2018 Annual Report 2 Editorial Right on target

Thanks to the latest methods in genetics and molecu- jects at the MedUni Vienna General Hospital Campus lar biology, illness is no longer viewed as a general di- to build the innovative centres for precision medicine, agnosis, but as a unique situation in the life of a unique translational medicine and technology transfer, as well human being. In terms of their individual nature, di- as the MedUni Campus Mariannengasse preclinical agnoses are comparable to fingerprints. A molecular construction project, are in full swing. They are set to fingerprint allows for precise, tailored prevention and provide us with a strong foundation for the future of re- therapy. This is medicine that is as precisely targeted search, patient care and teaching. as possible – appropriately referred to as precision medicine. A bright future which has been preceded by a success- ful, but also at times dark past, which as a socially Medicine 4.0 means that the doctors of the 21st cen- responsible organisation we recognised in the 2018 tury have access to new technology, in particular in commemoration year. Together with the University of post-genomic digital medicine, which is already dra- Vienna, we remembered the events of 80 years previ- matically changing the professional requirements of ously at an international conference entitled The An- researchers and doctors and the skills they need. schluss in March 1938: Repercussions for Medicine and Society. This drew attention to the lessons learned The strategy defined in the 2024 Roadmap in the Med- from this turning point in the university’s history that ical University of Vienna Development Plan will meet must not be forgotten, and the approach we need to these challenges. Preparations and planning for the take towards it today. biggest investments in our history, in construction pro-

Professor Markus Müller Rector, Medical University of Vienna

3 8 18

Medicine 4.0 Research, 08 Healthier thanks to big data, teaching and digital transformation and precision medicine patient care 10 Research outcomes attract worldwide attention 24 Committed to good health 12 Patient care with a global 24 The triple track – driving progress reputation 25 International partnerships and 14 Learning from the best third-party funding 26 Medical excellence 26 Medical care 27 Measurable success Opening up 27 Focused programmes of study 28 Research with a clear focus new 29 The future of dentistry perspectives

18 Strategic project for world-class medicine 20 Getting more out of life

4 Contents

36 40 47 Contents

Living better 44 Specific protein a target in Working Alzheimer’s therapy and healthier 45 Better quality of life for together rheumatoid arthritis patients for longer 47 Atypical virus a cause of for medicine kidney diseases 32 Treating chronic heart failure 48 How the lungs get their 58 Scientific partnerships, individually immune cells education and careers 35 Predicting venous thrombosis 49 Chikungunya virus vaccine and pulmonary embolism on the horizon 36 Cutting-edge mathematics 50 Enzymes and their influence on makes breast cancer therapy autoimmune diseases The more precise 51 Lone watchmen able to 37 Life expectancy doubled warn the immune system organisational in cases of B-cell lymphoma 52 Brown fat cells 39 Not smoking improves survival could help weight loss structure of rate for prostate cancer 53 Investigating a basis for 40 Eye scan diagnosis: new cancer treatments MedUni Vienna worldwide impact of 54 First long-term treatment option MedUni Vienna development for rare blood disease 66 Organisational structure 42 Inconclusive mammography 55 Medication: improved treatment 74 Financial statements results: MRI as an alternative success thanks to statistics to biopsy

5

Medicine 4.0

A fundamental transformation is under way in medicine – known in the business world as industry 4.0. Big data and the digital transformation – the driving forces behind this change – are paving the way to precision medicine, which will focus on each person’s unique characteristics. Markus Müller Rector

We are all witnesses to a unique development in the history of mankind. Current developments in digitisation and molecular medicine have led to an un- precedented acceleration of medical progress.

Healthier thanks to big data, digitisation and precision medicine

We are currently right in the middle A revolution reactive role, and towards predictive of a process in which medicine is not in medicine and preventive medicine. In practical only being reconceived, but rebuilt. terms, among other things this will Medicine is increasingly becoming This groundbreaking new approach help individuals to lead healthy lives personalised and, due to technologi- opens up completely new possibilities for longer. And costs in the health sys- cal advances, more and more able not – for instance, for treating illnesses tem – in spite of demographic changes only to recognise disorders and risk more effectively, curing certain disor- and an aging society with a higher risk factors, but also to understand the ders for the first time, or preventing of illness – will remain under control. underlying causes in each individual the onset of a disease as soon as it patient and predict the course of dis- starts to develop. In this way, medicine An important factor in so-called preci- ease. is moving away from its traditional, sion medicine – or personalised med-

8 Medicine 4.0 9 - Chair of the Chair of MedUni MedUni University Council University Eva Dichand Eva Vienna carries out carries Vienna to further build on.to further leading edge research and research edge leading in – which we are working working we are in – which This is a great position be to is a great This ward-looking expertise, while while expertise, ward-looking the computing power nor the data en- nor the data the computing power avail abling these opportunities were numbers and large are, both Now able. as can be represented datasets of data quantities of Viewing networks. de- to researchers allows in this way scientifically scribe these systems that – an approach progress and make Medicine (see Precision for the Center exploit. to wants 16) page from more provides its students with for- its students with provides patients are afforded the most the most afforded patients are advanced treatments available. available. treatments advanced

The individual patterns behind The individual patterns different, so are diseases specific of a high degree such and all present hidden remain they that complexity, - convention applying physicians to new, gain To techniques. diagnosis al - complexi into insights fundamental appointed Vienna MedUni ty science, of the Science Professor first Austria’s Thurner, Stefan Systems, Complex of Thurner named was Professor in 2009. edu- Austria’s by Year the of Scientist and science journalists in 2017. cation those as – such data of volumes Large digitisation with big data, associated form the – and artificial intelligence - con In research. complexity for basis the possibilities this opens up to trast - in the nat research traditional today, use of make only sciences could ural since neither blocks”, “building a few Identify complexity Identify complexity it and understand -

- West Vienna’s from departed Express Orient the 15.25, at 1938 June 4 On was board on passengers the Among Paris. for destined station, bahnhof He 82. aged Freud, Sigmund era: the of important most the figures of one an- great him caused had finally but which the city he loved leaving was a larger-than-life later, 80 years Precisely return. never He would guish. Vienna the MedUni of in front and unveiled erected was Freud of statue Freud, David his achievements. of recognition of as a symbol Rectorate, Minister Federal and Heinz Fassmann, Sigmund Freud, of great-grandson - cere the unveiling at present were Science and Research Education, of mony. Recognition for Sigmund Freud Recognition Massive amounts of data must be must data amounts of Massive to and combined in order collected This includes, patterns. identify such epidemiological, clinical, example, for even and genetics molecular imaging, these data of Analysis economic data. under new in completely is resulting - disease pre pathogenesis, of standing and individualised therapies. vention already have The major advances that personalised using today made been of as in the treatment such medicine, and disorders autoimmune cancer, this is not that show diseases, rare These the future. of about fantasies in patients benefiting successes are been imag- have not would that ways ago. years a few just inable Big data and digitisation Big data icine – is each person’s entirely indi- entirely person’s icine – is each disposition, genetic inherited vidual, being at them rise to can give which a particular of risk disease. greater Michaela Fritz Vice Rector for In a highly Research and Innovation competitive inter- national environment, MedUni Vienna must put in place the frameworks and research infrastructure it needs to retain and attract the best talent and to be able to implement innovative ideas. The Center for Translational Med- Research outcomes icine and Therapeutics will play an important part in this. attract worldwide attention

MedUni Vienna has established re- Its central finding was that there are diction model that improves evalua- search clusters (read more on page genetic relationships between certain tion of this risk in journal The Lancet 28) for medical imaging, immunology, neurological disorders. Haemotology (read more on page 35). cancer research/oncology, cardio- vascular medicine and medical neu- Predicting venous Worldwide recognition roscience in order to focus clinical thrombosis and for eye scan diagnosis and basic research efforts in these pulmonary embolism fields. The clusters again produced MedUni Vienna has become a global outstanding research findings in 2018 Cancer patients are at higher risk of pioneer and driver of the digital revo- – many of which were based on preci- venous thrombosis and pulmonary lution in ophthalmology. The research sion medicine approaches (read more embolism – which can be fatal if not carried out by Ursula Schmidt-Erfurth, from page 30) – which attracted at- diagnosed. Ingrid Pabinger, Deputy Head of the Department of Ophthal- tention worldwide and were published Head of the Division of Hematology mology and Optometrics, has played in top academic journals. A number of and Hemostaseology at the Depart- a major part in this. The importance of studies also picked up coverage in the ment of Medicine I, presented a pre- her discoveries was shown in a paper media around the globe.

Big data in neurology

Markus Brown from the Department of Pathology demonstrated a newly 1938: Repercussions discovered way that breast cancer tu- mour cells metastasise, namely via the for Medicine and Society sentinel lymph nodes and their blood vessels. The paper was published in The Anschluss in March 1938, when Austria became part of Nazi Germa- respected journal Science, as was a ny, was a catastrophe for medicine in Austria. Many of the country’s best worldwide study carried out by the doctors were forced to flee abroad or were murdered. In addition to the Brainstorm Consortium, in which child tragic consequences for those affected, the result was a massive brain and adolescent psychiatrist Andreas drain from which Austria only recovered slowly after the war ended. On the Karwautz was involved. In the study, initiative of its Alumni Club, MedUni Vienna organised a high-level confer- for the first time the genome of 1.1 ence in cooperation with the University of Vienna, which was held on 12 million patients with psychiatric and and 13 March 2018, marking the 80th anniversary of the beginning of this neurological disorders was analysed. dark period of Austria’s history.

10 by Google published in the journal Na- named the atypical parvovirus Mouse first time. The research sparked wide- ture Medicine, which cited her studies Kidney Parvovirus (MKPV). The results spread international media attention. numerous times (read more on page of their work were published in leading 40). journal Cell (see page 47). Herwig Czech’s research on paedia- trician Hans Asperger also garnered Prostate cancer and arthritis International media attention around the world. The med- attention ical historian was able to prove that Smokers with prostate cancer have Asperger assisted with the euthanasia a significantly lower risk of relapse if The biggest stir internationally was programme during the period of Nazi they stop smoking soon after diagno- caused by two other publications. rule. For MedUni Vienna, the study sis. This was the finding of a study led Firstly, the microplastics study by was another step forward in coming by Shahrokh Shariat, published in the Philipp Schwabl of the Clinical Divi- to terms with its own past during this Medicine 4.0 highly respected Journal of the Ameri- sion for Gastroenterology and Hepa- period – as was the conference or- can Medical Association (JAMA) (more tology, in cooperation with the Aus- ganised at MedUni Vienna from 12-13 on page 39). JAMA also invited MedUni trian Federal Environment Agency, March 2018, entitled The Anschluss in Vienna researchers Daniel Aletaha and which demonstrated the presence of March 1938: Repercussions for Medi- Josef Smolen to write a comprehen- microplastics in human stools for the cine and Society. sive rheumatoid arthritis review. This resulted in a positive conclusion that outcomes have improved significant- ly for patients in recent years – 80% 2018 was an of sufferers are now able to return to eventful and important leading a normal life with the help of year for the future of MedUni medication (more on page 45). Vienna, with two highlights: the Unknown virus discovered architectural design competition and start of construction for MedUni An international research group, led Campus Mariannengasse, and – fol- by the Head of MedUni Vienna’s De- lowing intensive discussions with the partment of Dermatology Wolfgang Federal Ministry of Education, Sci- Weninger, discovered a previously un- ence and Research – the successful known virus which acts as a driver of agreement of a financial a certain type of kidney disease (in- Volkan Talazoglu terstitial nephritis). The researchers Vice Rector for Finance framework to the end of 2021.

Eric Kandel receives honorary doctorate

On 24 March 2018 the Rector of MedUni Vienna, Markus Müller, presented an honorary doctorate to neuroscientist Eric Kandel. Born in Vienna in 1929, Kandel had to emigrate to the USA in 1939 and was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2000 for his research on mem- ory storage. Austrian Federal Chancellor Sebastian Kurz and Science Minister Heinz Fassmann were also present to congratulate Professor Kandel in person. Left to right: Minister Heinz Fassmann, University Council Chair Eva Dichand, Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, Denise Kandel, Eric Kandel, MedUni Vienna Rector Markus Müller

11 Patient care with a global reputation

In terms of inpatient cases and case Austria region, fully deserves its rep- severity, Vienna’s university hospital utation for providing comprehensive, occupies an impressive position both high quality tertiary medical care. regionally and nationally: more than In addition, MedUni Vienna doctors 20% of all inpatient admissions in Vi- working at Vienna General Hospital enna are to Vienna General Hospital, are responsible for an above-average and for severe cases this figure is as proportion of primary (minor inpatient much as a quarter. The country’s lead- cases) and secondary (outpatient ing hospital, with its role as a central cases) compared with other universi- point for patient care in the Eastern ty hospitals.

New University Council

May 2018 saw the commencement of the new term of of- fice for the University Council. The Federal Government’s delegates are media executive Eva Dichand, who was elect- ed chair by the members of the Council, and former State Secretary for Health, Reinhart Waneck. The University Sen- ate nominated Brigitte Ettl (Medical Director of Hietzing Hospital) and Thomas Zeltner (Honorary Professor of Public Health at the University of Bern and WHO Special Envoy). These four delegates selected Irene Virgolini (Head of Nu- clear Medicine at the Medical University of Innsbruck) as the fifth member of the Council. The term of office runs for five years.

12 Medicine 4.0 13 - -

Director of of Director success. Renovation of Renovation Vienna General Hospital Vienna General Herwig Wetzlinger Herwig Live research Live - knowledge-hun 11,433 of total A descended on the med- gry visitors Vien- MedUni at trail ical research of Night Long the Austrian na for 60 Over on 13 April 2018. Research oppor provided stations different hands-on and inter get tunities to while research, medical with active stream the live hit was the biggest from operations pacemaker two of theatre, operating hybrid the new centre. the lecture to directly the buildings at Vienna at Vienna the buildings contribution to continued to continued contribution division will make a major make will division General Hospital will ensure ensure will Hospital General in the future. These investments These investments in the future. that it continues to provide out- to provide that it continues of Vienna General Hospital and Hospital General of Vienna the MedUni Vienna patient care patient care Vienna the MedUni standing medical care for patients care standing medical and joint operational management and joint operational - - Rekon Bionische In the premier league for for league In the premier bionic reconstruction up notched Aszmann Oskar Surgeon At the significant successes in 2018. a model he presented start the year of for preconditions the psychological of example – for bionic reconstruction due function has lost when a hand that - mecha a by replaced be to injury is to together And in October, hand. tronic - Genoa and Lon from with colleagues a EUR 10 million ERC don he received riband award – a blue Synergy Grant community – for among the research bionics international a collaborative Vienna’s MedUni In between, project. book, science latest struktion: Wiederherstellung an der Wiederherstellung struktion: - und Maschi Mensch zwischen Grenze restoring ne (Bionic Reconstruction: per between border the at function by published, was son and machine) The book Hruby. and Laura Aszmann and artificial how intelligence shows greater ever playing are digitisation intelligent of in the development roles prosthetics. quickly. - The invest for Vice Rector Clinical Affairs clinical practice more more practice clinical - cen ments in the new tres for precision medicine, medicine, for precision tres translational medicine and medicine translational Oswald Wagner Oswald research find their way into find their research technology transfer will build an will transfer technology nengasse. They allow us to ensure allow us to ensure nengasse. They - Marian Campus the new MedUni that discoveries from fundamental from that discoveries ideal bridge to preclinical care and care to preclinical bridge ideal Transplantation medicine is a stand- Transplantation broad the university’s of out feature achievements outstanding of portfolio the leading and the hospital is one of - trans organ for worldwide centres for lung transplants, Its 120 plants. - Hospi Vienna General make example, in the field centre largest tal the third surprising is not – which worldwide - Pa success. of the high rates given a lung transplant tients undergoing very Hospital have General Vienna at 90% one year over survival rates: good 75% and over the transplant following years. five after - interna Vienna also has an excellent heart transplants for tional reputation heart and implanting and developing in the de- the way and it leads pumps, - cochle of and introduction velopment ar implants and bionic reconstruction limbs. for Vienna a leading centre for for centre Vienna a leading transplantation The Senate fulfilled its duties to shape the legislative definition of research and teaching remits in order to sup- port the Rectorate in achieving the university’s aims. Thanks to the effective collaboration of all Harald Sitte of the working groups and Chair of the Senate committees, all objectives were attained.

Learning

For us, provid- from the best ing higher education fit for the future means making investments in the big topics Research-led teaching with sig- and dentistry degree programmes, for education, like the integration nificant clinical components 5,967 of them at MedUni Vienna. The of technological development and forms the basis of the sound 740 study places available at MedUni medical education offered at ­Vienna went to 413 women (55.8%) digitisation, simulation training, in- MedUni Vienna. So that this and 327 men (44.2%). terdisciplinary and interprofession- opportunity is offered to the al teaching and learning, joint best potential doctors, there is Higher education 4.0 education and hybrid educa- a joint admissions test for med- tion, as well as medical ical degrees at all of the medical In preparation for the rapidly changing humanities. universities in Austria. The effec- everyday world in which doctors work, tiveness of the selection process is from 2019 virtual reality will form part demonstrated by the fact that nine of the curriculum at MedUni Vienna. Anita Rieder out of ten students who start their Methodical evaluation of the use of Vice Rector for Education degrees at MedUni Vienna complete the new technology will accompany its them successfully, and the majority introduction. Interprofessional simu- of students graduate within the min- lation training will play a role in edu- imum time period or the tolerance cating students at the Department of semester period. On 6 July 2018 more Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine than 12,000 candidates took the an- in particular: simulations of emergen- nual admissions test for medicine cies involving children will help to train

14 doctors in the department’s Pediatric Simulation Center.

State prize for teaching excellence

Teaching staff at the Medical Univer- sity of Vienna were the recipients of a number of high-profile awards in early 2018, demonstrating that the univer- Medicine 4.0 sity is well-placed to make the step forward into the future world of high- er education. An instruction project at MedUni Vienna was awarded the Ars Docendi state prize for teaching excel- lence. Thomas Binder, Wolfgang We- Campus Mariannengasse ninger, Anahit Anvari-Pirsch, and Mat- thias Schneider, the team behind the Following the completion of the EU-wide architectural design competi- “Echocardiography/Anatomy – Blend- tion, the biggest construction project at a university anywhere in Austria ed Learning” project, scooped the prize – for around 750 researchers and 2,000 students – is moving into its next in the category for digital teaching and phase. Planning for the new MedUni Campus Mariannengasse, based on learning elements in combination with the winning concept, has started. Around 340 million euros will go into the traditional forms of instruction. Anoth- construction, fit-out and equipment for the new high-tech campus. The er MedUni Vienna course, Interdisci- building is scheduled to be fully operational in time for the 2025/26 winter plinary Case Conferences (Compact), semester. made the shortlist. And Michael Wag- ner of MedUni Vienna’s Division for Ne- onatology, Pediatric Intensive Care and Neuropediatrics was awarded a prize for interprofessional team training in education at the Austrian Patient Safety Platform’s Austrian Patient Safety Awards.

Professional medical conduct will remain in focus in the future

Anita Rieder, Vice Rector for Educa- tion at MedUni Vienna, emphasises First aid by app: the significance of virtual reality, 3D modelling, big data, digitisation and students saving lives artificial intelligence for the doctors of tomorrow: “For us at the Medical Uni- Since March 2018, 735 MedUni Vienna students have completed a course versity of Vienna, it is very important to at the university in which they receive specialist training and become reg- prepare our students for the future – a istered as first responders. If they happen to be close to a cardiac emer- future of incredible technological pro- gency, they can be dispatched to the location of the emergency by the am- gress – but this is combined with all of bulance service control centre via an app, so that they can provide first the competencies that make up a good aid until emergency services arrive. The initiative is a cooperation between doctor: the specific communication Vienna Medical Students’ Union (ÖH Med Wien), MedUni Vienna, PULS, the skills required by a physician, a pro- Lebensretter first responders’ association and Vienna’s professional am- fessional manner and a team-oriented bulance service. This project also received an award from the Lebensretter approach.” association in 2018, for the largest increase in first responders in Austria.

15

Opening up new perspectives The new ZPM – Center for Precision Medicine

The right treatment, at the right dosage, at the right time, for the right patient. Precision medicine is right on target – and the most important trend in medicine in the 21st century. Strategic project for world-class medicine

MedUni Vienna sees the Center for Precision Medicine as part of uphold- ing and continuing its tradition as a leading international institution – in this case in the most important area of medicine in the 21st century. Many patients are already benefiting from What is precision medicine? the application of personalised medi- cine and corresponding therapy. Treat- Personalised medicine – also known as precision medicine – is a funda- ment successes using the very latest mentally new approach to treating illness. It is based on the discovery that approaches available to physicians the same diseases can have different causes in different individuals. The provide hope that increased research reason for this is found in the genes: each person has a highly individual in the field of precision medicine will inherited genetic disposition, which can give rise to them being at greater help even more people to enjoy better risk of a particular disease. quality of life for longer – even in cas- es of previously incurable diseases. As a result, the best form of treatment and prevention is personalised medical care – precision medicine. This approach is set to put countless Highly effective tailor-made previous medical advances in the shade. The traditional one-size-fits-all treatment approach to treatment is often accompanied by significant side effects as well as poor outcomes in some cases. In a major investment programme, three

18 Opening up new perspectives 19 Funded by by Funded private donations on pub- constraints of In the light Vienna is MedUni lic spending, individuals and private turning to support for provide companies to Precision for the Center building will be used Donations Medicine. cen- the of construction for pay to Vienna General the MedUni at tre re- of the fit-out Hospital Campus, areas, and administrative search state-of-the-art of and installation medical equipment. Financing: external private funding, donations Scheduled start of construction: start of Scheduled 2022

2 m pital delivers an additional advantage advantage an additional pital delivers and practitioners clinical patients: for - to get can easily basic researchers cut- share and collaborate to gether findings with one another, ting-edge the access to better giving patients treatments. latest very For the medicine the For the future of Medicine will Precision for The Center asposition Vienna’s MedUni underline - medical universi best the very one of German-speakingin the ties countries. - pre to commitment university’s The cision medicine sends an important - re infrastructure, the of terms in signal will success- that and teaching search in challenges the future overcome fully healthcare. A

Uni Vi- Uni Medicine project project

realised with realised Center for Precision Precision for Center private funding private that can only be be only thatcan

Gross floor space: floor Gross 7,800 7,800 The new centre will focus on biomed- will focus centre The new genome clinical trials, ical research, Its and IT. bioinformatics technology, - Hos Vienna General to proximity close New perspectives for for perspectives New disease of sufferers enna General Hospital Campus will Hospital Campus will enna General medicine in the of shape the future Precision for the Center century: 21st - Translation for the Center Medicine, and the Therapies, al Medicine and Con- Transfer. Center Technology for Precision for the Center of struction begin in to Medicine is scheduled - insti the leading It will be one of 2022. - and develop the research tutions for treatment personalised new, ment of strategies. centres being built at the Med­ the being built at centres Getting more out of life

Many patients are already benefit- analysis always plays a central role, benefiting in the future, and having ing from the application of precision providing the basis for diagnosis and the chance to enjoy greater quality of medicine and corresponding treat- treatment. Intensifying research ef- life as well as to live longer. ment and prevention measures. Gene forts will result in even more people

Progress on Help for leukaemia sufferers Dietrich Karner, a senior business of multiple executive for many years, enjoyed perfect health – until he was diagnosed sclerosis with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL). CLL is a serious disorder of the lymphatic system caus- Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory neu- ing certain white blood cells – lymphocytes – to change rological disease whose course cannot be predicted and multiply uncontrollably. In the past, the inevitable – hence it also known as “the disease with a thousand outcome was that the patient died. But today, thanks to faces.” MS has different effects on the body of each pa- precision medicine, in most cases the disease is curable tient. For this reason, for Alexandra Vossoughi-Turnauer, – as it was in Dietrich Karner’s case. Karner is therefore patron of the Vienna Multiple Sclerosis Society, person- convinced that building the Center for Precision Medi- alised treatment was vital. Since conventional treatment cine is immensely important: “Every single contribution was unsuccessful, a drug needed to be found that would counts, however small, and is an excellent investment specifically target her form of MS. Vossoughi-Turnauer in health and in future prospects, including those of the comments: “Without that medication, I don’t know how individual donor.” things would be today – I would certainly not be sitting here.”

Fitter than ever despite a transplant

Jutta Ludwig, a general practitioner from Carin- efiting in particular, since they face a greater risk thia, had her life saved by a heart transplant in of transplanted organs being rejected by the body. 1991. 20 years later a repeat transplant was necessary. In this case, precision medicine means that the patient’s Thanks to precision medicine, Dr. Ludwig is healthier and individual immune system status and antibody situation fitter than ever today. The major advances in transplan- is taken account of. For Jutta Ludwig, precision medicine tation medicine in recent years are responsible for this. resulted in quality of life that has meant she is even able Patients with an unfavourable antibody status are ben- to be active in the transplant sports association.

20 Serious illnesses no longer mean life is over

In order to make the incurable curable, MedUni Vienna is building the Center for Precision Medicine, funded by sponsors Opening up new perspectives and private donations.

Account details Erste Bank MedUni Vienna ZPM IBAN: AT46 2011 1404 1007 0714 BIC: GIBAATWWXXX

or make a donation directly at www.zpm.at

Donor service Monday to Friday 9am-4pm Tel. +43 (0)1 40160 11525 [email protected]

Medical University of Vienna Fundraising Spitalgasse 23, 1090 Vienna meduniwien.ac.at zpm.at

Tax deductibility Donations for the Center for Precision Medicine are tax deductible.

21

Research, teaching and patient care

World-class medicine made in Vienna – as one of the largest universities in the German-speaking region, MedUni Vienna combines tradition with innovation. Outstanding perfor- mance in the core activities of research, patient care and teaching underline the high level of scientific expertise at the university and the institution’s international significance.

23 University hospital departments:

Employees: Committed to good health 26

Patients treated: 5,750 Based at the same location in central Vienna, the Medical University of Vienna (MedUni Vienna) and Vienna General Hospital are both distinguished medical institutions. Founded in 1365 as the med- ical faculty of the University of Vienna and made an independent university in 2004, today MedUni 630,000 Vienna is among Europe’s most highly respected annually centres of medical training and research – and with Students: 8,000 students, the largest in the German-speak- ing region. 8,000

The triple track: driving progress MedUni Vienna’s triple track strategy of intelligently bundling research, teaching and patient care to create synergies between these three core activities under- pins the university’s leading position and provides valuable impetus.

Conveying knowledge Putting knowledge to use

Patient care MedUni Vienna’s curriculum encom- The university provides the medical passes medicine and dentistry degree staff for Vienna General Hospital, an programmes and doctoral studies, as outstanding institution serving the well as a master’s programme in med- local region as well as patients from ical informatics. Continuing education across the country. Over 20% of all courses complete the learning port- inpatient admissions in Vienna are Teaching Research folio. Students benefit from the inter- accounted for by Vienna General Hos- action between research, education pital. While it focuses on high quality and patient care – with Vienna Gener- tertiary medical care, the hospital also al Hospital playing an integral role in provides a large proportion of second- teaching. ary and primary care in the city.

Generating knowledge

MedUni Vienna places special emphasis on research in the fields of immunology, cancer/oncology, medical neuroscience, cardiovascular medicine, and medical imaging. In each of these areas dozens of working groups organised into a re- search cluster cooperate on interdisciplinary and translational projects. Patients benefit directly from their work.

24 International partnerships and third-party funding

Solitary geniuses are the exception in tutions form a global scientific and re- and roughly a fifth of all funding for science today. Big advances are almost search network that plays a vital role in research and teaching activities always the result of team efforts, which MedUni Vienna’s success. comes from sources of independ- is why Nobel prizes are now frequent- ent (third-party) finance. Third-party ly awarded to multiple recipients. The Almost 60% of all publications by funding for research and development Research, teaching and patient care numerous cooperation agreements MedUni Vienna researchers are the amounted to EUR 102.7 million in the university has with partner insti- result of international partnerships, 2018.

Publications based on international cooperations, 2015-2018

Medical University of Vienna

337 372 361 320 262 Karolinska Charité LMU University Institutet Medical Munich Free 365 of Toronto 419 University University of Berlin 263 of Berlin 350 Humboldt 324 University KU Leuven Harvard of Berlin Heidelberg University University University of Hamburg

Third-party funding: revenue from R&D projects Donations and donations (EUR) 3.7 m Non-EU countries

Total 7.4 m

102.7 m EU 15.1 m

Austria 76.5 m

25 Medical excellence

MedUni Vienna has 5,748 employees (3,208 women Five new professors were appointed in 2018 and 48 and 2,540 men) and is one of the most important cen- post-doctoral lecturing qualifications were awarded (to tres of medical education and research in Europe. 3,800 15 women and 33 men; 21 non-surgical specialists, 12 academic staff (1,746 women and 2,054 men) work for surgical specialists and 15 biomedical basic research the university as researchers, lecturers and doctors. specialists).

Medical care

Patient care University Clinic of Dentistry at Vienna General Hospital Vienna

outpatient treatment sessions cases 553,000 145,236

inpatient patients cases 78,734 39,249

operations average number of patients visiting the emergency dental 51,676 clinic every weekend 116.12 beds clinic appointments 1,773 1,200,394 including 137 intermediate care (IMC) and 130 intensive care beds

26 Measurable The number of publications a universi- the New England Journal of Medicine ty produces is an important indication can often be ten times higher than that success of research performance, although the of less well-known publications. Since standing of the individual journals in its establishment as a university in its which they are published – measured own right in 2004, MedUni Vienna has by their impact factor – is what carries consistently increased its research the most weight. The impact factor of performance in terms of the impact of leading journals such as The Lancet or publications by its researchers.

18,377 Research, teaching and patient care Impact factors 18,000 of scientific publications 16,000 2005–2017 14,000 Total impact factors show that scien- 12,000 tific output and the quality of research 10,000 at MedUni Vienna are rising continu- 8,000 ously. 6,000

4,000

2,000

0 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

Focused programmes MedUni Vienna has a diversified educational offering, from undergraduate degrees to continuing education courses of study and PhD programmes. • Medicine degree programme • Dentistry degree programme • Medical Informatics master’s programme Students by • PhD programmes (18 research themes) nationality Women Men Total • Applied Medical Science doctoral programme (ten re- Austria 2,747 2,479 5,226 search themes with a focus on clinical research) • 22 postgraduate continuing education courses and three EU 895 821 1,716 certificate courses Other countries 531 414 945 Over 106 teaching hospitals in Austria, 69 general medical Total 4,173 3,714 7,887 practices and numerous teaching hospitals abroad are ac- Source: 2018 intellectual capital report – winter semester 2018 credited for clinical practice training.

Students in mobility programmes (outgoing/incoming) Women Men Total PhD/doctoral programmes Women Men Total EU host country/country of 253/162 211/95 464/257 Austria 427 434 861 origin EU 155 108 263 Non-EU host country/coun- 184/45 149/29 333/74 try of origin Other countries 120 73 193 Total 437/207 360/124 797/331 Total 702 615 1,317 Source: 2018 intellectual capital report – academic year 2017/18 Source: 2018 intellectual capital report – winter semester 2018

27 Research

with a clear Clear objectives are needed in order to be able to work ef- fectively and productively. This is why in research, MedUni Vienna focuses its diverse fields of expertise into five in- focus terdisciplinary and cross-departmental research clusters. MedUni Vienna strives to be among the best in the world in these five areas. And it has been successful in pursuing this goal: a number of scientists at MedUni Vienna are among the most cited researchers worldwide in their fields.

Cancer Research/ Immunology Research ning and monitoring for personalised Oncology Research Cluster Cluster diagnosis and treatment plans. The cluster’s overriding objectives are to Established on the basis of the Cancer Defective immune system responses enable earlier diagnosis and improved Research/Oncology Research Clus- are known to cause diabetes, arterio- characterisation of diseases, and to ter, the Comprehensive Cancer Center sclerosis, chronic polyarthritis, aller- develop new therapy approaches. (CCC) is a joint facility of MedUni Vien- gies and inflammatory bowel disease. na and Vienna General Hospital which Infectious diseases are also a growing Medical Neuroscience combines interdisciplinary care for threat. As the complexity of immuno- Research Cluster cancer patients with clinical and basic logical disorders requires an interdis- research, and research-led teaching. ciplinary approach, the Immunology MedUni Vienna frequently attracts This results in innovative diagnostic Research Cluster brings together re- attention in Austria and abroad for its and treatment methods that the CCC search into allergies, inflammation research into Alzheimer’s, depression, makes available to patients. and infectious diseases, and develops multiple sclerosis and pain. These and new concepts for diagnosis and treat- numerous other fields of neuroscience ment. and psychosocial science fall within the Medical Neuroscience Research Cardiovascular Medicine Cluster. The primary goal of the re- Ten years of Research Cluster searchers in this cluster is to gain new insights into the mechanisms of nerv- 7 Tesla In addition to cardiovascular disease, ous system diseases. Their work leads the main focuses of the Cardiovascular to improved diagnosis and treatment MedUni Vienna started using 7 Te- Medicine Research Cluster’s work are for patients with these conditions. sla ultra-high field MRI a decade imaging and non-imaging diagnosis, ago and the university has been as well as epidemiology and genetic playing an important role in the research. The cluster is also known for development of the technology its basic research into vascular biology ever since. This ten-year anniver- and thrombosis, and interdisciplinary sary was celebrated at a special activities ranging from biomechanics symposium held in the university’s to gene and stem cell therapy. Van Swieten Saal on 4 December. 7 Tesla MRI is becoming increasingly Medical Imaging Research important in treatment monitoring, Cluster as a kind of final check in clinical testing. A good example of this is MedUni Vienna’s institutes and re- in the examination of epilepsy pa- search facilities involved in imaging tients, where 7 Tesla MRI enables collaborate within the Medical Imag- doctors to detect the areas of the ing Cluster to perform research into brain that are triggering seizures new diagnostic methods, individual more effectively. risk stratification, and therapy plan-

28 The future of dentistry

Vienna’s Clinic of Dentistry is one of the world’s foremost Clinic of Dentistry has around 400 employees and is one of dentistry institutions. It plays an active role in shaping the largest and most advanced university dental hospitals developments in the field through numerous projects and in Europe. In 2018 it treated a total of 39,249 patients, pro- partnerships in teaching, patient care and research. The viding 145,236 treatments.

Master’s Research, teaching and patient care 3D-printed dental in Clinical prosthetics Dentistry Funded by the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG), the Additive Manufacturing for In 2018 the University Clinic of Dentist- M3dical RESearch (M3dRES) infrastructure ry decided to broaden its postgraduate project aims to develop new 3D printing – or ad- curriculum by introducing three new ditive manufacturing (AM) – technologies and international master’s programmes. expand their potential applications in dentistry Providing advanced theoretical and as well as other areas. MedUni Vienna, ACMIT practical training, the four-semester, GmbH, Profactor GmbH, Karl Landsteiner Uni- part-time courses starting in 2019 are versity of Health Sciences and TU Wien are par- aimed at practicing dentists and will ticipating in the project. Hermann Agis, Head of be taught in English. The three new the Competence Center for Tissue Engineering Master of Clinical Dentistry (MClin- and Cell-Based Therapies, is responsible for the Dent) programmes are in Endodontol- project’s coordination at the University Clinic of ogy, Esthetic Dentistry, and Periodon- Dentistry. tology and Implantology.

Partnership with Tokyo’s Showa University

In March 2018, MedUni Vienna’s Clinic of Dentistry entered into a cooperation agreement with Showa University in To- kyo, Japan. The partnership between the two higher edu- cation institutions will focus particularly on education and training, student exchange programmes and joint research projects. The Rector of MedUni Vienna Markus Müller and Head of the Clinic of Dentistry Andreas Moritz signed the agreement in the presence of Miyuki Hashimoto and Yuka Hiraizumi, as representatives of Showa University, in Vienna on 15 March 2018. Thanks to this agreement, the long-term cooperation between the two universities will now also en- compass dentistry.

29

Living better and healthier for longer

An abundance of scientific research outcomes are helping to write new chapters in the success story of medical progress. And innovative approaches at the Medical University of Vienna – many of them related to precision medicine – are playing a part. They offer people affected by illness the prospect of a better, healthier and longer life. Treating chronic heart Targeted, individualised failure individually treatment

Chronic heart failure (chronic myocar- Basis for individualised dial insufficiency) is a growing chal- treatment lenge in the western world due to its prevalence, costly treatment in hos- For the first time, the study offers an pital and fatality rates. The disorder explanation as to why not all patients is characterised by a long duration, a benefit to the same degree from taking high level of suffering in patients and an ACE inhibitor. Insights gained in the poor prognoses. study are supporting efforts to develop targeted individual therapy that ap- Varying effectiveness plies existing medications according of ACE inhibitors to illness type.

A cross-sectional study carried out by Specialist conferences Noemi Pavo from the Division of Car- in Vienna diology has provided cause for hope. Pavo was able to show that individual Due to its prevalence, heart failure is of patients with chronic heart failure re- major importance in cardiology, which spond very differently to basic treat- is why the European Society of Cardi- ment with ACE inhibitors. The reason ology focuses intensively on the topic. is that in different patient subgroups, More than 5,000 cardiologists took different overactive systems in the part in the international specialist body can determine the form taken by Heart Failure Congress that took place the illness. in Vienna in May 2018, held almost at the same time as the 2018 Germany, Austria and Switzerland heart failure convention at MedUni Vienna’s lecture centre at Vienna General Hospital. HEART & 32 CIRCULATORY SYSTEM Living better and healthier for longer 33 - Significantly Significantly reducing unnecessary treatment ready been used successfully in everyday clinical practice clinical practice in everyday been used successfully ready some time. Vienna for MedUni at heart deviates from its rhythm rhythm its from heart deviates means the that a degree to “Un- risk. at is life patient’s some patients for fortunately, the overshoots this treatment the of Burger Achim says mark,” Clinical Cardiology. Division of life of Higher quality sufferers for with a research Together way. be that to have But it doesn’t to able was Burger Thomas Pezawas, headed by team an ICD plays for programming the selected that demonstrate that an approach that showed Their work an important role. re- and significantly is safe, as possible “defensive” as was In comparison with standard duces unnecessary treatment. times detection with extended programming programming, and has al 29%, by unnecessary ICD shocks can reduce pressure caused by defective RNA changes and certain RNA changes defective by caused pressure treat. condition easier to cardiovascular types of - - (RNA) and then, usually, “translated” “translated” usually, (RNA) and then, cellular perform that proteins into functions. Normally, in this process in this process Normally, functions. is transcribed into ribonucleic acid acid ribonucleic into is transcribed RNA is modified so that the infor RNA is modified so that At the cellular level, this information information this the cellular level, At - and used correct can be read mation Our DNA stores genetic information. information. genetic Our DNA stores ly. However, researchers at the Center for for the Center at researchers However, ly.

New New treatment options ance in their chest, protecting against the underlying heart the underlying against protecting ance in their chest, when the activated is only The protection disorder. rhythm Sudden cardiac death is a frequent cause of death among death of cause is a frequent death cardiac Sudden - cardio With an implantable with heartpatients disease. insur of life a kind carry patients (ICD), defibrillator verter Anatomy and Cell Biology found proof of defective RNA RNA defective of proof and Cell Biology found Anatomy of smooth over-contraction results in This modification. disease cardiovascular to can lead which tissue, muscle pressure. and high blood The cause of this defective RNA modification is not yet yet is not RNA modification this defective of The cause that subsequent studies of and will be the subject known, high blood making options, therapeutic new to lead could Potential springboard springboard Potential options treatment new for Defective RNA results in high blood pressure in high results blood pressure RNA Defective

implanted defibrillators defibrillators implanted Higher quality of life of with quality Higher New immunotherapy for cancer tumours

When immunoglobulin E (IgE) responds to harmless an- tigens such as pollen, an allergic reaction can result. But the purpose of IgE antibodies is actually to defend the body against dangerous foreign substances. And researchers at MedUni Vienna, in conjunction with Vetmeduni Vienna and international colleagues, put this function of IgE antibodies to use: they developed a dog IgE that acts directly against the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in cancer tu- mours. The central finding was that in in vitro studies, the tumour was eliminated by IgE antibodies in 60% of cases. Medicine for people and animals Promising drug Lead author Erika Jensen-Jarolim of the Institute of Patho- for fighting physiology and Allergy Research (at MedUni Vienna’s Center for Pathophysiology, Infectious Disease and Immunology) mesothelioma and the Messerli Institute for research into the relationship between humans and animals explains: “This gives us hope that we are making an important contribution to a new form Pleural mesothelioma is a particularly aggressive form of immunotherapy for cancer tumours. The research we of malignant tumour that originates in the lining of the completed is a perfect example of the purpose of the Mes- lung. Typically, it develops as a result of exposure to as- serli Research Institute: to improve medicine for human be- bestos in the past. Standard treatment comprises sur- ings, but also for animals.” gery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy or a combination of the three. Since the effectiveness of these conventional treatments cannot be increased any further, novel tar- An important geted approaches are being sought in order to improve contribution survival rates. to the fight New, targeted medicine against cancer A study by MedUni Vienna together with researchers in Germany and Hungary that was published in the journal Clinical Cancer Research gives cause for hope. The re- sults point to the conclusion that new drug nintedanib provides a promising approach for the targeted treat- ment of patients with mesothelioma.

New perspectives

34 CANCER Living better and healthier for longer

Predicting venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism

Cancer patients are at much greater it possible to estimate the risk for an risk of venous thrombosis and of pul- individual patient during the first six Identifying, monary embolism – complications months following the onset of illness informing and that can be fatal, especially if undi- – another step forward in personalised protecting high- agnosed. Quality of life also declines medicine. risk patients due to thrombosis or pulmonary em- bolism, and anti-tumour therapy is Preventive care often delayed. In principle, thrombo- for patients sis can be prevented by anticoagu- lant drugs – but with limited success: Lead author Ingrid Pabinger, Deputy depending on patient group, the risk Head of the Division of Hematology of developing a thrombosis varies be- and Hemostaseology at the Depart- tween 1% and over 20%. ment of Medicine I, explains: “Using this model, we can identify individual Personalised medicine for patients who have a high risk, inform precise risk evaluation them and in the future most likely pro- tect them with anticoagulants.” However, a study group at MedUni Vi- enna succeeded in developing a new model for precise prediction of tu- mour-related venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. Published in respected journal The Lancet Haema- tology, the prediction model makes

35 Cutting-edge mathematics makes breast cancer therapy more precise

The right individual treatment for Choosing the right therapy Reliably breast cancer depends on deter- with confidence prevent life-­ mining oestrogen, progesterone and threatening HER2 receptors. Currently, standard If the presence of one or more recep- errors practice is to use immunohistochem- tors driving the growth of the cancer istry testing (IHC) for this purpose. is detected, hormonal therapy is the right choice. But if IHC shows that none In 5-10% of all cases, these tests on of the receptors are present and that tumour tissue can produce false neg- breast cancer has developed without ative or false positive results – with them, chemotherapy is normally the serious consequences for patients. In recommended treatment. A serious patient,” says Wolfgang Schreiner of an interdisciplinary collaboration, sci- situation can develop if IHC produces the Institute of Biosimulation and Bi- entists at MedUni Vienna showed that a false positive result due to a meas- oinformatics. The new precision med- a new testing method can significant- urement error and hormone therapy icine technique should mean that such ly improve diagnostic certainty. The is then selected on this basis. “Such life-threatening errors become a thing technique involves checking the gene an error can threaten the life of the of the past. expression of receptors on a gene chip, and then feeding all of the data into a mathematical model.

Molecular profiling for brain tumours

Meningioma – a specific type of brain tumour – can usually be treated effectively. However, there are a number of subtypes that develop very aggressively, and present a high risk of reoccurring after treat- ment. These subgroups need to be treated using a special therapy approach. Researchers at the Com- prehensive Cancer Center (CCC), a joint institution of MedUni Vienna and Vienna General Hospital, have now been able to demonstrate that in addition to conventional tissue testing (histopa- thology), a special type of molecular DNA analysis can help to deter- Precise identifi- mine meningioma subtype, ena- cation of tumour bling more accurate prognoses type using DNA and, as a result, more effective treatment planning. profiling

36 Life expectancy doubled in cases of

B-cell lymphoma Increased life expectancy thanks

to a breakthrough Living better and healthier for longer treatment option

Permanent recovery in hopeless cases Ulrich Jäger, Head of the Division of Hematology and Hemostaseology at MedUni Vienna’s Department of Med- icine I, member of the CCC and lead researcher for the JULIET study in Austria: “We were able to show that CAR T-Cell therapy is a breakthrough treatment option, because it enables us to cure the disease permanently, in- cluding in previously hopeless cases.”

Cell therapy a research focus A new treatment option has the po- Effective alternative tential to double life expectancy for to chemotherapy The researchers’ next goal is to find patients with B-cell lymphoma in out why 40% of patients respond to comparison with current standard This opens up a new therapy option for CAR T-Cell therapy and can be healed, chemotherapy. CAR T-Cell therapy is a patients, in addition to the standard but the remaining 60% do not. A study highly promising treatment option for chemotherapy treatment applied up building on the JULIET project is around a fifth of patients who suffer to now. The fact is that the two-year planned to investigate this. As Jäger from diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. survival rate for patients who receive says: “It may be that the process could This exciting discovery is the central standard treatment is only 20%. With also be applied to treat many other outcome of the JULIET multi-centre CAR T-Cell therapy, the overall survival conditions. By making cell therapy a study, in which researchers at the rate was doubled to 40%. The results research focus, MedUni Vienna can Comprehensive Cancer Center (CCC) of the study were published in the New position itself as a centre for work in were significantly involved. England Journal of Medicine. this field.”

CANCER 37 Better identification More precise diagnosis of aggressive brain tumours for targeted treatment nosis and more targeted treat- ment of glioblastomas in the me- dium term.

Important contribution to cancer research

The research was based on the Austrian Brain Tumour Register, which was set up by co-last author of the study Adelheid Wöhrer of MedUni Vienna’s Institute of Neurology and has partners all over the country. By combining epige- netic data with imaging techniques and digital pathology, the study was able to illustrate important shared features among glioblastoma at the molecular, cellular and organ Brain tumours known as glioblastomas have a devastat- level. The new insights can now be used to support classifi- ing prognosis. But a study published in Nature Medicine cation of tumour disease. The study also provided important by CeMM, MedUni Vienna and the Austrian Brain Tumour insights into the role of epigenetics in glioblastomas, and Register shows how epigenetic analysis of tumour samples demonstrated the relevance of epigenetics to personalised from everyday clinical practice can be used for better diag- medicine.

Metal chemotherapy drugs boost anticancer effect

Due to their effectiveness in killing tu- mours, metal drugs are often used in Improving chemotherapy to treat cancer. Howev- the immune er, because they also damage dividing response to healthy cells, it has normally been as- better fight sumed that they damage the immune system. A review article published in cancer Chemical Reviews – the world’s fore- Combination therapy has a bright future most academic journal for chemistry – by the Translational Cancer Therapy research Walter Berger, lead author of the research, Deputy Head of cluster established by the University of Vienna together the Institute for Cancer research at MedUni Vienna, mem- with MedUni Vienna showed that the opposite is the case: ber of the Comprehensive Cancer Center (CCC) and one of metal-compound chemotherapies can actually boost the the two directors of the interuniversity research cluster, ex- immune response against cancer and the effectiveness plains: “The results clearly show that a combination of met- of immunotherapy, partly because they make cancer cells al-compound chemotherapy and immunotherapy is one of more “visible” and eliminate aspects of the immune re- the most promising treatment approaches today and for the sponse that limit recovery. future.”

38 Significantly Not smoking improves lower risk of relapse survival rate for prostate cancer Living better and healthier for longer

Smokers who are diagnosed with awareness of the advantages of quit- prostate cancer have a markedly low- ting smoking and of smoking bans.” er risk of relapse if they quit smok- Shariat and colleague Nicolai Hübner ing soon after diagnosis. This is the are the authors of an up-to-date, ac- finding of a retrospective meta-study cessible summary of the current state published in the Journal of the Amer- of research entitled Prostata­krebs: ican Medical Association and led by Vorbeugung. Diagnose. Therapie. (Pros- Shahrokh Shariat, Head of the De- tate Cancer: prevention, diagnosis, partment of Urology at MedUni Vien- treatment) that is part of MedUni Vi- na and member of the Comprehensive enna’s series of guides for the general Cancer Center (CCC). public, published by Manz. The book contains numerous tips for cancer pa- Major international study tients and for prevention.

The international meta-study involved researchers in Austria, Switzerland, Spain, Jordan, Japan and the USA and analysed 11 studies covering a total of 22,549 prostate cancer patients who had undergone a prostatectomy or radiotherapy. The central finding was that patients who continued to smoke had a significantly greater risk of relapse and of development of new metastases, as well as higher can- cer-specific mortality.

Smoking bans and giving up are worthwhile

Shariat hopes that the results of the study will help to bring about policy changes. “Maybe it will be possible, based on this and many other findings, to persuade policymakers to raise Running for cancer research

In glorious autumn weather on 6 October 2018 around 3,695 runners, including 98 company teams, took part in MedUni Vienna’s 12th cancer research run, helping to support important and innovative cancer research projects with every step. Over EUR 200,000 was raised in 2018. An international expert jury selected ten projects – from among the 80 submitted – to receive funding from the donations made.

CANCER 39 Developed at MedUni Vienna, high-resolution optical coherence tomography (OCT) provides accurate images of layers of the retina with- out physical contact. Supported by artificial intelligence (AI) techniques recently developed at the university, Eye scan diagnosis: diseases of the retina can be diag- nosed using OCT early, within just a few seconds, and treated in a target- worldwide impact ed way. MedUni Vienna has become a pioneer and driver of digitisation of MedUni Vienna in ophthalmology. This technological revolution is now breaking through worldwide to benefit patients every- development where.

40 EYE

Early diagnosis of disease thanks to big data and Artificial Intelligence Ophthalmology: pioneer and driver of the digital revolution Living better and healthier for longer

As a result of its research findings, MedUni Vienna is now regarded as a pioneer and a driver of the digital rev- olution in ophthalmology. “Even Google has taken up the topic and produced an academic paper on how digital algorithms can perform precise, au- publically during the 2018 Advanced tomated diagnosis, in line with our Retinal Therapy (ART) conference, developments and publications over which took place in Vienna on 1 De- the past few years,” explains Ursula cember. Schmidt-Erfurth, Head of the Depart- ment of Ophthalmology and Optom- MedUni Vienna leading the etrics. The fact that Google – as well way internationally as other technology companies like IBM – has jumped on the digital oph- Every stage of diabetic retinopathy can thalmology bandwagon is a thoroughly be identified using the technique. But positive sign, says the chair of MedUni big data is making even more possi- Vienna’s Medical Imaging research ble: today, a further 50 illnesses can cluster: “In this way, our idea for using be diagnosed in this way. And MedUni AI in ophthalmology will be spread fur- Vienna is taking a leading role in this ther and implemented as a business global digital revolution. At the univer- model all over the world – benefiting sity’s Department of Medicine II, in the patients and supporting doctors in Division of Cardiology headed by Chris- their work.” tian Hengstenberg, work is proceeding on early diagnosis of cardiovascular Simple, accurate and fast disease with the aid of digital retinal diagnosis of diabetes screening.

It isn’t only diseases of the eye that Accurate early diagnosis can be diagnosed by digital retinal of Alzheimer’s screening. One of the most recent achievements is automated diabetes Research is also forging ahead on fur- treatment. About one and a half years screening, which has already been ther applications. In an EU project on after the start of the MOON project, re- implemented at MedUni Vienna. “Pa- Multimodal Optical Diagnosis of Oc- searchers are confident that in the fu- tients are flocking to us at the depart- ular and Neurodegenerative Disease ture it will also be possible to diagnose ment to undergo this from of retina (MOON), MedUni Vienna is working to- diseases like Alzheimer’s by eye scan. screening, which allows us to detect gether with partners in France, Germa- “Initial investigations are highly prom- diabetic changes within a few minutes ny and the Netherlands. The objective ising,” comments Rainer Leitgeb, Pro- and without an invasive procedure,” is to develop new technology for diag- ject Manager at the Center for Medical says Schmidt-Erfurth. This ground- nosing these kinds of disorders early, Physics and Biomedical Engineering at breaking analysis tool was presented and to implement it in diagnosis and MedUni Vienna.

41 Inconclusive mammography results: MRI as an alternative to biopsy

A study conducted in Austria by Med­ Potential application for Medical Imaging Cluster Uni Vienna in conjunction with Dia- prostate cancer shines the spotlight on gnostikum Graz has clearly demon- personalised medicine strated that magnetic resonance “This study confirms MRI’s high degree imaging (MRI) is the best option when of accuracy. As well as decisively char- Precision medicine was the focus of investigating inconclusive mammog- acterising the ambiguous findings as the university’s first Medical Imag- raphy results. “MRI clearly shows if either benign or malignant using MRI, ing Cluster festival, which was held the finding is benign or malignant,” we also discovered additional malig- in the Van Swieten Saal in June 2018. says the study’s lead author Claudio nant tumours which had gone unno- Diagnostic imaging techniques play Spick, from MedUni Vienna’s Depart- ticed. The data therefore proves that a key part in precision, personalised ment of Biomedical Imaging and Im- breast MRI is a precise problem-solv- treatments. This was reflected in the age-guided Therapy. MRI is therefore ing tool,” explains Spick. The only alter- event’s broad programme of presenta- the best non-invasive and equivalent natives are invasive biopsies or regu- tions and panel discussions on top- alternative to tissue removal (biopsy). lar check-ups, which involve waiting ics ranging from molecular imaging MRI also picks up previously uniden- times, complications and additional of cells and subcellular structures, to tified malignant tumours in about 5% worry. The researchers hope that in fu- qualitative and quantitative analysis of cases. ture MRI will also help to achieve sim- of metabolic processes, applications ilar levels of diagnostic cer- of microscopic and optical techniques, tainty in prostate cancer the exciting advances in minimally in- diagnosis. vasive treatments, and insights into artificial intelligence, big data and ra- Greater certainty diomics. for breast cancer patients

42 IMAGING BRAIN Cause of long-term stress identified Neuronal activity offers Researchers from MedUni Vienna, Semmelweis Univer- a glimpse into sity in Budapest, the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm the immediate and Yale University have, for the first time, identified a future process in the brain which is responsible for delayed re- sponse to stress and the enduring effects of stress. In an Living better and healthier for longer international collaboration, they discovered that follow- ing a perceived danger, the area of the brain which reacts to stress and is responsible for subsequent behaviours is activated via the cerebrospinal fluid after a ten-min- ute delay.

Third stress mechanism discovered in the brain

The research was overseen by Tibor Harkany (MedUni Vi- enna), Alán Alpár (Semmelweis University), Tamás Hor- váth (Yale) and Tomas Hökfelt (Karolinska Institutet) and revealed a third stress mechanism in the brain in addi- tion to the two main stress mechanisms which were al- ready known. The findings could lead the way to a better understanding of the neural processes which occur in post-traumatic stress disorder, chronic stress and burn- out syndrome. Predicting intuitive decisions

Gamble or take the safe option? Actions that are about to New be performed can be predicted on the basis of neuronal ac- perspectives tivity in the prefrontal cortex. This was the key finding of a study undertaken by MedUni Vienna’s Center for Brain Re- on chronic search and Center for Medical Statistics, Informatics and stress Intelligent Systems as well as NYU School of Medicine (New York).

New treatment options for depression and gambling addiction?

“We were able to predict the choices that the test animals were going to make by analysing their neuronal activity. By selectively manipulating brain activity, we could even influ- ence the animals’ decisions and cause them to take greater risks when speculating,” says the study’s author Johannes Passecker. The researchers now want to precisely identify the synaptic neural pathways and specific cell types that are significant in changing or maintaining behaviour. This knowledge could lead to improvements in the treatment of disorders such as gambling addiction and depression.

43 ALZHEIMER’S

Specific protein a target in Alzheimer’s therapy

For many years beta-amyloid protein Initial results are positive,” says Stög- fore these arise beta-amyloid plaque was regarded as a promising ther- mann. The first concrete findings will can already have been lying dormant apeutic target for Alzheimer’s, but be available in about three years’ time. in the body without posing a threat for the outcomes of international stud- up to 20 years. A corresponding test is ies proved disappointing. Following Potential blood test for therefore being developed. “This test a pioneering MedUni Vienna trial, the personalised early detection could totally transform Alzheimer’s protein is now making a successful research and treatment within a few comeback. The phase III trial led by The antibodies against the beta-amy- years,” adds Stögmann. Elisabeth Stögmann from the De- loid protein are more effective the ear- partment of Neurology demonstrat- lier they are administered to Alzheim- ed that monoclonal antibodies which er’s patients. Early detection currently are directed at amyloid-beta deposits relies on identifying the first obvious (plaque) in the brain are able to dis- cognitive symptoms, even though be- solve them.

Disappearance of dangerous plaque Promising results in “These improved results with the am- Alzheimer’s yloid antibodies are partly the result research and of using a higher dose,” explains Stög- treatment mann. The drug aducanumab was ad- ministered intravenously in the phase III trial at MedUni Vienna. It directly attacks the protein deposits which characterise Alzheimer’s and helps to destroy and dissolve them in the brain. “After having demonstrated this positive ef- fect, we now want to investi- gate whether the disappear- ance of the plaque can help stop or reduce the deterio- ration of a patient’s memory.

44 A more treatable disease thanks to personalised medicine Living better and healthier for longer

Better quality of life for rheumatoid arthritis patients

In a highly positive development, to- Lives of 80% Precision day 80% of rheumatoid arthritis suf- significantly improved therapy options ferers are able to lead a normal life. MedUni Vienna researchers Daniel Innovative techniques for measuring Personalised medicine is becoming Aletaha and Josef Smolen were in- the disease, new medicines and im- increasingly important in treating vited to conduct a comprehensive re- proved management of the disease rheumatoid arthritis. New small-mole- view of the current status of research have all played their part. Only 20% of cule drugs are now attractive options. in the field by the highly respected sufferers who receive treatment now These personalised therapies are indi- Journal of the American Medical As- experience severe recurring episodes vidually synthesised to inhibit specific sociation. The principal finding was of the disease. “30 years ago, the figure molecules inside a cell. The result is an that outcomes for sufferers have sig- was 50%. Similar to the way HIV was increasing number of alternatives for nificantly improved in recent years. transformed from a terminal illness doctors to choose from: “The range of “80% of sufferers are able to lead a into a chronic disorder thanks to new drugs available to us today – wheth- normal life with the aid of medica- medicines, with the use of new treat- er biologics or small molecules – is tion,” according to the rheumatism ments rheumatoid arthritis has now much, much greater than it was about expert Daniel Aletaha from the Divi- become a disease which, although ten years ago,” Aletaha points out. sion of Rheumatology. still chronic, no longer leads to long- “So we’re getting better at assessing term damage and leaves virtually no what the best treatment is going to be patients in need of a wheelchair,” says in cases where the conventional ap- Aletaha. proach is no longer working – and ide- ally this will be personalised,” he adds.

RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS 45 More accurate risk assessment

for kidney transplants Significant advance in Many donor kidneys are rejected by the recipient within ten transplantation years of a transplant. Immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies are immunology among the causal factors and are used as a biomarker for increased risk of rejection.

New evidence a worldwide first

Researchers from the Department of Surgery, in collabora- tion with the Institute of Pathophysiology and Allergy Re- search and the Division of Nephrology, have now succeeded in demonstrating for the first time that IgE antibodies are also produced following kidney transplantation. “This new insight could lead to totally new diagnostic options,” says transplantation immunologist Thomas Wekerle. “In future, we may be able to more accurately predict the risk of rejec- tion with the help of these antibodies, which are quite un- common in transplantation.”

Simplified multi-allergen test Allergic sensitisation can be diagnosed at an early stage with the help of the Allergy Chip, a technology co-developed by MedUni Vienna. The process normally involves taking a blood sample for analysis at a lab equipped with the chip. A team led by Rudolf Valenta of the Institute of Pathophysiol- ogy and Allergy Research have shown that this multi-aller- gen test works just as well with dried blood samples. This represents a big step forward in countries with relatively poorly-equipped health systems, where until now sam- ples often had to be carefully protected and packed before being transported under refrigerated conditions by air for analysis.

Pioneers of newborn screening

The Viennese researchers drew inspiration for their discovery from the newborn screening programme introduced by the Department of Pediatrics and Hugely Adolescent Medicine at MedUni Vienna over 50 beneficial for years ago. Babies are screened for congenital many people diseases by pricking their heels to take a blood sample, which is collected on paper.

46 Basis for new, more effective Atypical virus a medicines cause of kidney

diseases Living better and healthier for longer

An international research group led Alternative option for tions and kidney failure in humans, by the Head of MedUni Vienna’s De- testing new medication particularly in immunosuppressed partment of Dermatology, Wolfgang patients following a transplant,” says Weninger, has discovered a previ- The researchers were therefore able to Weninger. The MKPV virus could also ously unknown virus which acts as develop a new model for the study of have gene therapy applications, such a driver of certain kidney diseases. viral kidney diseases, kidney fibrosis as repairing genes in renal tubules. The researchers named the atypical and chronic kidney failure. In contrast parvovirus mouse kidney parvovirus to conventional models, the MKPV in- (MKPV). The results of their work were fection is a natural model which close- published in leading journal Cell. ly resembles the chronic progression of human kidney failure. The model From animal model to use can now be used to test new drugs in humans for the treatment of kidney fibro- sis and chronic kidney failure, A coincidence led to the discovery: “For as well as for the discovery years a spontaneous kidney disease and clinical development had been occurring in laboratory mice of new biomarkers for at our institute which was leading to these diseases. the unexpected, premature death of animals with an immune system dis- Further order. We identified a disease of the research renal tubules as the cause,” explains into MKPV Weninger. The disease is called tubu- lointerstitial nephropathy and is trig- “We are now go- gered by MKPV. “The MKPV infection is ing on to answer very similar to a form of viral tubulop- the question of athy which occurs in patients following whether similar kidney transplantation,” continues the viruses also lead immunology expert. to kidney infec-

IMMUNE SYSTEM 47 Basic research of great clinical relevance How the lungs get their immune cells

The adult lung is made up of vari- First complete by basophils lead to the maturation ous highly specialised types of cells, developmental map of macrophage precursors into their which are protected by many differ- of the lung lung-specific form – alveolar mac- ent kinds of immune cells. Little re- rophages.” search has been done into how these The research involved the first com- immune cells migrate to the lungs plete mapping of lung development, Potential new therapeutic and influence each other in the em- and was carried out by a group led by target bryo and following birth. MedUni­ Ido Amit at the Weizmann Institute of Vienna researchers working in close Science in collaboration with Sylvia “The discovery is very interesting from cooperation with the Center for Mo- Knapp’s teams at CeMM and at Med­ a clinical perspective,” adds MedUni lecular Medicine (CeMM) and Isra- Uni Vienna’s Department of Medicine I, Vienna Professor Sylvia Knapp, the el’s Weizmann Institute of Science as well as Tibor Harkany of the Center leader of a CeMM research group. “This have discovered a fundamental new for Brain Research. “We demonstrated remarkable function of the basophils mechanism by employing a high-tech that lung development takes place in and their influence on macrophages procedure in a mouse model. They several spurts, and that the basophils indicate that they may also play a part showed that basophils perform a sig- in the lung fulfil a significant function in lung diseases, and therefore repre- nificant role in the development of in this,” explains Anna-Dorothea Gorki, sent a potential therapeutic target for phagocytes in the lung. Until now, ba- a PhD student at CeMM and co-lead immunotherapies.” sophils were largely associated with author of the study. “They broadly in- allergic reactions. The resulting study, teract with other lung cell types, par- which was published in the journal ticularly the macrophages, which are Cell, could lead to new clinical strat- an extremely important kind of im- egies for lung diseases. mune cell. Molecular signals released

48 Protection against a potentially fatal disease Living better and healthier for longer

and safe. Injected into the muscle, it Chikungunya triggers the production of antibodies in the lymphatic system. In the event of a chikungunya virus infection, these virus vaccine antibodies neutralise the virus and prevent the onset of the disease. on the horizon Market-ready in a matter of years

“The results of this phase II trial are ex- A genetically engineered live vaccine partment of Clinical Pharmacology, as tremely promising in terms of the vac- based on a common measles vaccine well as a working group at the Medical cine’s immunogenicity, safety and tol- shows great potential for protection University of Graz. erability,” says Wiedermann-Schmidt. against the chikungunya virus. This The next stage is to confirm the find- was the principal finding of a phase Just two injections ings in a phase III trial. After clearing II trial in which MedUni Vienna par- this hurdle, a final version of the vac- ticipated, published in The Lancet. Two injections were enough to provide cine could make it onto the market in The trial involved MedUni Vienna’s immunisation regardless of whether just a few years. There is currently no Institute of Specific Prophylaxis and they were given at an interval of one specific treatment for the chikungun- Tropical Medicine, headed by Ursu- or six months. In both cases the new ya virus, which causes high fever and la Wiedermann-Schmid, and Christa vaccine, which is based on a modified severe muscle, limb and joint pain, and Firbas’ research group from the De- measles virus, proved to be effective can even be fatal.

IMMUNE SYSTEM 49 Enzymes and their influence on autoimmune diseases

Important for new therapy approaches

HDAC1 an important factor in many diseases

Wilfried Ellmeier and Christian Sei- ser have been carrying out research into these enzymes in T cells for many years. Their findings include that the integrity of CD4+ T cells is regulated by HDAC1 and HDAC2, that HDAC1 per- forms a protective role in inflammato- ry respiratory tract diseases, and that HDAC1 is a significant factor in the regulation of the development of auto- immune diseases.

A new generation of drugs

“In the age of highly advanced pro- teomic and next-generation sequenc- ing technologies, it will eventually be- come possible to create a model for Discussion of important HDAC function in CD4+ T cells. This research questions could also provide the foundation for Histone deacetylases (HDACs) are an the development and application of important class of enzymes which As well as providing an overview of new isoform-selective HDAC inhibi- regulate cell development and differ- recent findings, Ellmeier and Seiser’s tors for treating T cell-mediated au- entiation. The role of HDACs in CD4+ T article also discusses important un- toimmune diseases,” the researchers cells was the topic of a review article answered questions in this field of re- comment. Pan-HDAC inhibitors are written by Wilfried Ellmeier from the search. For example, they promote the currently used to treat some forms Institute of Immunology and Chris- concept that isoform-selective HDAC of cancer. Preclinical data indicates tian Seiser of the Division of Cell and inhibitors, which potentially have few- that modulating HDAC activity could Developmental Biology, for the pres- er side effects, might extend the clini- also be beneficial in the treatment of tigious journal Nature Reviews Immu- cal application of HDAC inhibitors to T immunological disorders that are in- nology. cell-mediated immune diseases. duced by T cells.

50 IMMUNE SYSTEM

High-tech methods providing Lone watchmen insights able to warn the Living better and healthier for longer immune system

T cell receptors do not engage in Finely tuned molecular binding events on the cell surface into teamwork in order to signal the pres- machines signal reactions with remarkable effi- ence of foreign substances, as pre- ciency,” explains Huppa. viously thought, but function alone The T cell receptors wait on the sur- – this is the key finding of a study face of immune system T cells, ready Innovative research carried out by a team led by Johannes to seize on foreign substances or methods Huppa of MedUni Vienna’s Institute invaders. It was previously thought of Hygiene and Applied Immunology that they worked together in pairs or The researchers produced these and Mario Brameshuber from the In- groups, but in fact a single receptor is game-changing findings by studying stitute of Applied Physics at TU Wien, capable of raising the alarm on its own. a mouse model and employing a new and which was published in Nature “It appears that a T cell receptor is a combination of different methods to Immunology. finely tuned molecular machine observe the actions of T cell receptors that, acting alone, on living T cells for the first time. “We translates used specially labelled molecules as high-precision probes placed at just the right location, as well as newly de- veloped microscopy techniques,” says Brameshuber.

Better understanding of many different diseases

According to the authors of the study, the major significance of their findings is not limited to basic research. These new in- sights will also help to inves- tigate diseases in which the immune system attacks the body’s own cells.

51 FAT CELLS

Specific gene that could help weight loss

Brown fat cells could help weight loss

Being severely overweight often leads animals with high H19 activity, even to serious secondary diseases such when eating a fat-rich diet, gained as diabetes, cardiovascular disease hardly any more weight than healthy and cancer. In light of this, scientists animals of the same species,” says from MedUni Vienna and the Max Martin Bilban from the Department of Planck Institute for Metabolism Re- Laboratory Medicine. Activating brown search in Cologne and the University fat cells and this specific gene, which of Southern Denmark in Odense car- they contain, could help in weight loss ried out an investigation into brown and will therefore be investigated in fat cells. further studies into potential human applications. Specific gene curbs weight gain Fat-burning fat cells

The researchers used a People often have much more ‘bad’ mouse model to show white fat compared to ‘good’ brown that the H19 gene fat, and this is a disadvantage when protects against it comes to dieting. The internation- the development al research team demonstrated in its of obesity when study, which appeared in Nature Com- highly active. “We munications, that brown fat could help were surprised people reduce their weight because it to see that the can burn large amounts of calories.

52 Key cancer Living better and healthier for longer formation mechanism discovered

Investigating a basis for new cancer treatments

RAS is one of the key regulators of cell Mechanism responsible for exciting. We anticipate that our dis- growth. But what controls how RAS many diseases covery could prompt the development proteins go about their work? A re- of new therapy strategies for RAS-de- search team led by Giulio Superti-Fur- According to the study’s lead author, pendent diseases.” ga, Professor of Medical System Biol- Superti-Furga, this research is part ogy at MedUni Vienna and Scientific of a sustained effort to understand International research Director of the Research Center for the mechanism of cancer drugs used consortium Molecular Medicine (CeMM), discov- to treat leukaemia and other forms of ered that the LZTR1 protein acts as a the disease: “It’s very encouraging to The study was carried out in close col- brake on RAS proteins and their activ- have made a contribution to the dis- laboration with the Icahn School of ity in the cell. The precise functioning covery of a new, fundamental aspect Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York of this newly discovered mechanism of RAS protein regulation because as well as the Netherlands Cancer by which the activity and localisation these proteins are among the key cel- Institute (NKI) in Amsterdam and a of RAS proteins are regulated – pro- lular growth regulators.” Lead author CeMM Adjunct Principal Investigator teins that perform a crucial role in the Johannes Bigenzahn adds: “Finding a from NKI. It was funded by the Europe- formation of cancer – was published mechanism that lies behind so many an Research Council (ERC), the Austri- in prestigious journal Science. different genetic diseases and lots of an Science Fund (FWF) and the Austri- uncommon forms of cancer was really an Academy of Sciences (ÖAW).

CELLS 53 First long-term treatment option for rare blood disease

Cold agglutinins are antibodies in the the destruction of the red blood cells blood which are generally only active within a day – and it continues to pre- at low temperatures. They cause cold vent it as long as we administer them agglutinin disease, a rare autoim- regularly,” says Jilma. The lack of side mune disease which affects one in effects is an aspect of the treatment 150,000 people. The immune systems which will be particularly well-re- of sufferers produce antibodies that ceived by those affected by the dis- attack their own blood cells, which ease. are then broken down and consumed by the liver. “The red blood cells are From an incurable identified as foreign – even though to a chronic disease they aren’t – and destroyed,” summa- rises Bernd Jilma from the Depart- The verification of this new, long-term ment of Clinical Pharmacology, one of treatment by Bernd Jilma’s working the authors of the study. group, who cooperated closely with the Department of Medicine I’s Divi- Halting the self-destruction sion of Hematology and Hemostase- ology, has cleared the path for a new This autoimmune mechanism can treatment option which means cold be countered by administering a new agglutinin disease can be treated as a monoclonal antibody at two-week in- chronic disease for the first time. The tervals. “When sufferers are injected study was published in the highly re- with the antibodies, it stops spected journal Blood.

Highly-effective drug without significant side effects

54 BLOOD Medication: The power of numbers: higher improved treatment efficacy, fewer success thanks to side effects statistics Living better and healthier for longer

The efficacy of particular drugs can els can be developed to predict which differ from person to person. But this patient groups will respond better need not be a disadvantage if we know to new medications compared to the how individuals will respond to spe- standard therapy. This approach may cific medicines. In the development be used to predict which patients are of such personalised treatment – an likely to have their lives extended if aspect of precision medicine – statis- given a new treatment in cancer trials, tical methods play an important role. for instance. An example is data from clinical trials being used to predict the effective- Statistics making ness of medicines according to pa- predictions more reliable tients’ individual characteristics. This type of prediction should now become The research team, whose work has more accurate thanks to a new math- now been published, developed new ematical method which has been de- statistical prediction methods that veloped by a research team from the significantly improve the reliability of Institute of Medical Statistics. predictions. This represents an impor- tant contribution to the advancement Information from of personalised therapies, provid- biomarkers ing treatment which is more effective and has fewer Making such predictions involves the side effects. use of statistical methods to filter out relevant biomarkers from large amounts of data. The biomarkers could be specific gene mutations or results of particular lab tests, for in- stance, as well as other patient char- acteristics like age, sex or disease stage. Using these biomarkers, mod-

MEDICATION 55

Working together for medicine

As a research partner and a medical training institution, MedUni Vienna is highly respected both nationally and internationally. Its diversified research network, its stable economic status and its ability to nurture and retain talent as well as attract top expertise to Vienna all play a major role in this. Together with the medical universities At the centre of life of Graz and Innsbruck: Biobanks (BBMRI), sciences research The Max F. Perutz Clinical Trials Coordi- Laboratories, jointly nation Centre, higher operated by the University education area struc- of Vienna and Christian Doppler tural funds (HRSM) The university has built up excellent MedUni Vienna Laboratories national and international links and operated in cooperation is an important driver of and part- with industry ner for life sciences research. Var- partners Collaboration ious research consortia based in with the Ludwig Boltzmann (LB) Austria and abroad have close Gesellschaft in ties to the university, or are LB clusters and headed or managed by LB institutes Austrian Research MedUni Vienna scientists. Platform for Center for Personalised Molecular Medicine Medicine Medical (CeMM) University of Vienna Complexity Zentrum für Science Hub Virtual Reality und Vienna Visualisierung Messerli Research Forschungs-GmbH Institute operated in (VRVis) cooperation with Vetmeduni Vienna and the University of Vienna Center for Biomarker Research Austrian Science MedAustron in Medicine Fund (FWF) special research Cancer Therapy (CBMED) programmes (SFBs) and Centre doctoral programmes Research (DKs) Institute for Molecular Correlated Pathology Multimodal Imaging (IMP) Node (Austrian Bioimaging Node)

• Strategies for the Prevention and Treatment Special Research of Allergies (Project Manager: Rudolf Valenta, Institute of Programmes (SFBs) Pathophysiology and Allergy Research)

In 2018 the board of the Austrian Science Fund (FWF) • RNA Regulation of the Transcriptome approved a new Special Research Programme (SFB) (Project Manager: Franz-Michael Jantsch, with the title “HDACs as regulators of T cell-mediated Center for Anatomy and Cell Biology) immunity in health and disease”. Following the comple- tion of the “Transmembrane Transporters in Health and • Inflammation and Thrombosis Disease” SFB headed by Harald H. Sitte of the Institute of (Project Manager: Johannes Schmid, Pharmacology as of 30 September 2018, MedUni Vienna Center for Physiology and Pharmacology) is currently coordinating the following SFBs: • HDACs as Regulators of T Cell-mediated Immunity in • Myeloproliferative Neoplasms Health and Disease (Project Manager: Peter Valent, Department of (Project Manager: Wilfried Ellmeier, Medicine I) Institute of Immunology)

58 Spin-offs and investments Forensisches DNA-Zentral­labor Wien GmbH (DNA Central Laboratory)

The principle services performed by the DNA Central Laboratory are trace analy- Working together for medicine sis and forensic DNA analysis in relation CBmed GmbH – Center Alumni Club to criminal and parentage investigations. for Biomarker Research Staying connected with the in Medicine alma mater: the Alumni Club is Medical Univer- the postgraduate knowledge, As well as MedUni Vienna sity of Vienna In- dialogue and career platform for and Graz’s three universities, ternational GmbH MedUni Vienna graduates, stu- CBmed’s shareholders include (MUVI) dents and staff. the Austrian Institute of Tech- nology (AIT) and Joanneum Re- MUVI is an international search, as well as numerous healthcare consultan- partners in science and industry. cy that is specialised in providing management, Josephinum – Collec- knowledge transfer tions of the Medical and academic medicine University of Vienna solutions.

The Josephinum keeps the Max F. Perutz Laboratories Medical University of Vienna’s Support GmbH (MFPL) rich heritage and history alive. It houses and maintains the Researchers at MFPL – a joint facility with university’s medical history the University of Vienna – work in various collections, and operates a cutting-edge areas of life sciences: they in- museum and exhibitions to vestigate the structure of essential cell mol- make them accessible to the ecules, as well as their role in developmental public. biology and in disease.

Karl Landsteiner Privatuniversität für Universitätszahnklinik Gesundheitswissenschaften GmbH Wien GmbH

MedUni Vienna is one of the four maintaining bod- With around 400 employees, ies of the private Karl Landsteiner University of the University Clinic of Den- Health Sciences in Krems. tistry – a subsidiary of MedUni Vienna – is one of the largest and most advanced university dental hospitals in Europe.

59 From lab Fundamental research – to application the basis of scientific As joint institutions of MedUni Vienna, partners in progress industry and the Christian Doppler Research Associ- ation, the Christian Doppler Laboratories make mar- Fundamental or basic research is not carried out for its own ketable products out of scientific discoveries. sake, but provides the basis for the process of scientific discovery. Countless achievements in medicine would nev- • Applied Metabolomics er have been conceived of without basic research. The role (Project managers: Alexander Haug, Lukas Kenner; played by the funders of medical basic and clinical research commercial partner: Siemens Healthineers) in Austria is therefore vital, in particular: • Molecular Stress Research in Peritoneal Dialysis • the Austrian Science Fund (FWF); (Project Manager: Klaus Kratochwill; commercial • the Vienna Science and Technology Fund (WWTF); partner: Zytoprotec GmbH) • the Mayor of Vienna’s Medical-Scientific Fund; • the Oesterreichische Nationalbank’s Jubilee Fund, • Clinical Molecular MR Imaging and (Project Manager: Siegfried Trattnig; commercial • the EU Commission. partner: Siemens AG Österreich)

• Innovative Optical Imaging and its Translation to Medicine (Project Manager: Rainer Leitgeb, commercial partners: Carl Zeiss Meditec Inc., Exalos AG)

• Complement Research (Project Manager: Peter Steinberger, commercial Innovative partner: Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.) research • Ocular and Dermatological Effects of Thiomers (Project Manager: René Werkmeister; commercial The Ludwig Boltzmann Gesellschaft partner: Croma-Pharma Gesellschaft m.b.H.) (LBG) has a thematic focus on med- icine and life sciences research, and • Ophthalmic Image Analysis specifically targets new research topics. (Project Manager: Ursula Schmidt-Erfurth, The LBG is an important partner of MedUni commercial partner: Novartis Pharma AG) Vienna for externally financed research, with the following Ludwig Boltzmann Institutes (LBIs) • Recovery of Extremity Function and Ludwig Boltzmann Clusters (LB Clusters) located at the (Project Manager: Oscar Aszmann; commercial university. partner: Otto Bock Healthcare Products GmbH)

• LBI for Rare and Undiagnosed Diseases • Medical Radiation Research for Radiation (Head: Kaan Boztug) Oncology (Project Manager: Dietmar Georg; commercial partners: EBG MedAustron GmbH, • LBI for Applied Diagnostics PEG MedAustron GmbH, Siemens AG Österreich – (Head: Markus Mitterhauser) Sector Healthcare, Elekta GmbH)

• LBI for Cancer Research (Head: Richard Moriggl) • Applied Metabolomics (Projekt Manager: Alexander Haug, commercial • LBI for Hemotology and Oncology (Head: Peter Valent) partner: Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc)

• LBI for Arthritis and Rehabilitation (Head: Günter Steiner) • Arginine Metabolism in Rheumatoid Arthritis and Multiple Sclerosis (Project Manager: Gernot • LB Cluster for Cardiovascular Research Schabbauer, commercial partner: Bio-Cancer (Head: Johann Wojta) Treatment International Limited)

60 ERC grants: funding excellence

Grants awarded by the European Research Council (ERC) are among the largest of their kind and continue to represent a widely recognised com- mendation for scientific excellence. MedUni Vienna is rightly proud of its ERC grant recipients.

ERC Synergy Grant Kaan Boztug, ImmunoCore CeMM and MedUni Vienna, Oskar Aszmann, Natural BionicS period: 2018-2023 Department of Surgery, Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Alwin Köhler, NPC-BUILD EU projects Working together for medicine with IIT Genoa and Imperial College Division of Molecular Cell Biology/ MedUni Vienna participated in a total London, Center for Medical Biochemistry, of 75 projects with EU funding in 2018. period: 2019-2025 period: 2018-2023

55 projects were funded as part of the Starting grants Stefan Kubicek, CHROMABOLISM 8th EU Framework Programme, Hori- CeMM and MedUni Vienna, zon 2020. Bernhard Baumann, OPTIMALZ period: 2018-2023 Center for Medical Physics and 9 projects were still running under the Biomedical Engineering, Advanced grants 7th EU Framework Programme. period: 2015-2020 Maria Sibilia, TNT-TUMORS 5 researchers at MedUni Vienna are Christoph Bock, Institute for Cancer Research, coordinators of Horizon 2020 consor- Epigenome Programming period: 2016-2021 tia made up of European and other in- CeMM and MedUni Vienna, ternational partners. period: 2016-2021 Tibor Harkany, Secret-Cells Division of Molecular 11 projects form part of other pro- Andreas Bergthaler, CMIL Neurosciences/Center for Brain grammes: 8 in the Innovative Medi- CeMM and MedUni Vienna, Research, period: 2016-2021 cines Initiative, 2 in the 3rd Health Pro- period: 2016-2021 gramme, and 1 in EURATOM. Giulio Superti-Furga, Consolidator grants Game of Gates 15 projects started in 2018. CeMM and MedUni Vienna, Igor Adameyko, period: 2016-2021 STEMMING-FROM-NERVE Division of Molecular Neuroscienc- Erwin Wagner, CSI-Fun es/Center for Brain Research, Department of Dermatology, period: 2015-2020 period: 2018-2023

WWTF Life Sciences The following five MedUni Vienna projects overcame the competition in a call that attracted 114 submissions: Call 2018 • A novel macrophage precursor in adult bone marrow, Wolfgang Weninger “Linking Research and Patients’ Needs” was the theme of • Combination cell therapy for immunomodulation in the Vienna Science and Technology Fund (WWTF) 2018 Life kidney transplantation, Thomas Wekerle Sciences Call, under which nine projects received funding: • Systems medicine analysis of sarcoidosis by targeting five at MedUni Vienna and two each at the University of mTOR in a co-clinical trial in patients and mice, Vienna and the St. Anna Kinderkrebsforschung children’s Georg Stary cancer research institute. The Viennese research teams • Protecting vascular barrier function across discipline that received awards all work at the intersection of basic and disease boundaries, Klaudia Schossleitner and clinical research: translational research. EUR 6.2 mil- • Beyond lipid lowering – defining residual risk of lion was awarded in total. cardiovascular events, Irene Lang

61 Success based on Individually tailored lifelong learning academic careers Lifelong learning is an essential aspect of working life to- day. With master’s programmes resulting in an MPH, MAS, PhD programmes, doctorate degrees – 1,000 of which MClinDent, MDSc or MBA, as well as certificate courses and were completed in 2018 – and doctoral research pro- continuing education courses providing an academic quali- grammes mean that MedUni Vienna offers a whole range fication, MedUni Vienna offers a wide variety of possibilities of possibilities for specialisation in addition to standard in this regard. All of these part-time courses provide excel- degree programmes. Over 1,300 early stage researchers lent postgraduate training, with teaching staff from Austria are currently completing PhD or other doctoral studies, and abroad, as well as cooperations with other top universi- and the majority of these have service contracts with ties and institutions. the university as integral members of research groups. The doctoral research programmes (DK) funded by the Master of Science (MSc) Austrian Science Fund (FWF) are another option. The • Ergonomics and Fitness for Work applied medical sciences doctoral programmes are an • Clinical Research alternative which focuses on providing in-depth training • Forensic Sciences in applied biomedical research. • Gender Medicine • Interdisciplinary Pain Medicine (ISMED) PhD programmes • Psychotherapy Research • Cell Communication in Health and Disease (DK) • Study Management • Endocrinology and Metabolism • Toxicology • Immunology • Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) • Inflammation and Immunity (DK) • Transcultural Medicine and Diversity Care • Integrative Structural Biology (DK) • Malignant Diseases Master of Public Health (MPH) • Medical Imaging • Public Health • Medical Informatics, Biostatistics and Complex Systems Master of Business Administration (MBA) • Medical Physics • Health Care Management (HCM) • Molecular and Cellular Control of Tissue Homeostasis in Health and Disease – TissueHome Master of Advanced Studies (MAS) • Molecular, Cellular and Clinical Allergology (DK) • Insurance Medicine • Molecular Drug Targets (DK) • Molecular Mechanisms of Cell Biology Master of Clinical Dentistry (MClinDent) • Molecular Signal Transduction • Endodontology • Neuroscience • Esthetic Dentistry • RNA Biology (DK) • Periodontology and Implantology • Signaling Mechanisms in Cellular Homeostasis (DK) • Periodontology • Vascular Biology Master of Dental Science (MDSc) Applied medical sciences doctoral programmes • Prosthodontics • Biomedical Engineering • Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Disease Continuing education courses with certification • Clinical Experimental Oncology • Study Management • Clinical Endocrinology, Metabolism and Nutrition • Medical Hypnosis • Clinical Neurosciences (CLINS) • Medical Physics • Mental Health and Behavioural Medicine • Medical Hypnosis for Dental Care • Programme for Organ Failure, Replacement and Transplantation (POET) Certificate courses • Preclinical and Clinical Research for Drug Development • Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention • Public Health • Sleep Coaching • Regeneration of Bones and Joints • Clinical Trials Assistant

62 Researchers of the month Experts for IT in Each month, MedUni Vienna names one or more young sci- medicine entists Researcher of the Month. The researchers who re- ceived this recognition in 2018 were honoured at a celebra- The Medical Informatics master’s programme focus- tory event. es on providing academic professional training so that graduates are equipped to design and implement in- formatics projects in the fields of biomedical research, medicine and healthcare. Students can specialise in bioinformatics, neuroinformatics, clinical informatics, informatics for assistive technology or public health in- Working together for medicine formatics. The curriculum focuses on research-related, medical and clinical scenarios, as required. Learning the communication skills needed to tackle such issues forms a key part of the programme. From left to right: Klaus Markstaller, Markus Müller and Susanne Mayer with young researchers Julia Vodopiutz, Carmen Stecher, Katharina Göral, Philipp Schwabl, Simona Saluzzo, Bernhard Grubmüller, Bianca S. Gerendas, Georg Greiner, Bernhard Gesslbauer, Michaela Fritz, Daniela Pollak-Monje Quiroga and New professors Bruno Podesser

Six outstanding academics joined the team at MedUni Vien- na in 2018.

Andreas Sönnichsen became Profes- Heinz Burgmann became Professor of sor of General Medicine, and heads Internal Medicine with a focus on In- the Division of General and Family fectious Diseases and Tropical Med- Medicine at the university’s Center icine – at the same time, the highly for Public Health. Sönnichsen’s re- respected infection expert took over search focuses include evidence-based as Head of the Division for Infectious medicine and healthcare quality. Diseases and Tropical Medicine in the uni- versity’s Department of Medicine I.

Paul Plener was named Professor of Wolfgang J. Weninger, who has car- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and ried out research on the genetic and Head of the respective department. biomechanical causes of congenital Plener studied medicine in Vienna and deformities as well as innovative has returned to his alma mater after imaging techniques, was appointed working at Ulm University Hospital. MedUni Vienna’s Professor of Anatomy.

Wolfgang P. Weninger returned to Vi- Matthias Preusser was appointed enna from a post at the University Professor of Internal Oncology and of Sydney to take up the position of Head of the Division of Oncology. His Professor of Dermatology and Head research focuses on precision medi- of the Department of Dermatology. cine and immunotherapy.

63

The organisational structure of MedUni Vienna Facts and figures

The Medical University of Vienna is a leading international centre of medicine. Its individual institutes, centres, clinical departments and divisions employ 5,748 staff and form an indivisible whole, providing education, research and patient care at the highest level. Organisational structure as at 31 December 2018

Senate Rectorate University Council 26 members Rector and 4 vice rectors 5 members

Medical science division Clinical division Organisational units with spe- cial service functions 12 centres 26 university ­departments • Anatomy and Cell Biology • Medicine I • Comprehensive Cancer Center • Physiology and Pharmacology • Medicine II • Comprehensive Center for • Public Health • Medicine III Pediatrics • Brain Research • Surgery • Core Facilities • Pathobiochemistry and Genetics • Obstetrics and Gynecology • University Library • Pathophysiology, Infectiology and • Otorhinolaryngology • Ethics, Historical Collections and the History of Medicine Immunology • Anesthesia, Critical Care and • Medical Physics and Pain Medicine • Teaching Center Biomedical Engineering • Psychiatry and Psychotherapy • Medical Statistics, Informatics and • Pediatrics and Adolescent Intelligent Systems Medicine • Medical Biochemistry • Dermatology • Virology • Radiology and Nuclear Medicine • Forensic Medicine • Radiotherapy • Biomedical Research • Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery • Urology • Neurosurgery • Oral, Maxillary and Facial Surgery • Emergency Medicine • Neurology • Physical Medicine, Rehabilitation and Occupational Medicine • Child and Adolescent Psychiatry • Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy • Ophthalmology and Optometrics • Blood Group Serology and Transfusion Medicine • Hospital Epidemiology and Infection Control • Clinical Pharmacology • University Clinic of Dentistry

3 clinical institutes • Laboratory Medicine • Pathology • Neurology

66 University Council Scientific 5 members Advisory Board The organisational structure of MedUni Vienna

Organisational units with Spin-offs Committees university management responsibilities • Alumni Club • Working Group on Equal • Medical University of Vienna Inter­ Opportunities­ 10 service departments national GmbH • Ethics Committee • University Management­ Office • Universitätszahnklinik­ Wien GmbH • Arbitration Committee­ • Human Resources­ • Max F. Perutz Laboratories • Works Council for General • Legal Department • FDZ-Forensisches DNA-Zentral­ University Staff • Corporate Communications­ labor GmbH • Works Council for Academic Staff • Studies and Examinations • CBmed GmbH • Students Union (ÖH) Department • Karl Landsteiner Privatuniversität • Advisory Board for People with Disabilities • Research Service für Gesundheitswissenschaften GmbH • Clinical Trials Coordination Centre • Data Protection Commission • Josephinum – Medizinische • Data Clearing House • Finance Department­ Sammlungen GmbH • Ombudsman for Good Scientific • Facility Management­ Practice • IT Systems and Communications

4 staff units • Internal Audit Curriculum Directors • Evaluation and Quality Management • Medicine • Gender Mainstreaming­ • Dentistry • Controlling • PhD programmes • Continuing education courses • Medical Informatics master’s programme

67 University management • Senate TEACHING AND RESEARCH STAFF The Senate is made up of 13 repre- Prof. Diana ­Bonderman • Rectorate sentatives from among the universi- Prof. Ivo Volf The Rectorate is the university’s ty’s full professors, six representatives Prof. Birgit Willinger ­executive management body. of teaching and research staff, one Dr. Martin Andreas representative of the general univer- Dr. Regina Patricia Schukro Prof. Markus Müller, Rector sity staff and six student representa- (First Deputy) Dr. Michaela Fritz, Vice Rector for tives, appointed by election or, in the Prof. René Wenzl ­Research and Innovation case of student representatives, by Prof. Anita Rieder, Vice Rector for delegation in accordance with section STUDENTS Education­ 25 Universities Act 2002. Carina Borst Dr. Volkan Talazoglu, Vice Rector for Leon Fierek (Second Deputy) Finance PROFESSORS Julia Wunsch Prof. Oswald Wagner, Vice Rector for Prof. Michael Gnant ­(Chair) Markus Seibt Clinical Affairs (until 8 November 2018) Lukas Wedrich www.meduniwien.ac.at/rectorate Prof. Harald Sitte ­(Chair) Daniela Kitzmantl (from 30 November 2018) • University Council Prof. Johannes Wancata GENERAL UNIVERSITY STAFF The University Council is one of (from 30 November 2018) Gerda Bernhard the University’s three most senior Prof. Ursula ­Wiedermann-Schmidt management bodies, alongside the Prof. Rudolf Valenta CO-OPTED MEMBER – WORKING Rectorate and the Senate. Two of the Prof. Elisabeth Presterl GROUP ON EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES Council’s members are appointed by (Fourth Deputy) Prof. Alexandra Kautzky-­Willer the Senate of the Medical University Prof. Klaus Markstaller www.meduniwien.ac.at/senate of Vienna, and two by the federal Prof. Hannes Stockinger government. A fifth member is elected Prof. Renate ­Koppensteiner by these four members. Prof. Barbara Bohle Prof. Michael Trauner Until 28 February 2018 Prof. Angelika Berger Dr. Erhard Busek (Chair) Prof. Maria Sibilia Dr. Elisabeth Hagen Prof. Irene Lang* Prof. Veronika Sexl Prof. Robert Schwarcz * Currently deputy curriculum director for the Doctoral Programme in Applied Medical Science (N790), PhD Dr. Maximilian Kothbauer programme (N094) and the Medical Informatics master’s programme (N066 936), and therefore unable to exercise From 1 March 2018 her mandate due to the regulation on conflicts of interest. The mandate is currently exercised by Prof. Thomas Dr. Eva Dichand (Chair) Helbich. Dr. Brigitte Ettl Prof. Irene Virgolini Prof. Reinhart Waneck Prof. Thomas Zeltner www.meduniwien.ac.at/university-­ council

68 Committees • Advisory Board for People with • Dentistry Curriculum ­Director Disabilities Prof. Anita Holzinger • Arbitration Committee Chair: Prof. Richard Crevenna Deputy: Prof. Andrea Nell Chair: Dr. Anna Sporrer Deputy Chair: Prof. Johannes Wancata Deputy: Prof. Martina Schmid-Schwap Deputy Chair: Prof. Herbert Watzke www.meduniwien.ac.at/disabilities www.meduniwien.ac.at/arbitration- • PhD Programmes Curriculum committee • Intra-university Data ­Protection ­Director and Medical Informatics The organisational structure of MedUni Vienna Commission master’s programme • Ethics Committee Chair: Hon. Prof. Markus Grimm Prof. Stefan Böhm Prof. Jürgen Zezula und Deputy Chair: Ernst Eigenbauer Deputy: Prof. Irene Lang Dr. Martin Brunner www.meduniwien.ac.at/dbc Deputy: Prof. Georg Dorffner www.meduniwien.ac.at/ethics • Data Clearing House • Continuing Education Curriculum • Works Council for General (from 6 February 2018) Director University Staff Chair: Dr. Thomas Wrba Prof. Michael Hiesmayr Chair: Gabriele Waidringer Deputy Chair: Dr. Claudia Ernst- Deputy: Prof. Henriette Löffler-Stastka First Deputy Chair: Gerda Bernhard Ballaun Second Deputy Chair: Helga Kalser www.meduniwien.ac.at/data-­ www.meduniwien.ac.at/wc-gus clearing-house

• Works Council for Academic Staff • Ombudsman for Good Scientific Chair: Dr. Ingwald Strasser Practice Deputy: Dr. Stefan Konrad (from 6 February 2018) Deputy: Prof. Michael Holzer Chair: Prof. Elisabeth Förster-Waldl Deputy: Prof. Harald Leitich Deputy Chair: Prof. Christian Schöfer www.meduniwien.ac.at/wc-sus Dr. Andrea Kolbus www.meduniwien.ac.at/gsp • Working Group on Equal Opportunities • Medicine Curriculum ­Director Chair: Prof. Alexandra Kautzky-Willer Prof. Gerhard-Johann Zlabinger­ First Deputy Chair: Prof. Ulrike Deputy: Prof. Franz Kainberger Willinger Deputy: Prof. Werner Horn Second Deputy Chair: Irene Bednar Deputy: Prof. Anahit Anvari-Pirsch www.meduniwien.ac.at/equaloppor- Deputy: Dr. Barbara Steinlechner tunities

• Student Union (ÖH Med Wien) Chair: Julia Wunsch First Deputy: Jakob Eichelter Second Deputy: Leopold Buvier-Azula General Secretary: Lisa Leutgeb www.oehmedwien.at

69 Scientific Advisory Board University Departments Department of Surgery Head: Prof. Michael Gnant This external body advises the MedUni Vienna’s clinical division (until 3 October 2018) MedUni Vienna Rectorate on all consists of 26 departments, includ- Deputy heads: Prof. Günther Laufer, matters related to research, with the ing three clinical institutes. 11 of Prof. Martin­ ­Metzelder, FEAPU aim of safeguarding the University’s these comprise a number of different • Division of General Surgery strategic positioning for the long term. divisions (in accordance with section • Division of Cardiac Surgery 31(4) Universities Act). Departments, • Division of Thoracic Surgery • Frederica Salusto institutes and divisions also serve as • Division of Vascular Surgery Institute for Research in Biomedicine patient care departments (pursuant • Division of Transplantation Bellinzona, Schweiz to section 7(4) Hospitals Act). • Division of Plastic and • Hedvig Hricak Reconstructive Surgery Chair, Department of Radiology, Department of Medicine I • Division of Pediatric Surgery Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Head: Prof. Herbert Watzke Center, New York City, USA • Division of Oncology Department of Obstetrics and • Joseph Thomas Coyle • Division of Hematology and Gynecology Professor of Psychiatry and Hemostaseology­ Head: Prof. Peter Wolf Husslein Neuroscience, Harvard Medical • Division of Palliative Medicine • Division of Obstetrics and School • Division of Infectious Diseases and Feto-Maternal medicine • Fortunato Ciardiello Tropical Medicine • Division of General Gynecology and (until 17 October 2018) • Division of Cancer Research Gynecologic Oncology Professor of Medical Oncology, (not a patient care department • Division of Gynecological Second University of Naples pursuant to section 7(4) Hospitals Endocrinology and Reproductive • Jeroen J. Bax (until 17 October 2018) Act) Medicine Professor of Cardiology, Leiden University Department of Medicine II Department of Otorhinolaryngology • Robert Schwarcz Head: Prof. Christian ­Hengstenberg Head: Prof. Wolfgang ­Gstöttner (from 17 October 2018) • Division of Cardiology • Division of General Ear, Nose and Professor of Psychiatry, Pharma­ • Division of Angiology Throat Diseases cology and Pediatrics, Department • Division of Pulmonology • Division of Speech and Language of Psychiatry, University of Maryland Therapy School of Medicine Department of Medicine III • Michael Roden Head: Prof. Josef Smolen Department of Anesthesia, (from 17 October 2018) (until 30 September 2018) Critical Care and Pain Medicine Professor of Medicine, Scientific Interim Head: Prof. Alexandra Head: Prof. Klaus Markstaller­ Director of the German Diabetes Kautzky-Willer (from 1 October 2018) • Division of General Anesthesia and Center and Director, Institute for • Division of Endocrinology and Intensive Care Medicine Clinical Diabetology, Heinrich Heine Metabolism • Division of Specialist Anesthesia and University Duesseldorf • Division of Nephrology and Dialysis Pain Medicine • Sarah König • Division of Rheumatology • Division of Cardiothoracic and (from 17 October 2018) • Division of Gastroenterology and Vascular Anesthesia and Intensive Head of the Institute of Medical Hepatology Care Medicine Education and Education Research, Julius Maximilian University of Würzburg

70 Department of Psychiatry and Department of Dermatology Department of Child and Psychotherapy Head: Prof. Wolfgang P. Weninger Adolescent Psychiatry Head: Prof. Siegfried Kasper (from 1 September 2018) Head: Prof. Paul Plener, MHBA • Division of Biological Psychiatry Interim Head: Prof. Peter Petzelbauer (from 1 April 2018) • Division of Social Psychiatry (until 31 August 2018) Interim Head: Dr. Christine Vesely (until 31 March 2018) Department of Pediatrics and Department of Radiotherapy The organisational structure of MedUni Vienna Adolescent Medicine Head: Prof. Joachim Widder Department of Psychoanalysis and Head: Prof. Susanne Greber-Platzer Psychotherapy • Division of Neonatalogy, Intensive Department of Urology Head: Prof. Stephan Doering Care Medicine and Neuropediatrics Head: Prof. Shahrokh Shariat • Division of Pediatric Cardiology Department of Ophthalmology and • Division of Pediatric Pulmonology, Department of Neurosurgery Optometrics Allergology and Endocrinology Head: Prof. Engelbert Knosp Head: Prof. Ursula Schmidt-Erfurth • Division of Pediatric Nephrology and (until 30 September 2018) Gastroenterology Interim Head: Prof. Thomas Czech Department of Blood Group Serology • Division of Pediatrics with special (from 1 October 2018) and Transfusion Medicine focus on Pediatric Hemotology- Interim Head: Dr. Gerda Leitner Oncology Department of Oral, Maxillary and (St. Anna Children’s Hospital) Facial Surgery Department of Hospital Epidemiology Head: Prof. Emeka Nkenke and Infection Control Department of Biomedical Imaging Head: Prof. Elisabeth Presterl and Image-guided Therapy Department of Emergency Medicine Head: Prof. Christian Herold Head: Prof. Anton Laggner Department of Clinical Pharmacology • Division of General and Paediatric Head: Prof. Markus Zeitlinger Radiology Department of Neurology • Division of Cardiovascular and Head: Prof. Thomas Berger University Clinic of Dentistry Vienna Interventional Radiology (from 1 November 2018) Head: Prof. Andreas Moritz • Division of Neuroradiology and Interim Head: Prof. Christian Müller Musculoskeletal Radiology (until 31 October 2018) Department of Laboratory Medicine • Division of Nuclear Medicine Head: Prof. Oswald Wagner Department of Physical Medicine, • Division of Medical-Chemical Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation and Occupational Laboratory Diagnostics Trauma Surgery Medicine • Division of Clinical Microbiology Head: Prof. Reinhard ­Windhager Head: Prof. Richard ­Crevenna • Division of Clinical Virology • Division of Orthopedics • Division of Trauma Surgery Department of Pathology Head: Prof. Renate Kain

Institute of Neurology Interim Head: Prof. Johann Hainfellner

71 Centres of Medical Science Center for Brain Research Center for Medical Physics and Head: Prof. Thomas Klausberger Biomedical Engineering The medical science division is organ- • Division of Neuroimmunology Head: Prof. Wolfgang Drexler ised into centres and departments. • Division of Neurophysiology While the departments – like univer- • Division of Molecular Neurosciences Center for Medical Statistics, sity clinical departments – generally • Division of Neuronal Cell Biology Informatics and Intelligent Systems cover a single scientific discipline, the • Division of Cognitive Neurobiology Head: Prof. Martin Posch centres are tasked with efficiently • Division of Pathobiology of the • General Division of the Center for combining the priorities of research Nervous System Medical Statistics, Informatics and and teaching, with various disciplines Intelligent Systems clustered in accordance with interna- Center for Pathobiochemistry and • Institute of Medical Statistics tional practice. Genetics • Institute of Clinical Biometrics Head: Prof. Markus Hengstschläger • Institute of Biosimulation and Center for Anatomy and Cell Biology • Medizinische Genetik Bioinformatics Head: Prof. Franz-Michael Jantsch • Institut für Medizinische Chemie und • Institute of Medical Information • General Division of the Center for Pathobiochemie Management Anatomy and Cell Biology • Institute of the Science of Complex • Division of Anatomy Department of Medical Biochemistry Systems • Division of Cell and Developmental Part of Max F. Perutz Laboratories, a • Institute of Artificial Intelligence and Biology joint venture of MedUni Vienna and Decision Support the University of Vienna for research • Institute of Outcomes Research Center for Physiology and in the field of molecular biosciences. Pharmacology Head: Prof. Arndt von Haeseler Department of Biomedical Research Head: Prof. Michael ­Freissmuth • Division of Molecular Biology Head: Prof. Bruno Podesser • Institute of Vascular Biology and • Division of Molecular Genetics • Division of Laboratory Animal Thrombosis Research Science and Genetics • Institute of Pharmacology Department of Virology • Division of Decentralized Biomedical • Institute of Physiology Head: Prof. Elisabeth Puchhammer Facilities • Division of Neurophysiology and • Division of Applied Medical Virology • Division of Biomedical Research Neuropharmacology Department of Forensic Medicine Center for Public Health Head: Prof. Daniele Risser Head: Prof. Anita Rieder • Department of General Practice and Center for Pathophysiology, Family Medicine Infectiology and Immunology • Department of Social and Preventive Head: Prof. Hannes ­Stockinger Medicine • Institute of Pathophysiology and • Department of Environmental Health Allergy Research • Department of Epidemiology • Institute of Immunology • Department of Medical Psychology • Institute of Specific Prophylaxis and • Department of Health Economics Tropical Medicine • Institute of Hygiene and Applied Immunology

72 Organisational Units with Central Services special Service Functions Administrative support Comprehensive Cancer Center • University Management Office Head: Prof. Christoph ­Zielinski • Human Resources • Legal Department Comprehensive Center for Pediatrics • Corporate Communications The organisational structure of MedUni Vienna (from 1 January 2018) • Studies and Examinations Department Core Facilities • Research Service Head: Prof. Johann Wojta • Clinical Trials Coordination Centre • Genomics: DNA analysis • Finance Department • Genomics: genome analysis • Facility Management • Imaging • IT Systems and Communications • Proteomics • Office of the Works Councils • Cell Sorting Staff units Library • Internal Audit Head: Bruno Bauer • Evaluation and Quality Management • Gender Mainstreaming Ethics, History of Medicine and ­ • Controlling Historical Collections Head: Dr. Christiane Druml

Teaching Center Head: Prof. Gerhard ­Zlabinger • Postgraduate Education and Training Unit • Research Unit for Curriculum Development • Resources Management • Curriculum Management • Assessment and Skills

73 Financial statements I. Statement of financial position as at 31 December 2018

Assets 31 December 2018 31 December 2017 EUR EUR ‚000

A. Fixed assets I. Intangible assets 1. Concessions and similar rights, 456,401.57 671 and licences thereto of which acquired by purchase 456,401.57 671 2. Rights of use 20,000,000.00 20,456,401.57 20,000 20,671 II. Property, plant and equipment 1. Land, leasehold rights and buildings 18,447,418.49 18,114 including buildings on third-party land a) of which land value 587,155.00 587 b) of which building value 848,557.43 904 c) of which investments in third-party 17,011,706.06 16,623 buildings ­and land 2. Plant and machinery 12,803,735.10 12,321 3. Scientific literature and other scientific 7,366,728.30 7,082 data media 4. Other fixtures and fittings, operating and 3,736,030.20 3,100 business equipment 5. Advance payments and assets under 9,236,945.13 51,590,857.22 5,921 46,538 construction III. Financial assets 1. Investments in subsidiaries and associates 3,083,650.18 3,083 2. Loans to subsidiaries and associates 597,736.39 811 3. Securities and similar instruments held as 74,508,719.18 78,190,105.75 150,237,364.54 54,523 58,417 125,626 fixed assets

B. Current assets I. Inventories 1. Inventories 450,000.00 450 2. Services rendered to third parties not yet 62,568,887.34 63,018,887.34 72,063 72,513 invoiced II. Receivables and other assets 1. Trade receivables 10,681,772.09 10,776 2. Receivables from associates 1,291,831.17 2,077 3. Other receivables and other assets 26,522,091.01 38,495,694.27 23,301 36,154 III. Securities and equity interests 4,609,684.33 5,292 IV. Cash and cash equivalents 156,334,662.73 262,458,928.67 159,575 273,534

C. Deferred income 1,396,501.34 1,690

Total Assets 414,092,794.55 400,850

74 The 2018 financial statements were given an unqualified audit certificate by auditors Moore Stephens City Treuhand GmbH.

Liabilities 31 December 2018 31 December 2017 EUR EUR ‚000 The organisational structure of MedUni Vienna A. Negative equity 1. Equity –8,334,166.31 –8,334 2. Profit/loss 751,163.50 –7,583,002.81 –3,530 –11,864 of which losses brought forward –3,529,812.60 –7,958

B. Investment grants 31,255,187.09 31,458

C. Provisions 1. Provisions for severance payments 13,039,260.88 15,747 2. Other provisions 149,492,565.58 162,531,826.46 141,484 157,231

D. Liabilities 1. Advances received 120,708,721.67 126,010 of which deductible from inventories 60,801,588.45 69,827 2. Trade payables 21,487,636.49 17,643 3. Payables to associates 118,174.00 2,839 4. Other liabilities 19,795,650.56 162,110,182.72 18,467 164,959

E. Deferred income 65,778,601.09 59,066

Total liabilities 414,092,794.55 400,850

Note regarding negative equity: As in previous years, in 2018 the university recognised negative equity. The Univ. RechnungsabschlussVO (University Financial Statements Order) 2010 provides for medical universities to have the option of capitalising investments relating to additional clinical expense, research and teaching, as rights of use. Capitalising these investments, taking into account investment grants as at 31 December 2018, results in positive equity in the meaning of section 16(2) Uni- versity Financial Statements Order of EUR 23,662thsd (2017: EUR 19,594thsd).

75 II. Statement of profit or loss 2018

2018 2017 EUR EUR ‚000

1. Revenue a) Revenue from Federal Goverment global budget allocation 418,896,418.52 405,464 b) Revenue from tuition fees 981,271.91 932 c) Revenue from tuition fee compensation by Federal Government 4,728,748.54 4,727 d) Revenue from postgraduate training programmes 909,622.15 846 e) Revenue pursuant to section 27 Universities Act 94,887,494.41 88,081 f) Reimbursements of costs pursuant section 26 Universities Act 16,984,290.64 16,388 g) Other revenue and reimbursements 31,774,459.89 18,100 of which revenue from federal ministries 7,510,767.62 7,303 569,162,306.06 534,538

2. Change in services rendered to third parties not yet invoiced –9,493,742.42 –8,466

3. Other operating income a) Income from disposal and revaluation of fixed assets 5,538.56 21 b) Income from reversal of provisions 11,084,012.04 4,444 c) Other 13,886,892.30 16,631 of which from reversal of investment grants 10,382,998.39 10,480 24,976,442.90 21,096

4. Expenditure for materials, consumables and purchased services a) Expenditure for materials and consumabels –13,564,344.60 –13,226 b) Expenditure for purchased services –5,118,189.00 –5,551 –18,682,533.60 –18,777

5. Staff costs a) Salaries and wages –315,910,673.49 –303,343 of which refunds to the Federal Government for officials assigned 71,037,864.95 71,707 to the university b) Expenditure for external teaching staff –156,184.62 –151 c) Cost of severance payments and payments to employee benefits funds –4,315,364.27 –5,966 of which refunds to the Federal Government for officials assigned 0.00 0 to the university d) Cost of pensions –9,538,695.70 –9,056 of which refunds to the Federal Government for officials assigned 411,093.13 406 to the university e) Social security contributions and other pay-related contributions –70,415,556.26 –68,118 of which refunds to the Federal Government for officials assigned 16,362,911.07 16,818 to the university f) Other employee benefits –3,272,778.95 –2,916 –403,609,253.29 –389,550

76 2018 2017 EUR EUR ‚000

6. Depreciation and amortisation –20,281,001.68 –19,686

7. Other operating expenses The organisational structure of MedUni Vienna a) Taxes other than those under item 13 –873,985.67 –775 b) Reimbursements to hospital operator pursuant section 33 Universities Act –61,574,865.82 –50,094 c) Other –57,988,773.25 –45,454 –120,437,624.74 –96,323

8. Subtotal items 1 to 7 21,634,593.23 22,833

9. Income from financial resources and investments 803,446.26 851 a) of which from write-ups 2,000.00 56

10. Expenditure arising from financial resources and equity holdings –17,975,922.51 –19,070 a) of which from write-downs 11,827.92 36 b) of which expenditure arising from subsidiaries and associates 17,056,106.00 18,734

11. Subtotal items 9 to 10 –17,172,476.25 –18,218

12. Earnings before tax (sum of items 8 and 11) 4,462,116.98 4,614

13. Taxes on income and profit –181,140.88 –186

14. Loss/profit after tax 4,280,976.10 4,428

15. Loss/profit brought forward –3,529,812.60 –7,958

16. Profit/loss for the year 751,163.50 –3,530

77 Publisher and media owner: Rector Prof. Markus Müller, Medical University of Vienna, Spitalgasse 23, 1090 Vienna, Austria www.meduniwien.ac.at Responsible for content: Corporate Communications: Johannes Angerer (Head of Department), Klaus Dietl, Kerstin Kohl, Thorsten Medwedeff Content development and design: zauberformel | Karlheinz Hoffelner and confici.at | Bettina Jarosch Design and layout: confici.at | Bettina Jarosch Editorial content: zauberformel | Karlheinz Hoffelner, Johannes Angerer, Klaus Dietl, Thorsten Medwedeff Photos: Christian Houdek, Alek Kawka, Marco Kovic, Felicitas Matern, ­ Delugan Meissl Associated Architects/Architektur Consult, Shutterstock Inc. Published in: Vienna, 2019

ISBN 978-3-902610-57-7 Verlag Medizinische Universität Wien

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Medical University of Vienna Spitalgasse 23, 1090 Vienna Tel. +43 (0)1 40 160-0 www.meduniwien.ac.at

ISBN 978-3-902610-57-7 Verlag Medizinische Universität Wien