(Vienna, 7th May 2013) On 7 May 2013 a new research laboratory belonging to the Messerli Research Institute was opened on the campus of the Vetmeduni Vienna. The Messerli Research Institute is a joint establishment of the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, the Medical University of Vienna and the University of Vienna in which research is being conducted on the differences and similarities in the illnesses of human beings and animals.
In the picture, from left to right: Rector of Veterinary Medicine Sonja Hammerschmid, Head of Laboratory Erika Jensen-Jarolim, Rector of the MedUni Wolfgang Schütz
Today, 7 May 2013, the official start signal was given for the new laboratory of comparative medicine belonging to the Messerli Research Institute of the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, the Medical University of Vienna and the University of Vienna. Under the leadership of Erika Jensen-Jarolim in the future this research laboratory will be devoted to the comparative medicine of humans and animals with the aim of speeding up the development of medicines for human and animal patients. The thematic focus is on research into allergies and cancer. Initial experiments have already been started in the new laboratory. "With the now fully operational research laboratory co-located with the University of Veterinary Medicine, the bridge linking veterinary and human medicine is being further reinforced. Collaborations with other research groups on the campus will be much easier to realise," celebrates Jensen-Jarolim.
Modern equipment for cancer and allergy research
With the so-called TissueFAXs, the researchers have a precise analytical method available for tissue samples. Instead of visually counting the individual tissue cells under the microscope as was done up until now, with this modern technology whole tissue sections can be analysed automatically, objectively and with the greatest accuracy.
For research into allergies, microchip diagnostics for pets are undergoing further development at the research laboratory. For diagnosis by chip only a minimal amount of blood is needed to get a complete allergy profile. This so-called ImmunoCAP ISAC Test was developed in Vienna and has only been used in human medicine since relatively recently. In future it is to be used in veterinary medicine as well.
About the Messerli Research Institute
The Messerli Research Institute was founded in 2012, with the support of the Swiss Messerli Foundation, under the aegis of the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna and in collaboration with the Medical University of Vienna and the University of Vienna. In future, the Institute’s research findings are set to steadily improve our treatment of animals on a scientific basis. In so doing the Messerli Research Institute is taking on the important social task of supporting people in their responsibility towards animals and providing further education with the results of its research.
» Weitere Informationen auf der Website der Abteilung Komparative Medizin des Messerli Forschungsinstituts