Mission Statement

The Department is member of the Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology 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 Department´s 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.