Margaret Wrensch

Margaret Wrensch, PhD, is a Professor of Neurological Surgery at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) and a member of the UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences. She is a leading figure in neuro-oncology and cancer epidemiology, with a career spanning over three decades focused on the genetic and molecular epidemiology of adult gliomas and brain tumors.

Education & Affiliations:

• University: University of California, San Francisco
• School: UCSF School of Medicine
• Department: Department of Neurological Surgery
• Institute: UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences

Research Focus: Dr. Wrensch’s research is centered on understanding the genetic and environmental risk factors for adult brain tumors, particularly gliomas. Her work integrates large-scale genomic studies, epidemiological cohorts, and translational research to identify susceptibility genes, prognostic biomarkers, and therapeutic targets. She has led or co-led multiple NIH-funded projects, including the Brain Tumor SPORE Grant and several R01 grants focused on glioma epidemiology and genomics.

Scientific Contributions: Her extensive publication record includes over 300 peer-reviewed articles, with key contributions in identifying genetic variants associated with glioma risk, survival, and molecular subtypes. She has played a pivotal role in international consortia such as the Glioma International Case-Control Study (GICC) and the GliomaScan Consortium.

Funding & Grants:

• Brain Tumor SPORE Grant – NIH P50CA097257 (Co-Investigator)
• Genetic and molecular epidemiology of adult glioma – NIH R01CA052689 (Principal Investigator)
• Electromagnetic fields and adult malignant glioma – NIH R01ES006285 (Principal Investigator)
• HA-RAS rare alleles in malignant glioma – NIH R03CA057220 (Principal Investigator)

Laboratory & Teams: Dr. Wrensch collaborates closely with multidisciplinary teams across UCSF, including neurosurgeons, neuropathologists, geneticists, and biostatisticians. Her work is supported by advanced genomic and epigenomic platforms, facilitating translational research from bench to bedside.