| Ralph Weissleder | |
|---|---|
| Fields | Clinical Research, Molecular Imaging, Systems Biology |
| Institutions | Massachusetts General Hospital |
Professor Ralph Weissleder is an American clinician scientist.
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Ralph Weissleder (born November 8, 1958 in Zell am Harmersbach, Germany) is a Professor at Harvard Medical School, Director of the Center for Systems Biology at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and an Attending Interventional Radiologist at MGH.
Ralph Weissleder studied Medicine and graduated with an MD from the University of Heidelberg in 1985. Since his Medical School training was embedded in the German system, his degree is not considered as an MD/PhD in the Anglo-American system, even though he did a medical thesis in Germany. Following his MD degree, Dr. Weissleder completed an Internship and Residency at University Hospital, Monterrey, Mexico. In 1986, Dr. Weissleder moved to Boston (USA) where he pursued post-doctoral research (1986–1989) and then clinical training in radiology at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and at Harvard Medical School (HMS). In 1994, Dr Weissleder became Assistant Professor at HMS, Full Professor in 2001 (Department of Radiology), and remains an active physician at Massachusetts General Hospital. In 2007, Dr Weissleder was appointed Director of the MGH Center for Systems Biology and in 2008, he was also appointed Professor in Systems Biology at HMS. Dr. Weissleder is a member of the Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center, the Broad Institute and the Harvard Stem Cell Institute (HSCI). Over the years, Dr. Weissleder has received many awards and honors in recognition of his contribution to science, of which the most recent is his election as a new member of the United States National Academy of Sciences Institute of Medicine (IOM).
Dr. Weissleder and his wife, Anna Petropoulos-Weissleder, a plastic surgeon, have one son.
Dr. Weissleder has received honorary degrees from The Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo León, Mexico (2007) and from Harvard University (2001).
Dr. Weissleder’s research interests include the development of novel molecular imaging techniques, tools for early disease detection as well as the development of nanomaterials for sensing and systems analysis. His research is translational in nature and already several of his developments have led to advanced clinical trials with anticipated major impacts when these methods become routinely available.
Dr. Weissleder’s practices at Massachusetts General Hospital which is widely recognized for its patient care and ranks among the most accomplished and innovative medical institutions in the world. His clinical specialty is in Interventional radiology, especially for cancer and nonvascular intervention. He is a member of the Massachusetts General Physicians Organization
Dr. Weissleder has published over 650 publications in peer reviewed journals, has authored and co-authored several textbooks and holds 15 patents.
Dr. Weissleder is a founding member of the Society for Molecular Imaging Research for which he served as President in 2002. His work has been honored with numerous awards including the Millennium Pharmaceuticals Innovator Award (2003), the J. Taylor International Prize in Medicine (2004), the AUR Memorial Award,[1] the ARRS President's Award,[2] The Society for Molecular Imaging Lifetime Achievement Award, the Academy of Molecular Imaging 2006 Distinguished Basic Scientist Award,[3] the 2008 RSNA Outstanding Researcher Award[4] and the 2011 European Society of Radiology Gold Medal.[5] Dr. Weissleder was also elected as a new member of the United States National Academy of Sciences Institute of Medicine (IOM) in 2009.