Molecular, cellular and clinical allergology, MCCA

More than 25% of the population suffers from IgE-associated allergies. The manifestations of allergy include besides allergic rhinitis, conjunctivitis and dermatitis also severe organ-specific forms such as asthma, food allergy and life-threatening anaphylaxis. In fact, allergy research has always been tightly connected with Vienna, since Clemens von Pirquet coined the term `allergy` in 1906. During the last twenty years, researchers from the Medical University of Vienna have made a major contribution regarding the elicitation of the molecular structures of the disease-causing allergens and the functional characterization of their targets within the immune system of the affected individual. Based on the availability of disease-relevant allergens research groups from the Medical University of Vienna have established molecular, cellular and clinical approaches for the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of IgE-associated allergies. The basic research activities at the Medical University of Vienna are currently coordinated within a research network involving 13 research groups (Special Research Program, SFB- F46), which has been recently funded by the Austrian Science Fund (start 2012). SFB-F46 is the successor of a previous SFB (SFB-F18), which since its beginning in 2002 has successfully passed two international evaluations. Originating from this research nucleus three Christian Doppler Laboratories (Allergy Research, Immunomodulation, Allergen-Chips), which are dedicated to translational research in close collaboration with industrial partners have been established since 2006 . The research activities in the field of allergology at the Medical University of Vienna are closely connected in approaches, which complement each other with research centers at other Austrian Universities. Due to the successful research activities the Medical University of Vienna has identified the field of allergology as one of it`s prime research areas , which should serve as an excellent platform for the education of students in the field of allergology. It is now proposed to establish a doctoral program (DK) `Molecular, cellular and clinical allergology, MCCA`, to select, educate and promote the best possible PhD students in this field of research to strengthen at a long-term perspective allergy research in Austria and to develop innovative strategies for diagnosis, therapy and prevention of allergic diseases. The faculty members have been selected to cover the field of allergology from the disease-causing allergen molecules, the allergen-specific immune responses in vitro and in vivo as well as the clinical application and should thus guarantee an educational program spanning the complete field of allergology. The activities within the proposed DK shall foster the sustained development of allergy research at the Medical University of Vienna.