Prof. Dr. med. Michael Weller
Area of Research
Description of Research Interest
The Laboratory of Molecular Neuro-Oncology investigates the biology and experimental therapy of various types of brain tumor. These tumors, notably glioblastomas, are among the most lethal neoplasms. Gliomas are paradigmatic for their ability to deeply infiltrate the surrounding healthy tissue, precluding definitive surgical resection and limiting the efficacy of other local therapies. The results achieved with traditional cancer therapies are poor because of defects in the apoptotic machinery of glioma cells, accounting for their resistance to irradiation and chemotherapy. Recently, putative glioma-initiating (stem) cells have been identified. These glioma stem-like cells display stem cell characteristics with the capacity for self-renewal, multipotency and tumorigenicity, leading to a hierarchical model of gliomagenesis. They may also contribute to pathological angiogenesis and immune suppression in the local tumor environment.
The main interests of our laboratory include novel strategies of immunotherapy and efforts at identifying novel vulnerabilities of brain tumor cells. We have established various techniques as well as different animal models to examine the key properties of brain tumor cells in vitro and in vivo. We continuously seek to translate our research findings into early clinical application and offer a broad portfolio of clinical trials for patients with brain tumors.
Special Expertise
- cell death assays
- immunological assays
- rodent brain tumor models
Member of Collaborative/interdisciplinary Research Consortia
- Center for Neurosciences Zurich
- Clinical Neuroscience Center Zurich
- Comprehensive Cancer Center Zurich
- ETERNITY Consortium on Long-term Survival with Glioblastoma
- German Glioma Network (GGN)
- European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC)
- Response Assessment in Neuro-Oncology (RANO) Group
