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Profile and Mission
Statement
The Department is
member of the Center for Physiology, Pathophysiology and Immunology (CePPI)
of the Medical University Vienna and delivers and educates practical and
theoretical view points of vaccinology and
problems of infectious diseases in tropical and industrialized countries.
Information and advices for national and international vaccinations,
guidelines for vaccination schedules, and differential diagnosis of
diseases from returning travellers are routinely performed.
The Departmentīs
research activities spotlight the
following topics:
I. Vaccinology & Immunology:
This unit focuses on immunoprophylaxis and vaccination against infectious
diseases, allergies and cancers, the development and validation of novel
vaccine candidates and antigen delivery systems and the assessment of
immediate and memory immune responses as well as vaccination failure after
immunization. Vaccine development from bench to bedside in cooperation with
clinical departments is performed with support of international vaccine
companies.
II.
Molecular Microbiology and Parasitology:
This unit uses
biochemical and molecular biological methods to study open problems related
to pathogenic microorganisms. Research aims to
develop new chemotherapeuticals and elucidate the
mechanism of action of currently used ones, to study parasite antigens and
host-parasite interactions. The implementation of PCR-based diagnostic
methods for complicated cases is a new major focus.
III:
Epidemiology and Travel Medicine:
This unit has
established an Austrian-wide surveillance system for vaccine-preventable
infectious diseases in children and adults. Epidemiological data from these
studies impact on the Austrian recommendations for vaccination of the
Austrian Supreme Board of Health. In cooperation with international vaccine
companies vaccination trials (phase III/IV studies) in the field of infectiology and allergology
are performed.
IV:
Experimental Tropical Medicine and Field Research:
This unit operates field sites throughout
South- and Southeast Asia focusing on new therapeutic options for treating tropical diseases,
drug development, development of new diagnostic assays, and epidemiology of
drug resistance and tropical diseases.
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