About us - A brief description of the Medical Neuroscience Cluster

The MNC is a research cluster of the Medical University of Vienna and focusses  on translational research relating principle mechanisms to diseases of the nervous system and the psyche.

Major research efforts are devoted to neurodegenerative- and inflammatory diseases of the nervous system, pain research and psychiatric diseases. This involves basic research in brain function, injury and regeneration with the aim to gain new insights into the pathomechanisms and to identify novel targets for future therapies.

We employ two principle strategies to achieve these goals. First, we define new molecular disease mechanisms in experimental models and verify their relevance for human disease by genetic studies as well as by pathology and advanced imaging technologies. From these data we develop new diagnostic tools focusing on molecular biomarkers in body fluids as well as on imaging correlates for diagnosis and disease prognosis. Our second approach rests on state-of-the-art molecularbiology, neurophysiology and neuropharmacology technologies, defining new (patho-) mechanisms of neurotransmission and their potential role in neurological and psychiatric diseases.

We also focus on psychosocial research strategies. Our research paradigms aim at epidemiology and psychosocial factors in the etiology of psychiatric diseases, on new diagnostic strategies, and on the development and empirical evaluation of psychosocial treatments for psychiatric disorders.

A major research goal for all three approaches is to develop and test new therapeutic strategies in controlled clinical trials.