Academic history
Adrian Wiestner, MD, PhD, obtained his medical degree from the University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland, subsequently undertaking a PhD at the same institution. He completed his residency in the Department of Internal Medicine at University Hospital in Basel and is certified by the Swiss Medical Board in Internal Medicine and by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates.
Dr Wiestner joined the NHLBI as a haematology fellow, before becoming clinical fellow at the National Cancer Institute. Dr Wiestner has been involved in the publication of more than 60 papers.
Speaking on molecular drivers of disease pathogenesis and drug resistance
Dr Wiestner’s research is focused on developing enhanced therapeutic strategies through establishing the pivotal molecular drivers of disease pathogenesis and understanding the influence of existing therapies on tumor cell stress responses and the existing problem of drug resistance. His research has included the effect of the drug bortezomib on gene expression in mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) cells of patients, whereby it was identified that bortezomib caused overstimulation of protein production through its effect on gene expression, leading to two stress responses in the tumour, which subsequently was used to understand MCL drug resistance. Dr Wiestner’s research has also included the effects of lenalidomide in chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
