. Turning Point in Translational Research “Our goal is to shorten the distance between discovery and treatment,” said Nicholas J. Petrelli, M.D., director of the Cawley Center. “Too many promising drugs fail because early models do not capture the complexity of real tumors. The organoid core helps solve that problem. We can now test therapies in models that reflect the patients we actually serve.” “This is a turning point for translational research in community health,” said Jennifer Sims Mourtada, Ph.D., associate director at the Cawley Center. “Organoid technology lets us study cancer in a way that feels personal. We are not just looking at data points. We are studying living models of a patient’s tumor, which can reveal how that person’s cancer might behave or respond to treatment. This approach brings science closer to the people it is meant to help.” Looking Ahead In the coming months, the organoid core will focus on building a diverse biobank of tumors common in Delaware. Plans include collaborations with academic institutions, shared access for external researchers, and development of immune-tumor co-culture models. By combining advanced technology, strong community partnerships and direct patient access, ChristianaCare and the Cawley Center are showing how translational cancer research can thrive in a community setting, making breakthroughs not only in the lab but also in patients’ lives.

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