The Medical University of Vienna is the leading academic medical research institution in Austria. The General Hospital Vienna houses the university hospitals, including oncology, surgery, gynecology, and radiology departments. Here, more than 1000 breast cancer patients are diagnosed and treated each year.
The Medical University of Vienna (MUV) is not only the largest medical organization in Austria, it is also one of the most important top-level research institutions in Europe, and provides Europe's largest hospital, the AKH in Vienna, with all of its medical staff. During its long history and tradition, which covers 640 years, MUV has developed into a cutting-edge research institution that covers an area of 40,000 m². It employs 5,000 people, which includes 1,800 researchers, 1,600 of whom are medical doctors. Each year, 100,000 patients are treated as inpatients in 31 university clinics, 48,000 operations are conducted, and 605,000 outpatients receive initial treatment in the day-clinics.
In its structuring and alignment, MUV relies on the "triple track" strategy. Research, education,
and patient care represent the three cornerstones of the university's system. This enables medical science to respond flexibly to the continually changing demands of the state and society. In the process, maintenance of health, as well as therapy, abatement of symptoms, and prevention of diseases, stand in the foreground. Internationally competitive in medical research and in the development of innovative solutions to issues relevant to society, such as healthcare or age pyramids, the MUV continues to pursue excellence in these arenas. In addition, the disciplines of ethics, medical law, care-related research, palliative medicine, and health economics are of central importance. MUV is Austria's largest medical training center. Under the guidance of 1,000 teachers, approximately8,000 students are currently completing their studies in human medicine and dentistry. The attractive spectrum of studies, which includes doctoral and PhD programs, renders MUV one of the most important centers for postgraduate training and the promotion of young researchers in the international vocational training market. Special university training courses, such as tumor biology, care management, medical physics, and toxicology, complement the comprehensive teaching program."interdisciplinarynarity" and "Translational Research" are key phrases that are at the core of MUV's tasks. Practically all organizational units are involved in medical science and medical diagnostic-related research.
Research Cluster
» Allergy/Immunology/Infectious Disease Cluster (AIIC)
» Cancer Research/Oncology
» Medical Neuroscience Cluster (MNC)
» Cardiovascular Cluster (CVC)
» Medical Imaging Cluster (MIC)
The innovative translational research approach is an integral element of MUV's development
plan; consequently, considerable opportunities are available to its patients. Through the unique interlinking of fundamental research with clinical applications, patients benefit directly from the results of clinical studies. A further plus for patients is the implementation of the interdisciplinary approach in the core area: research. The cooperation of all the doctors concerned with treatment and a grouping together of medical skills represent a decisive factor for success, particularly in relation to the care of cancer patients. MUV works on innovative research concepts for national and international researchers with the objective of establishing an international competence center in the spirit of a "center of excellence."Beyond this, MUV also intends to become a leading healthcare player in the future. In theprocess, extraordinary support measures for highly talented researchers, as well as performance-related career models for doctors, as well as participation in international networks and extra-university cooperation ventures, will play a central role. In order to secure additional sources of funding for future research activities, MUV intends to support patenting and the commercial utilization of research results (the so-called "academic private partnership").
Significant infrastructure
The Medical University of Vienna (MUV) is one of the largest medical research institutions in Central Europe. At the Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-guided Therapy /Division of Molecular and Gender Imaging, more than 650 primary breast cancers are diagnosed annually. The Department is a member of the Cancer Care Center and conducts the work-up of more than 15,000 breast cases annually. The research team has worked together for almost eight years to develop improved methods for the detection and management of breast cancer. The research team includes experienced radiologists, medical physicists, and a clinical research coordinator. The group is internationally recognized for its work on anatomic, molecular, and functional imaging of breast cancer, for improved diagnosis and treatment.
The examinations will be conducted at the Division of Molecular and Gender Imaging and Nuclear Medicine at the Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-guided Therapy. The Division of Molecular and Gender Imaging is equipped with state-of-the art breast imaging equipment, i.e., two full-field digital mammography units with tomosynthesis capabilities, one research contrast-enhanced digital mammography unit, and several high-resolution ultrasound units. In addition, there are several low-, high-field and ultra-high field MR units (1.5, 3, and 7 Tesla) available. The Division serves as a screening, as well as an assessment center, for the national screening program and leads the multimodality early detection program for high-risk patients with hereditary breast cancer. The Division of Molecular and Gender Imaging is involved in several national and international projects (HYPMED, VIAKLIK, WWTF, FWF KLIF, OeNB Jubiäumsfondsprojekte, Fonds der Stadt Wien).
