Performance Report 2011
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Performance Report 2011 Department of Pathophysiology & Allergy Research Center of Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology Medical University Vienna Coordinated by: Marion Sack Content Page Introduction 2 Organigram 7 Personnel 10 1. Detailed Reports of Divisions 11 1.1 Division for Comparative Immunology and Oncology 11 1.2. Division for Cellular and Molecular Pathophysiology 31 1.3 Division for Immunopathology 51 1.4 Division for Medical Biotechnology 72 1 Performance Report 2011 Introduction Science knows no country, because knowledge belongs to humanity, and is the torch which illuminates the world. Louis Pasteur If we are to develop effective therapeutic strategies to combat physiological disorders, it is important to understand the pathophysiology of disease. The Institute of Pathophysiology and Allergy Research (IPA) has a history of outstanding research, both basic and translational, in cellular and molecular pathophysiology, immunopathology, comparative immunology, oncology, medical biotechnology and allergology. The year 2011 was particularly successful for the IPA: in total, 21 independent groups performed competitive research in different aspects of the abovementioned fields. Their excellent results are reflected in their numerous scientific publications in peer-reviewed high- impact journals, in 34 research awards, and in their many contributions to prestigious scientific meetings. Alongside these successes, IPA members have continued or initiated new collaborative scientific work, both nationally and internationally. Several research projects funded by the Austrian Science Fund (FWF) and other funding agencies, e.g. the Österreichische Nationalbank or the medizinisch-wissenschaftlicher Fonds des Bürgermeisters der Stadt Wien, were granted to principal investigators at the IPA. Over the years, the IPA’s work has gained an excellent international reputation. Figure 1 shows an overview of the total sum of the IPA’s impact factors for the period 2004-2011. Figure 1 600 500 400 300 200 total impact factors of IPA of factors impact total 100 0 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 In addition to its outstanding scientific performance, the IPA has also delivered education of an exceptionally high quality to medical students. The total numbers of semester hours held at the Medical University from 2004-2011 are illustrated in Figure 2; they reflect the IPA’s members’ ongoing commitment to teaching. 2 Performance Report 2011 Introduction Figure 2 250 200 150 100 sum of semester hours semester of sum 50 0 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 Academic teaching of the next generation of scientists is an important IPA focus, and is demonstrated by the training of a high number of bachelor’s, diploma and PhD students. In 2011, a total of 110 young researchers were educated at the IPA. Figure 3 shows the numbers of diploma (red bars) and PhD (yellow bars) students. And for the first time in 2011, bachelor students (blue bar) were also supervised at the IPA. Figure 3 60 50 40 30 20 number of students of number 10 0 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 The increasing numbers of diploma and PhD theses supervised at the IPA reflects the importance of education at our institute. The participation of several of our members in very competitive international doctoral programs funded by the FWF attracts outstanding, highly motivated national and international students to the IPA. All students have the opportunity to learn a great variety of state-of-the-art laboratory techniques in their research specializations. Beyond that, they gain insights into the broad spectrum of research activities at the IPA. This is accelerated by the “Impulse Seminars” organized by the IPA at regular intervals. These seminars are also regarded as advanced training for medical doctors both within the IPA and outside it. 3 Performance Report 2011 Introduction The IPA is also active in training physicians for specializations in pathophysiology and immunology. Furthermore, members of the IPA are active in teaching and examining not only at the Medical University but at other universities, too, including universities of applied sciences. Several IPA members also act as reviewers of external diploma and PhD theses, Habilitations, scientific manuscripts, and research grants, and are active on editorial and advisory boards and on the boards of national and international research societies. Apart from the IPA’s exceptional achievements in research and education, several highlights of the year 2011 should be mentioned: one was the successful completion of the Sonderforschungsbereich (SFB) F18 “Molecular and immunological strategies for prevention, diagnosis and treatment of Type I allergies” coordinated by Univ. Prof. Dr. Rudolf Valenta. This SFB program had been financed by the Austrian Science Fund (FWF) for the maximum funding period of 12 years. Several group leaders of the IPA (Barbara Bohle, Heimo Breiteneder, Erika Jensen-Jarolim, Rudolf Valenta, Susanne Vrtala) were members of this excellent research programme. The completion of SFB-F18 was followed by the successful implementation of a new FWF-funded SFB-F46 programme, “Towards prevention and therapy of allergy”, coordinated by Univ. Prof. Dr. Rudolf Valenta. Again, several group leaders of the IPA (Barbara Bohle, Heimo Breiteneder, Sabine Flicker, Karin Hoffmann- Sommergruber, Erika Jensen-Jarolim, Rudolf Valenta, Susanne Vrtala) are part of this highly competitive, multidisciplinary research programme. Another highlight in 2011 was the start of Ass. Prof. Dr. Enikö Kallay as manager of the EU-7RP people 2010 ITN-project “The role of the Calcium Sensing Receptor in health and disease, implications for translational medicine”. Enikö Kallay coordinates a consortium consisting of 7 international academic partners and 3 industrial partners. This EU project will last for 4 years and will investigate various aspects of the Calcium Sensing Receptor´s biochemistry, physiology and pathophysiology. Two further highlights in 2011 were the appointment of Heimo Breiteneder as University Professor for Medical Biotechnology in May, and in August, that of Erika Jensen- Jarolim as University Professor for Comparative Medicine, a joint position at the Messerli Research Institute of the Veterinary University of Vienna, the Medical University of Vienna and the University Vienna. To fully focus on her new challenges and duties, Univ. Prof. Erika Jensen- Jarolim stepped down from the position as head of the IPA. Prof. Peter Pietschmann temporary headed the IPA until 1.12.2012, when I became the new head. At the same time, the Division of Experimental Allergology was founded. 4 Performance Report 2011 Introduction I wish to express my sincere thanks to all who have contributed to the very high quality of the IPA’s scientific and teaching work. Additionally, I would like to acknowledge all those members of the IPA who have contributed to our success by their ongoing efforts and support in administrative, organizational, and financial matters, as well as the cleaning staff and those taking care of the animal facility. Their tremendous backup has significantly contributed to the high performance of the IPA in research and education. Special thanks to the Institutsreferentin Marion Sack, the team in the Leitstelle Marion Krones Julia Krüger Andreas Kunrath …and the facility team! Katharina Reinberger Andrea Vlasaty Brigitte Schwarz 5 Performance Report 2011 Introduction I am convinced that the unstinting engagement of all members of the IPA will guarantee the Institute’s continuing success in delivering an outstanding quality of basic and translational research and education. Our strong team spirit is reflected in the IPA’s motto for the future: “Succeeding together”. Barbara Bohle 6 Performance Report 2011 Organigram Organigramm (December 2011) Head: Barbara Bohle, PhD, Professor for Cellular Allergology Deputy Head: Peter Pietschmann, MD, Assoc. Professor Department Secretary: Marion Sack Check point: Andreas Kunrath Student Secretary: Marion Krones, Julia Krüger Division for Comparative Immunology and Oncology Head: Erika Jensen-Jarolim, MD, Professor for Pathophysiology, Professor for Comparative Medicine Secretary: Nora Diallo , substituted by Katica Josipovic Erika Bajna, CTA, 50% WG AllergoOncology: Head: Erika Jensen-Jarolim, MD, Professor Beatrix Pfanzagl, Ass. Professor Josef Singer, PhD-Student Krisztina Szalai, PhD Durga Krishnamurthy, PhD-Student Franziska Roth-Walter, PhD Kathrin Thell, Diploma Student Philipp Starkl, PhD Janis Kinkel, Diploma Student Marlene Weichselbaumer, PhD Ferdinand Felix, Diploma Student Anna Lukschal, PhD-Student Anna Willensdorfer, CTA Caroline Stremnitzer, PhD-Student Miroslawa Matz, Tech. Ass. WG Tumor Pathology: Head: Enikö Kallay, PhD, Ass. Professor Giovanna Bises, PhD Samawansha Tennakoon, PhD-Student Julia Höbaus, PhD-Student Abhishek Aggarwal, PhD-Student Doris Hummel, PhD-Student Teresa Manhardt, CTA Ursula Thiem, PhD-Student Maria Elena Manfredini, Project manager Irfete Fetahu, PhD-Student WG Gastrointestinal Immunology: Head: Eva Untersmayr-Elsenhuber, MD, Priv.-Doz. Susanne Diesner, MD Kristina Kreiner, Diploma Student Vera Elisabeth Assmann, Diploma Student Cornelia Schultz, BMA WG Nutritional Immunology: Head: Isabella Pali-Schöll, PhD, Priv.-Doz. Helen Szöllösi, Diploma Student WG Molecular System Biology and Pathophysiology Head: Diana Mechtcheriakova, PhD, Priv.-Doz. Martin Svoboda, PhD Tamara Kaufmann, Diploma Student Anastasia Meshcheryakova, PhD-Student