Overview of our research areas
Congenital metabolic diseases and developmental disorders
Gastroenterology, hepatology and nutrition
Neonatology
Paediatric surgery
Early life care
Congenital metabolic diseases
and developmental disorders
There are more than 1500 different metabolic diseases worldwide which are caused by a mutation in one particular gene. Each of these medical conditions is extremely rare. Oftentimes, only very few children in Austria, or even worldwide, are affected. Through special consultation hours, we offer individual contact points for young patients and their families.
In our interdisciplinary specialised out-patient unit, and via our ‘marmot’ consultation hours, we offer care to children with unidentified developmental disorders and rare epilepsy. Our aim is to identify genetic defects, analyse the causes and implications of a disease as well as develop custom therapies. These may include medical diets, supplementing a lack of endogenous ‘building blocks’, and ‘detoxifying’ harmful metabolic products by means of drug compounds that were originally developed to treat other diseases.
Contact: a.o. Univ. Prof. Dr. med. Saskia Wortmann, PhD
Mitochondrial energy metabolism disorders are among the relatively common rare diseases. Their clinical presentation is highly diverse and complex. Since 1988, we have been searching for the best possible therapy to treat the specific medical conditions of our patients.
Another aspect we focus on is the development of various diagnostic options. At our internationally recognised institution, we analyse more than 3000 samples from all over Europe annually.
Our researchers have already been involved in the initial description of 27 genetic defects.
Contact: Priv.-Doz. DI Dr. Hans Mayr
In our research programme for receptor biochemistry and cancer metabolism, we investigate the altered metabolism of tumours. We explore new supportive therapeutic options that target the altered tumour metabolism, such as a high-fat ketogenic diet.
We also investigate the therapeutic potential of specific neuropeptides (proteins found in nervous tissue) for the treatment of inflammatory diseases, cancer and obesity.
Contact: ao. Univ. Prof. Mag. Dr. Barbara Kofler
The ‘lyso’ consultation: Lysosomal storage diseases (metabolic disorders caused by a dysfunction of certain cell bodies) require new therapies and safe supply structures. In both areas, we closely collaborate with parents as well as patient organisations such as MPS-Austria.
We develop methods where patient perspectives and cutting-edge research results are combined into novel therapies.
Contact: Priv.-Doz. Dr. Florian Lagler
Gastroenterology, hepatology
and nutrition
Obesity often has its roots in childhood. Consequential complications start at an early age, and affected children are commonly stigmatised. Our aim is to detect and treat concomitant diseases at their earliest stage. Special emphasis is placed on the development of new treatment options.
Throughout much time, only insufficient options were available for the treatment of obesity. This might change now thanks to the advent of new drug strategies.
Contact: Univ. Prof. Dr. Daniel Weghuber
Neonatology
Every year, more than 6,000 babies in Austria are born before their due date. Extreme preterm birth may cause damage to the child’s brain, lungs, or intestines. Through our developmental care programme, we facilitate the child’s undisturbed growth outside the womb and prevent organ damage. Particular attention is given to comprehensively involving parents in their child’s development.
Contact: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Martin Wald
Breast milk contains a lot of essential nutrients that positively affect a newborn child’s development. We are looking in particular at certain breast milk components which have been largely ignored to date: extracellular vesicles (EV). These tiny particles assume a multitude of functions inside the human body, and we seek to use them in regenerative medicine to treat severe disorders related to premature birth.
Contact: Univ. Prof. Dr. Nadja Haiden & Univ. Prof. Dr. Nicole Meisner-Kober
Early Life Care Research
Our Early Life Care team investigates the biological, psychological, social, ecological and spiritual aspects of pregnancy, birth and the early years of life. In our research, we combine psychological aspects such as attachment, parent-child interaction and emotional self-regulation with medical parameters for health and disease. This shall help to optimise healthcare for families at this early stage.
Contact: Dr. rer. nat. Beate Priewasser
Pediatric surgery
The scientific understanding of organ development and congenital malformations is still limited. This is why research laboratory scientists at the young.hope Research Centre for Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine focus on 3D imaging to measure human organs during their development via micro-CT-scans. We have already successfully refuted several scientific misconceptions and contributed to a better understanding.
Contact: Dr. Marco Ginzel
Immediately after spinal cord injury, people have no sensation or voluntary control over their bladder and sphincter and therefore need to be catheterised.
As a more convenient alternative method to many weeks of catheter diversion, we examine bladder emptying through continuous drainage immediately following spinal cord injury. This is done by vesicostomy, where the surgeon creates an opening between the abdominal wall and the urinary bladder. In the long term, we want to develop new treatment approaches and therapies for early bladder function restoration.
Contact: Dr. Georgina Brandtner & Dr. Esra Keller
This part of our research is devoted to all unconscious movements in our patients’ gastrointestinal and urinary system. We examine the autonomic nervous system which controls bowel movement and look at the role certain cells play in bowel malformations and ureteral obstructions.
Contact: Univ. Prof. Dr. Roman Metzger