MedUni Vienna: New Christian Doppler Laboratory Targets Inflammation in Peritoneal Dialysis
The opening of a new Christian Doppler Laboratory at MedUni Vienna establishes a dedicated research focus on improving peritoneal dialysis, often referred to as home dialysis. The new laboratory will investigate inflammation-related complications that frequently affect patients with chronic kidney failure and aims to create the scientific foundation for innovative therapies that improve and extend patients’ lives.
In peritoneal dialysis, the peritoneum serves as a natural filter membrane through which waste products and excess fluid are removed from the body. Although this treatment is an established therapy for chronic kidney failure, it is often associated with severe comorbidities and a significantly increased mortality risk.
Chronic inflammation plays a central role in these complications and is linked to both a higher susceptibility to infections and an elevated risk of cardiovascular disease. The newly established Christian Doppler Laboratory focuses on the disease processes collectively known as metaflammation, or metabolic inflammation. While these mechanisms have been extensively studied in conditions such as diabetes mellitus and obesity, substantial research gaps remain in the context of peritoneal dialysis.
Understanding Metaflammation
“Our aim is to unravel the mechanisms of metaflammation in order to lay the scientific foundation for new therapeutic strategies,” explains Rebecca Herzog from the Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine at MedUni Vienna, who heads the new laboratory.
The research program is scheduled to run until 2033 and is funded through a partnership between the Austrian biotechnology company Zytoprotec, which specializes in innovative dialysis solutions, and the Austrian Federal Ministry for Economy, Energy and Tourism (BMWET).
Strengthening Austria’s Innovation Ecosystem
Federal Minister Wolfgang Hattmannsdorfer highlighted the broader significance of the project for Austria’s innovation landscape:
“This research project demonstrates how modern location policy works: cutting-edge research, industrial application and tangible value creation are all interlinked. Life sciences and biotechnology are key technologies for us, which is precisely why we have firmly anchored them in our industrial strategy.
With the CD laboratory, we are not only strengthening medical care, but above all Austria’s position as a hub for innovation and industry. Research leads to products, innovation leads to jobs, and cooperation between industry and science leads to long-term competitiveness. Our goal is clear: we want value creation, expertise and new technologies to emerge and grow in Austria. This is precisely why we are making targeted investments in application-oriented basic research and strong partnerships between science and industry.”
From Research to Clinical Practice
Michaela Fritz, Vice-Rector for Research and Innovation at MedUni Vienna, emphasized the importance of the initiative for patients:
“For people with chronic kidney failure, dialysis is often the only life-saving treatment. This makes the research at our new CD Laboratory all the more important. Close collaboration with our corporate partner creates the conditions for newly gained insights to be rapidly translated into medical practice. And thanks to the support from the Ministry of Economic Affairs, a new chapter in application-oriented basic research can be opened at MedUni Vienna.”