William Weiss, MD, PhD, UCSF Brain Tumor Center

William Weiss, MD, PhD

Principal Investigator

Research Interests: mouse models of human brain tumors, tumorigenesis

Dr. Weiss’s research focuses on developing and characterizing mouse models that faithfully recapitulate the biology and genetics of human tumors of the nervous system, and using observations in the mouse to inform the biology, genetics, and therapy of human tumors.

Specifically, the Weiss Laboratory develops and uses in vivo models for neural cancers to:

  1. Identify the genetic events that promote tumorigenesis
  2. Study cancer stem and progenitor cells to understand their contribution to malignant progression
  3. Evaluate new targets, therapies, and mechanistic rationales for combining targeted agents
     

Weiss Lab Website >

 

Education and Training

1982: BS, Biology, Tufts University
1989: MD, PhD, Medicine/Cancer Biology, Stanford University
1989-1991: Intern and Resident, Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital in Boston
1991-1992: Resident, Neurology & Child Neurology, UCSF
1994-1998: Postdoctoral Fellow, Bishop Lab, UCSF
 

Academic Positions

1998-2004: Assistant Professor; Neurology, Pediatrics, and Neurological Surgery; UCSF
2004-2008: Associate Professor; Neurology, Pediatrics, and Neurological Surgery; UCSF
2008-Present: Assistant Professor; Neurology, Pediatrics, and Neurological Surgery; UCSF
2011-2012: Director, Child Neurology Division, UCSF
 

Select Awards

2008: Brain Tumor Society Award
2008: Accelerate Brain Cancer Cure Award
2008: Alex Lemonade Stand Foundation Award
2006: Burroughs Wellcome Translational Research Award
2005: Goldhirsch Foundation Award
2005: Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation Award
2005: Thrasher Research Fund Award
2005: Integrative Research Award, UCSF Sandler Program in Basic Sciences
2005: Brain Tumor Society Award
2002-2005: Brain Tumor Society Scholar
2002: Accelerate Brain Cancer Cure Award
2002: Brain Tumor Society Award
2001-2003: Sydney Kimmel Scholar Award