news

Injections are considered the most important first-line treatment for acute, severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis), which can manifest, among other symptoms, as a drop in blood pressure. This recommendation is based primarily on clinical experience and observational data, as placebo-controlled studies in humans with severe anaphylaxis are not feasible.

Chronic inflammation is generally considered a risk factor for the development of cancer. In psoriasis, a chronic inflammatory skin disease, the link with cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, a common form of skin cancer, has not yet been clarified. In medical practice, it has long been observed that tumours in psoriasis often do not develop directly in inflamed areas of skin.

In a recently published review, a research team led by MedUni Vienna has highlighted a promising new approach to drug discovery. The focus is on the targeted modulation of certain intracellular signalling proteins as a strategy for controlling disease-relevant signalling pathways and reducing side effects.

Consistent and permanent abstinence from alcohol can lead to the regression of existing liver-related complications, even in cases of advanced alcohol-related cirrhosis. This is shown by an international multicentre study led by MedUni Vienna, which was recently published in the Journal of Hepatology.

More than 10,000 patients with rare diseases are treated annually at the University Departments of MedUni Vienna and University Hospital Vienna - many of them with long periods of suffering, delayed diagnoses, and limited treatment options. On Rare Disease Day on February 28, 2026, the Medical University of Vienna and University Hospital Vienna will demonstrate how the close link between clinical care, research, and interdisciplinary collaboration is continuously advancing the care of people with rare diseases.

An international research team, with significant involvement from the Medical University of Vienna, has developed a new AI-based analysis method that can accurately classify brain tumours using genetic material from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and monitor the progression of the disease. In future, the method could enable earlier diagnosis before surgery, reduce invasive procedures and improve the monitoring of treatment success.

A research team led by Helena Niziolek and Peter Wolf from the Department of Medicine III at the Medical University of Vienna has investigated whether drug-induced reduction of cortisol production can cause metabolic changes in patients with hormonally active adrenal adenoma. The results show for the first time that treatment with the cortisol synthesis inhibitor metyrapone is associated with measurable positive effects on liver and sugar metabolism.

A research team from the Medical University of Vienna and the CeMM Research Centre for Molecular Medicine has investigated how so-called AI agents could change the future of biomedical research in a recently published study. The results point to enormous potential for acceleration, but this can only be exploited if it is accompanied by reforms in the exchange and review of scientific findings, investment in shared research infrastructure and targeted support for the introduction of new tools.

As part of the WWTF-funded STREAMLINE project, the scientific team led by Judit Simon, Professor of Health Economics at MedUni Vienna, has conducted the first comprehensive analysis of the provision, utilisation and costs of mental health services in Vienna. The results reveal structural imbalances in the provision of care, regional differences in utilisation and a lack of transparency regarding the actual costs of individual services.

A research team at the Medical University of Vienna has discovered a new approach to treating a particularly frequent and difficult-to-treat form of lung cancer. The study shows that a combination of two well-studied classes of drugs - ERBB inhibitors and Aurora kinase inhibitors - is significantly more effective against KRAS-mutated lung adenocarcinomas than existing therapies.

A long-term study by the Center for Virology at the Medical University of Vienna shows a significant increase in cases of West Nile virus in Austria. In 2024, 37 confirmed cases were recorded, more than ever before since the virus was first detected in 2009. For the first time, northern Burgenland was particularly affected, with the virus spreading much more widely than in previous years.

A research team led by the Medical University of Vienna and the University of Vienna has investigated a possible link between the rising number of people with chronic inflammatory bowel disease and the increasing exposure to microand nanoplastics (MNPs). The research shows that plastic particles influence the immune cells and the intestinal microbiome and can thus increase inflammation.

A new study involving the Medical University of Vienna shows how the multi-resistant fungus Candida auris utilises carbon dioxide (CO2) to survive on the skin and become resistant to antifungal therapies. The research team identified several new targets that could be used in the future to curb the spread and infections caused by Candida auris.

In cooperation with MedUni Vienna, researchers at TU Vienna have investigated how 3D bioprinting can be used specifically to produce complex skin models as part of a recent review. The study shows that, by using suitable biomaterials and precise printing technologies, it is possible to create multi-layered skin structures into which immune cells can also be integrated - a decisive step in advancing research into chronic inflammatory skin diseases such as psoriasis.

Allergic sensitization follows distinct regional patterns, and molecular IgE profiling can reveal these profiles in detail. An international research team has now demonstrated both phenomena in a population-based study of 1,000 adults from five cities in Türkiye that represent distinct climate zones.

A research team led by Erwin F. Wagner from the Medical University of Vienna has discovered a previously unknown molecular mechanism that contributes to the development of psoriasis - and at the same time represents a potential biomarker for a new treatment concept. The study published in Cell Death & Differentiation shows that a specific fatty acid-binding protein (FABP5) drives ferroptosis, a certain form of cell death, and amplifies inflammatory processes in the skin.

An international research team led by the Medical University of Vienna has shown that continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) in women with gestational diabetes can reduce the risk of a newborn with above-average birth weight. The study, published in the leading journal The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, is the first multicenter randomized controlled trial to demonstrate the advantages of the digital method over conventional self-monitoring of blood glucose using finger pricks and opens up new perspectives for the targeted care of women with gestational diabetes.

A research team led by the Medical University of Vienna has gained new insights into how ticks influence the human immune system in order to introduce pathogens. The study shows that the saliva of Ixodes ricinus - the most common tick species in Central Europe - plays a central role in altering the immune response of skin cells, thereby facilitating the transmission of the Lyme disease pathogen Borrelia burgdorferi.

While microplastic pollution continues to advance, research into its possible effects on health remains hampered by technical hurdles: to date, there are no suitable methods for precisely identifying the particles in the body without destroying tissue.

Researchers at MedUni Vienna have tested the prognostic significance of their previously developed artificial intelligence (AI) model based on simple blood tests. The Vienna 3P/5P models, which are using just three or five routine laboratory parameters, can predict the clinical course of patients with advanced chronic liver disease - without invasive procedures or the need for special equipment.