Featured Post from ChristianaCare

Nurse Leaders Danielle Weber and Michelle Collins Named Fellows in Nursing Innovation

Apr 23, 2024

2 min

Danielle Weber, DNP, MSM, RN-BC, NEA-BCMichelle L. Collins, DNP, APRN, CNS, ACNS-BC, NPD-BC, NEA-BC, LSSBB

Two ChristianaCare nurse leaders have been named fellows in the 2024-25 cohort of the prestigious Johnson & Johnson Nurse Innovation Fellowship Program.


The fellows are Danielle Weber, MSN, MSM, RN-BC, NEA-BC, chief nurse executive, and Michelle Collins, DNP, APRN, CNS, ACNS-BC, NPD-BC, NEA-BC, LSSBB, vice president of Nursing Professional Excellence. These nurse innovators will work collaboratively to address a real-world challenge in ways that can be implemented at ChristianaCare.



Weber, who also is chief nursing officer of Wilmington Hospital, leads ChristianaCare’s nursing staff in setting strategic imperatives, advises leadership on best practices in nursing, establishes nursing policies and procedures, oversees nursing education and research and creates a collaborative environment to ensure evidence-based care practices in both the acute care and home health settings.



Collins leads ChristianaCare’s systemwide efforts to support nursing practice innovation, governance infrastructure and problem-solving, including a successful initiative in virtual acute care nursing. She also led ChristianaCare to achieve its third Magnet designation, the preeminent designation for excellence from the American Nurses Credentialing Center.


With a strong commitment to innovation in nursing, ChristianaCare is at the forefront of virtual acute care nursing. This entails experienced nurses practicing virtually in another location supporting hospital-based nurses by documenting health information, providing patient education, monitoring patient lab work, completing patient admission documentation and helping with discharge planning and care coordination.



The fellowship, administered by Penn Nursing and the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, is a one-year, team-based program for chief nursing officers, nurse executives and other senior nurse leaders that aims “to advance health care by powering up nurse-led innovation and leadership within health systems.”

Connect with:
Danielle Weber, DNP, MSM, RN-BC, NEA-BC

Danielle Weber, DNP, MSM, RN-BC, NEA-BC

Chief Nurse Executive

Danielle Weber is the chief nurse executive at ChristianaCare.

Caregiver EngagementHealthcare Management
Michelle L. Collins, DNP, APRN, CNS, ACNS-BC, NPD-BC, NEA-BC, LSSBB

Michelle L. Collins, DNP, APRN, CNS, ACNS-BC, NPD-BC, NEA-BC, LSSBB

Vice President, Nursing Professional Excellence

Michelle Collins is a national nursing expert on successful infrastructures related to governance, strategic planning, and innovation.

Clinical Nursing AdvancementMagnet DesignationVirtual Acute CareNursing Professional GovernanceNursing Innovation

You might also like...

Check out some other posts from ChristianaCare

3 min

CorriXR Launches Bold Collaboration to Create First Inhaled CRISPR Therapy for Lung Cancer

CorriXR Therapeutics, ChristianaCare’s first commercial biotherapeutics spinout, has launched a major collaboration with InhaTarget Therapeutics and Merxin Ltd to develop an inhaled genetic therapy for lung cancer. The goal is to deliver a CRISPR-based treatment straight to tumors in the lungs to improve effectiveness and cut harmful side effects. A New Way to Treat Lung Cancer Lung cancer remains one of the deadliest cancers worldwide. Squamous cell lung carcinoma, an aggressive form of non-small cell lung cancer, accounts for up to 30% of cases. More than 380,000 people are diagnosed each year, yet the five-year survival rate stays under 15%. Standard chemotherapy and immunotherapy often become less effective, and many patients develop resistance that leaves them with few options and rising toxicity. CorriXR is taking aim at this problem. Its CRISPR gene editing system targets NRF2, a key driver of treatment resistance. By switching off NRF2, the therapy has the potential to make tumors sensitive to chemotherapy again and give patients a chance at better outcomes. As reported in a recent paper in Molecular Therapy Oncology, researchers at ChristianaCare’s Gene Editing Institute showed in preclinical lung cancer models that disabling NRF2 can resensitize tumors to chemotherapy with minimal off-target effects. “This partnership is about more than science. It’s about hope for patients,” said Eric Kmiec, Ph.D., founder and CEO of CorriXR Therapeutics and chief scientific officer at ChristianaCare’s Gene Editing Institute. “Lung cancer patients deserve therapies that work and improve quality of life. By combining our CRISPR-based technology with inhaled delivery, we can target tumors directly and reduce systemic toxicity. Our goal is to make treatment simpler, more effective and less invasive.” How the Inhaled Delivery System Works The treatment will be given through inhalation using InhaTarget’s lipid nanoparticle formulation delivered by Merxin Ltd’s advanced inhaler platform. The goal is a non-invasive therapy that patients could use at home. “Combining our pulmonary drug delivery LNP platform with CorriXR’s groundbreaking science and Merxin Ltd’s device technology has the potential to reshape the landscape of lung cancer treatment. We are eager to advance work on this novel combination,” said Frédéric De Coninck, Ph.D., co-founder and CEO of InhaTarget Therapeutics. Merxin Ltd’s technology is central to the approach. Its inhalers are built to deliver precise, consistent doses straight to the lungs. For this collaboration, Merxin Ltd is adapting its device to handle lipid nanoparticle formulations for the first time in a cancer treatment. “Our advanced inhaler technology is designed to ensure non-invasive, precise, consistent delivery of novel therapeutics,” said Philippe Rogueda, Ph.D., co-founder and chief business officer of Merxin Ltd. “We are excited to contribute to this vital effort and help bring innovative solutions to patients with lung cancer.” Why This Matters Patients with squamous cell lung carcinoma often face a fast-moving disease and few treatment choices. A therapy that can reach tumors directly, reduce toxicity and avoid resistance would mark a major shift. “This collaboration underscores the power of combining innovative science with practical delivery solutions,” said Kmiec. “Our CRISPR-based approach is designed to overcome one of the toughest challenges in oncology: treatment resistance. By partnering with experts in inhalation technology, we are moving closer to a therapy that is not only effective but accessible.” Studies will begin soon, with a substantial set of results on effectiveness and impact expected by spring 2026.

3 min

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.

View all posts
Powered by