Louis Weiner

Professor Louis M Weiner BA, MD
Director
Francis L. and Charlotte G. Gragnani Chair, Department of Oncology
Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center

An internationally recognized medical oncologist specializing in the treatment in gastrointestinal cancers, Dr. Louis Weiner is also an accomplished researcher developing novel immunotherapy treatments in his laboratory. Dr. Weiner was named director of the Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center on October 16, 2007.

Dr. Weiner is recognized for his laboratory and clinical research focusing on new therapeutic approaches that mobilize the patient’s immune system to fight cancer using monoclonal antibodies - laboratory-crafted proteins designed to recognize specific cancer cells. His laboratory designs and produces new antibody-based proteins with the aim of improving their tumor-targeting and immune-stimulating properties. This research has led to the surprising and clinically important observation that tumor targeting is impaired if the antibodies attach too tightly to their tumor targets. Dr. Weiner has also developed, and has clinically tested, “bispecific” antibodies and related antibody-based proteins designed not only to recognize and bind to cancer cells but also to stimulate immune-system cells to attack the targeted cancer cells.

Dr. Weiner holds a BA from the University of Pennsylvania and an M.D. from Mount Sinai School of Medicine.