125 Years of Science for the Benefit of Humanity
A micrograph of streptococci. Rockefeller’s Rebecca Lancefield made historic discoveries about these disease-causing bacteria, which today are a focus of novel therapeutic development efforts at the university.
Discover 125 is a celebration of The Rockefeller University’s rich legacy of scientific excellence and its continuing leadership at the frontiers of discovery. The university was created in 1901 thanks to the bold vision and generous philanthropic commitment of John D. Rockefeller along with his philanthropic advisors Fredrick Gates and John D. Rockefeller, Jr., and an outstanding team of physicians and scientists. Together, they established the first biomedical research institute in the United States. In 2026, Rockefeller marks 125 years since its founding — a milestone for our community and a landmark moment for science around the world. This anniversary also honors 70 years of the David Rockefeller Graduate Program, which has trained generations of scientists whose work continues to shape modern biology and medicine. To learn more about Rockefeller’s cutting-edge research and its landmark discoveries, you are invited to watch this video:
Groundbreaking discoveries at Rockefeller have driven clinical advances over the last 125 years, including:
- Demonstration that DNA is the substance of heredity, setting the course for modern biological research
- Characterization of human blood types, making transfusions safer
- Research that paved the way for safe antibiotics
- Discovery of dendritic cells, the sentinels of the immune system, laying the groundwork for cancer immunotherapy
- Development of a system to replicate and study the hepatitis C virus, leading to curative therapies
- Discovery of molecular mechanisms controlling circadian rhythm
- Identified the hormone leptin, which provided the first evidence of a genetic cause of obesity
- Elucidation of the role of stem cells in homeostasis, wound repair, inflammation, and cancer
- Discovery of GLP-1 and its role in digestion, leading to revolutionary medicines for diabetes and obesity
- Identification of genetic mutations that make individuals susceptible to life-threatening COVID-19
Philanthropic partners fuel the advancement of our singular mission—Science for the benefit of humanity.
