Address
Laboratory for Molecular Neuro-Oncology
Department of Neurology
University Hospital Zurich
Frauenklinikstrasse 26
8091 Zurich
The scientific focus of the Laboratory for Molecular Neuro-Oncology at the Department of Neurology is on the fields of tumor immunology and immunotherapy, therapy resistance and the development of new therapies for brain tumor diseases.
The laboratory is located in the Haldenbach Building at the Department of Neurology of the University Hospital Zurich at Frauenklinikstrasse 26, 8091 Zurich and is headed by Prof. Dr. M. Weller with the support of J. Friesen and T. Pesch (laboratory management) and K. Weissbecker (administration). Prof. Dr. P. Roth, Dr. Dr. T. Weiss and PD Dr. H.-G. Wirsching have obtained independent funding and lead junior research groups.
Prof. Dr. P. Roth heads the clinical research focus “ImmunoCure“, in which new immunotherapeutic treatment approaches are developed in interdisciplinary collaboration and, among other things, Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T cells are characterized as an approach to targeted immunotherapy for brain tumours. Dr. M. Mastall, Dr. A. Eisele and the doctoral students M. Soballa and S. Stanclik are working on projects in which new immunotherapeutic treatment approaches for gliomas are being developed. P. Roth is also head of the clinic’s neuro-immunology department.
Dr. Dr. T. Weiss is developing new immunotherapeutic approaches for the treatment of gliomas and brain metastases in mouse models and early clinical studies. He is also developing new approaches for the non-invasive early diagnosis and monitoring of brain tumors in patients’ blood (‘liquid biopsies’). Together with T. Look and M. Bouzereau, he is investigating tumor-specific antibody-based therapies as well as adoptive cell therapies with genetically modified T/NK cells and, together with M. Sun, macrophage-based therapies. Furthermore, he uses innovative methods for molecular and functional characterization of tumor tissues based on mass spectrometry for high-throughput analysis of proteins (together with A. Brzobohata, M. Bühler and Y. Zhang) and automated microscopy and computer-assisted image analysis (in collaboration with B. Snijder ETH Zurich). Together with A. Buck and I. Sakic, he uses pharmacological and genetic high-throughput screens (‘CRISPR screens’) to identify new therapeutic approaches.
PD Dr. H.-G. Wirsching uses the RCAS/tv-a gene transfer system to further develop syngeneic mouse models of gliomas and meningiomas whose histopathological structure, microenvironment and molecular properties are similar to human tumors. S. Marashli, V. Moisoiu and J. Uriach are working on projects that use these tumor models to investigate possible gene functions and identify new therapeutic targets. In addition, these models are used to investigate the effects of epilepsy and anticonvulsants on tumor growth. One focus in the application of these models is on gene expression analyses with spatial and cell type-specific resolution.
In cooperation with the Department of Neurosurgery (Prof. Dr. L. Regli, Dr. F. Vasella), a tumor bank for molecular biological and immunological examinations as well as for the isolation and characterization of glioma stem cells was established.
In cooperation with the Departments of Medical Oncology and Oncology (PD Dr. Dr. E. Le Rhun), Neurosurgery (Prof. Dr. L. Regli) and Radiation Oncology (Prof. Dr. M. Guckenberger) and the Institute of Pathology (Prof. Dr. H. Moch), several externally funded projects on the pathogenesis and biology of metastases of the central nervous system are being carried out.
In the field of clinical neuro-oncology, the Brain Tumor Center Zurich was founded at the Comprehensive Cancer Center Zurich (CCCZ) in January 2012 together with the partner institutions of neuroradiology, neurosurgery, neuropathology, radiation oncology, oncology, nuclear medicine and pediatric neuro-oncology in Zurich. The extensive clinical studies (see below) are comprehensively supervised by three study nurses, M. Adorjani, V. Gabler and C. Keding, provide comprehensive support.
PD Dr. D. Gramatzki, Dr. A. Eisele and Dr. Y. Abdel-Moneim are conducting population-based studies on glioma disease in the Canton of Zurich. In cooperation with the centers of the German Glioma Network (coordination: PD Dr. D. Gramatzki) and the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) (coordination: PD Dr. Dr. E. Le Rhun), various clinical-pathological-molecular patient-related research projects are being carried out. The research group is working within the GLASS consortium on the characterization of the progression of low-grade gliomas (Dr. Dr. T. Weiss).
The working group was or is supported by the Brain Tumor Funder Collaborative of the USA, the Swiss National Science Foundation, Cancer Research Switzerland (Oncosuisse), the Zurich Cancer League, the Helmut Horten Foundation, the Wilhelm Sander Foundation, the EMDO Foundation, the OPO Foundation, the Hartmann-Müller Foundation, the Koetser Foundation, the Sophien Foundation, the San Salvatore Foundation, the Promedica Foundation, the Desirée and Niels Yde Foundation, the Foundation for Applied Cancer Research and the German Research Foundation support and carry out cooperation projects with the following companies: MSD (Lucerne), Novocure (Jersey Isle), Philogen (Siena) and Quercis (Zug).
Laboratory for Molecular Neuro-Oncology
Department of Neurology
University Hospital Zurich
Frauenklinikstrasse 26
8091 Zurich
You can find the members of the Neuro-Oncology Research Group here.
A selection of our research projects is listed below. An overview of the “ImmunoCure” research focus can be viewed here.
If you are interested in the clinical studies listed below at the Brain Tumor Center of the USZ, we look forward to hearing from you. A tabular overview of the currently recruiting studies with the most important inclusion criteria can also be viewed here.
The completed research projects of PhD students from our laboratory are listed below. The relevant publications in specialist journals can be viewed via this link .
You can make a donation for our scientific work by simply transferring money to our neuro-oncology donation account.
Please note that “in favor of account F-86001-01-01” must be listed as a comment on the accounting allocation. If you would like to specify the actual (practical) purpose of your donation yourself, please contact us before or after the transfer. We will also be happy to issue you with a donation receipt for submission to the tax office. Please send us an informal written request with your exact address or simply give us a call.