(Vienna, 29 April 2025) The Christian Doppler Laboratory for Chronic Inflammatory Skin Diseases has been opened at the Medical University of Vienna. The research aims to investigate the molecular mechanisms of diseases such as psoriasis in order to predict the effectiveness of therapies and develop new treatment approaches.
The research team led by CD Laboratory Director Georg Stary (University Clinic for Dermatology, MedUni Vienna) is focusing on special immune cells known as tissue-resident memory T cells (TRM), which remain in the skin and can exacerbate inflammation. To analyse their role in the development and maintenance of the inflammatory process in psoriasis, tissue samples are taken from patients before and during targeted therapy with an IL-23-p19 inhibitor – a drug that inhibits pro-inflammatory signals.
"It is not known whether TRM in adipose tissue also play a role in maintaining the inflammatory process, which we also hope to find out in this study," says Georg Stary. Modern analytical methods will be used to investigate how these cells in the skin and underlying adipose tissue change as a result of treatment and whether they can be used as a starting point for new therapies or as biomarkers for therapeutic success. ‘Despite significant advances in targeted therapy, the molecular mechanisms of psoriasis are not yet fully understood. The work at our CD laboratory aims to fill some of the existing gaps in research," says Georg Stary. Janssen-Cilag Pharma GmbH, a Johnson & Johnson company and one of the world's leading life science companies, has been secured as a corporate partner.
Economics Minister Wolfgang Hattmannsdorfer: "An innovative research location is the backbone of a competitive and future-oriented economy. Anyone who wants to achieve medical breakthroughs and develop new, effective therapies for complex diseases must have a deep understanding of the underlying biological processes at the molecular level. This is precisely where the new CD laboratory comes in, which is dedicated to using state-of-the-art technologies to research psoriasis – a disease that significantly affects many people. This commitment not only strengthens the hope for better treatment options, but also the scientific excellence, infrastructure and international visibility of Austria as a research and business location."
Sara Leitao, Managing Director at Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine Austria: "The cooperation with the Christian Doppler Research Association and the Medical University underscores Johnson & Johnson's strong commitment to science and research in Austria. Chronic inflammatory diseases such as psoriasis can severely impair the quality of life of patients. We therefore want to advance scientific knowledge in dermatology and enable valuable insights for downstream clinical research, which in turn can lead to innovative therapeutic solutions."
Michaela Fritz, Vice Rector for Research and Innovation at the Medical University of Vienna: "Thanks to the support of our corporate partner and the Ministry of Economic Affairs, MedUni Vienna can now open another important chapter in application-oriented basic research. Chronic inflammatory skin diseases place a considerable burden on those affected. The research results from the new CD laboratory will be directly incorporated into the development of new therapeutic approaches, thereby contributing to better patient care in the long term."
About Christian Doppler Laboratories
Christian Doppler Laboratories conduct high-level application-oriented basic research, with outstanding scientists collaborating with innovative companies. The Christian Doppler Research Association is internationally recognised as a best practice example for promoting this type of collaboration. Christian Doppler Laboratories are jointly financed by the public sector and the participating companies. The most important public funding body is the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Tourism.