Dr. Brandwein-Weber’s endeavors span several decades and different diseases of the head and neck including squamous cell carcinoma, papillary thyroid carcinoma, and salivary malignancies. She is especially interested in an aggressive form of squamous cell carcinoma known as WPOI-5, a term which she first established in 2005, as well as an aggressive form of thyroid cancer known as tall cell variant. These diagnoses have been associated with an increased risk of cancer recurrence.
In a groundbreaking study, Dr. Brandwein-Weber and her team are introducing artificial intelligence methods that can reduce human error and help pathologists diagnose diseases. While pathologists are already known to have an eye for detail, using machine learning in this way will improve accuracy and help estimate the level of risk the patient may face. This is exciting as it will result in custom treatment options and outcome predictions for patients. In addition to machine learning in pathology, Dr. Brandwein-Weber and her team have also begun developing a new approach for communication between the pathology lab and the operating room during complex head and neck cancer surgery. She recently enlisted the help of a THANC Foundation Research Associate to build and test a prototype in an animal model.
Dr. Margaret Brandwein-Weber, MD, is the Professor of Pathology and Site Chair, Department of Pathology, Mount Sinai West / Mount Sinai Beth Israel. Prior to this, she held the position of Vice Chair of Clinical Affairs in the Department of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, at University of Buffalo, and the Chief of Service at Erie County Medical Center. Among her many honorifics, Dr. Brandwein-Weber is included in the World Health Organization Classification of Head and Neck Tumors, 3rd and 4rd Editions, (2003, 2016) International Agency for Research on Cancer, President of the North American Society of Head and Neck Pathology (2006 – 2008), and an expert panel member and author for the Head and Neck Expert Panel, 8th edition, American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) Cancer Staging System. Her first textbook, “Head and Neck Pathology” was published by Cambridge University Press in 2010. Currently, she is working on “Textbook of Head and Neck Pathology: An Illustrated Guide”, a four-volume text to be published sequentially by Springer. Volumes 1 and 2 were published in 2016 and 2017.
