Brain tumors are difficult to diagnose and treat. Neurologist Tobias Weiss is developing an innovative method to detect tumors early and monitor them better using blood samples and extracellular vesicles.
In order to help patients more quickly and precisely, neurologist Tobias Weiss is working on an innovative method that can provide evidence of brain tumors using blood samples. The focus of his research is on extracellular vesicles – tiny particles that contain important information about the tumor. This breakthrough technology could revolutionize diagnostics and provide a cheaper, less invasive alternative to current procedures such as surgery and imaging.
New diagnostic methods
Around 2,000 people in Switzerland develop a brain tumor every year. Tobias Weiss’ team is currently developing and testing new diagnostic methods that use extracellular vesicles to detect tumors early and monitor their progression. Initial results show a promising accuracy of over 90 percent in distinguishing between cancer patients and healthy patients. In addition to diagnostics, they also test innovative therapies that can be tailored specifically to the tumor characteristics of individual patients.
Interdisciplinary collaboration with potential
The interdisciplinary project of the University of Zurich, ETH Zurich and University Hospital Zurich is supported by national and international partners. The goal is to integrate the research results into a mobile device that can efficiently isolate vesicles from the blood. This means that the method could be used not only for brain tumors, but also for other types of cancer and diseases. The research is still in the validation process, but the potential for widespread application in oncology and beyond is enormous.
