AACI membership expands opportunities for research collaboration, clinical trials and innovation for patients in Delaware and beyond

(Wilmington, Del. – July 9, 2026)

ChristianaCare’s Helen F. Graham Cancer Center & Research Institute has been elected to membership in the Association of American Cancer Institutes (AACI), joining a distinguished network of more than 100 leading academic cancer centers and research institutions across North America.

AACI members include many of the nation’s premier cancer centers, which work together to advance cancer research, expand access to clinical trials and accelerate the development of new treatments. Membership is granted through a rigorous review process that evaluates a cancer center’s scientific programs, clinical excellence and impact on the communities it serves.

The selection recognizes the Graham Cancer Center’s longstanding leadership in cancer care, research, genetics, clinical trials and community outreach, while creating new opportunities to collaborate with some of the most respected cancer institutions in the world.

“This recognition reflects the extraordinary work happening every day across our cancer center,” said Thomas Schwaab, M.D., Ph.D., Bank of America Endowed Medical Director of the Helen F. Graham Cancer Center & Research Institute. “Our physicians, nurses, researchers and caregivers are united by a common purpose: giving every patient the best possible chance against cancer. AACI membership strengthens our ability to collaborate with leading institutions, accelerate innovation and bring the latest advances in cancer care to the patients and families we serve.”

“One of the greatest benefits of AACI membership is the opportunity to learn from and collaborate with cancer centers across North America,” said AACI Executive Director Jennifer W. Pegher. “With its commitment to community oncology and clinical trials, the Graham Cancer Center brings an innovative approach to cancer research and care. We’re delighted to welcome them as our newest member.”

Strengthening Research and Innovation

The Graham Cancer Center serves patients throughout Delaware and the surrounding region while advancing research that helps shape the future of cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment.

Through AACI, cancer center leaders, researchers and clinicians share knowledge, develop collaborative initiatives and help guide national efforts to address cancer’s most pressing challenges.

“This milestone reflects years of dedication by our physicians, scientists and caregivers,” said Nicholas J. Petrelli, M.D., director of the Cawley Center for Translational Cancer Research at the Helen F. Graham Cancer Center & Research Institute. “Membership in AACI recognizes the strength of the programs we have built and the impact they have on patients. It also creates new opportunities to advance research, expand collaborations and accelerate the translation of scientific discoveries into better treatments.”

What It Means for Patients

Cancer care is advancing at an unprecedented pace, with breakthroughs in precision medicine, immunotherapy, gene editing and other emerging therapies transforming how cancer is treated.

As a member of AACI, the Graham Cancer Center will have greater opportunities to participate in multi-center research initiatives, contribute to national discussions on cancer policy and innovation, and strengthen connections that help bring promising therapies and clinical trials to patients closer to home.

Building on a Legacy of Excellence

For decades, the Graham Cancer Center has been recognized nationally for its comprehensive approach to cancer care, integrating research, clinical trials, genetic counseling, prevention programs, physician education and community outreach.

Membership in AACI marks an important milestone in the cancer center’s continued growth and reinforces its commitment to delivering world-class cancer care while advancing discoveries that improve and save lives.

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About ChristianaCare

Headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware, ChristianaCare is one of the country’s most dynamic health care organizations, centered on improving health outcomes, and innovating to make high-quality care more accessible, equitable and affordable. ChristianaCare includes an extensive network of primary care and outpatient services, home health care, urgent care centers, four hospitals (1,440 beds), a freestanding emergency department, a Level I trauma center and a Level III neonatal intensive care unit, a comprehensive stroke center and regional centers of excellence in heart and vascular care, cancer care and women’s health. It also includes the pioneering Gene Editing Institute and a 10-bed neighborhood hospital in West Grove, PA.

ChristianaCare is nationally recognized as a great place to work. ChristianaCare is rated by Newsweek as one of the World’s Best Hospitals and is continually ranked among the best in the U.S. in national quality and safety ratings. ChristianaCare is a nonprofit teaching health system with more than 260 residents and fellows. With its groundbreaking Center for Virtual Health and a focus on population health and value-based care, ChristianaCare is shaping the future of health care.

About the Helen F. Graham Cancer Center & Research Institute

The Helen F. Graham Cancer Center & Research Institute, a National Cancer Institute Community Oncology Research Program, is part of the ChristianaCare, one of the country’s most dynamic health systems, centered on improving health outcomes, making high-quality care more accessible and lowering health care costs. With more than 245,000 patient visits last year, the Graham Cancer Center is recognized as a national model for multidisciplinary cancer care and a top enroller in U.S. clinical research trials. In conjunction with the Gene Editing Institute, the Center for Translational Cancer Research, the Tissue Procurement Center, statewide High-Risk Family Cancer Registry and collaborations with world-renowned scientists at facilities such as The Wistar Institute in Philadelphia scientists are opening new avenues to more quickly translate cancer science into cancer medicine. For more information, visit christianacare.org/cancer.

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