Forscherdatenbank
Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Weber
Nuklearmedizinische Klinik und Poliklinik
Ismaninger Straße 22
81675 München
Programm
Radiation Oncology and Imaging (ROI)
Übersicht
Our research is focused on the preclinical development and clinical testing of new approaches for imaging and therapy of malignant tumors (theranostics). In the field of imaging, we are working on optical, MR, and nuclear contrast agents to study the physiology and biochemistry of tumors in preclinical models and patients. We also investigate intraoperative imaging strategies enabling minimally invasive, complete resection of small, difficult to localize tumor lesions. For cancer therapy, we are investigating small molecules and proteins labeled with alpha- and beta-emitting isotopes to treat prostate cancer and other malignancies. Funded by the state of Bavaria, DFG, BMBF, Cancer Research UK, and the European Union we are currently exploring novel multimodal imaging strategies to characterize the tumor microenvironment, track immune cells in-vivo, and develop radionuclide therapies. Working with the Departments of Chemistry and Molecular Life Sciences at TUM we strive to identify new targets for sensitive detection and targeted radionuclide therapy of cancer. Our clinical research aims to integrate advanced, multimodal imaging in the workup of cancer patients by studying diagnostic performance and impact on therapeutic decisions.
DKTK Junior Group Leader for Cancer Systems Biology
Single-cell approaches have not only revealed a wide variety of cell states, characterized by cells exhibiting striking differences in their transcriptional profile, but have also illuminated the mechanisms underlying state transitions in health and disease. Cellular plasticity and adaptive state changes have recently emerged as a basis for therapeutic resistance in cancer, and a better understanding of how cell state transitions are regulated is critical to develop therapeutic approaches that can overcome therapy resistance.
Our research focuses on understanding the mechanisms driving non-genetic cellular heterogeneity and therapy resistance in malignancy. Using novel single-cell sequencing approaches, we seek to develop new experimental and computational strategies to define altered cell states in both, cancer and immune cells. Our aim is to leverage a data driven strategy combined with single cell genomics and systems biology to address the challenges posed by heterogeneity in cancer, and to develop new strategies to overcome it, with the aim of translating laboratory-based findings into the clinic.