In relation to vascular medicine, alongside the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases, MedUni Vienna also concentrates on imaging and non-imaging diagnostics as well as epidemiological and genetic problems.
Not only is cardiovascular research categorised under the term "vascular medicine", this also comprises the reproduction of blood vessels (angionesis), which is an important factor in the growth of malignant tumours and in relation to microangiopathy (e.g. diabetes mellitus). The cardiovascular system was one of the first in which biomechanics was used to support the cardiovascular function. Cardiovascular diseases were also one of the first areas of application for which gene therapy and stem cell therapy were selected. Due to the many different approaches, this is also the field of research in which the largest number of organisational units are involved.
The inter-disciplinarity of this field of research at MedUni Vienna was accounted as early as in 1996 by the formation of a Department for Vascular Biology and Thrombosis Research, which is aligned towards fundamental research. In addition to this, the high value placed on the field of research, vascular medicine, both nationally and internationally is underlined through participation in the European Network of Excellence (EVGN). Third-party funding available to this field is correspondingly high. Furthermore, the particular intensity of research devoted to this field can be derived from the fact that participation of the Medical University of Vienna in all of the prominent international publications for the cardiovascular field is not only above average, but has also risen steadily from 0.05% in 1994 to 0.35% in 2002. On the basis of this research, the Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Culture have awarded a fast-track professorship for "Vascular Biology" and "Haemostaseology". The various groups involved in the research of vascular medicine are currently situated at a number of different locations. They are to be strengthened by being brought together within joint premises. The research programme in relation to vascular medicine is categorised as follows:
