Dr. Michael Weller stands as a distinguished leader in neuro-oncology and clinical neuroscience with a career dedicated to advancing brain tumor treatment. He currently serves as Chairman of the Department of Neurology at the University Hospital and the University of Zurich, Switzerland, a position he has held since 2008, where he also leads the Brain Tumor Center at the Comprehensive Cancer Center Zurich. Dr. Weller qualified in medicine at the University of Cologne, Germany, and completed his clinical and scientific training across prestigious institutions including the University Hospital Zurich, National Institute of Health in Bethesda, Maryland, and the University Hospital of Tübingen. His career progression from Senior Physician at Tübingen University Hospital to his current leadership role in Zurich demonstrates his growing influence and expertise in neurological sciences.
Dr. Weller's pioneering research has significantly advanced the field of neuro-oncology, particularly in developing novel therapeutic approaches for glioblastoma and other brain tumors. His laboratory in Zurich actively explores innovative treatments including the immunocytokine L19TNF and antigen-independent CAR-T cell approaches, demonstrating his commitment to overcoming current limitations in brain tumor immunotherapy. His early work identifying death receptor targeting as a potential treatment strategy for glioblastoma established a foundation for subsequent research in the field, and he remains convinced of the promise held by ex vivo drug profiling, or "pharmacoscopy," for personalized treatment approaches. Dr. Weller's translational research bridges experimental findings with clinical applications, as evidenced by his current projects on proteome characterization in metastatic lung cancer and liquid biopsy approaches for patients with brain metastases.
As a respected leader in his field, Dr. Weller previously chaired the EORTC Brain Tumor Group from 2015 to 2021, significantly influencing European neuro-oncology research directions and clinical trial design. His professional influence extends through numerous society memberships including the European Association for Neuro-Oncology, Society for Neuro-Oncology, European Society of Medical Oncology, and American Society of Clinical Oncology. Dr. Weller serves on the editorial board of Chinese Clinical Oncology, contributing to scholarly discourse despite acknowledging limited opportunity for substantial contributions due to workload constraints. His ongoing research continues to focus on brain tumor stem cells, immunotherapy approaches, and understanding central nervous system metastasis, positioning his work at the forefront of developing more effective treatments for patients with neurological malignancies.
