Rainer Glaß

Prof. Dr. Rainer Glaß serves as Professor and Principal Investigator of Neurosurgical Research within the Department of Neurosurgery at Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich's Medical Faculty. He leads an active research group at University Clinics Munich focused on brain tumor pathophysiology, with particular emphasis on glioblastoma microenvironment dynamics and neoplastic angiogenesis mechanisms.

His research program centers on neuro-oncology with specialization in tumor-associated myeloid cells (TAMEP), microglia, and pericytes. Key investigations explore how dormant brain progenitor cells activate in glioblastoma to form TAMEP, which critically regulate vascular network formation and blood-tumor barrier integrity. This work reveals fundamental mechanisms of tumor progression and therapeutic resistance in high-grade gliomas.

Recent publications demonstrate consistent focus on disrupting tumor vascularization pathways, with landmark studies identifying TAMEP as central controllers of angiogenesis. His group's translational approach combines transgenic mouse models with molecular techniques to develop strategies for weakening the blood-tumor barrier and enhancing drug delivery in glioblastoma treatment.

Prof. Glaß directs the Neurosurgical Research group (AG Glass) at LMU's Department of Neurosurgery, maintaining experimental facilities for in vivo glioma modeling and cellular analysis. The laboratory actively investigates progenitor cell activation mechanisms and myeloid cell interactions within the tumor microenvironment, utilizing advanced imaging and genetic manipulation techniques to dissect vascular biology in brain tumors.