FWF grants doc.funds.connect funding for joint PhD program of the University for Continuing Education Krems, the IMC University of Applied Sciences Krems and the Medical University of Vienna to research extracellular vesicles
The new PhD program “EVision: Extracellular Vesicles in Inflammation” focuses on the multiple roles of extracellular vesicles in the regulation of inflammatory processes. Five doctoral positions are being funded by the Austrian Science Fund FWF’s doc.funds.connect program. The FWF funds amount to EUR 1.1 million for the years 2024 to 2028. With this program, the Department for Biomedical Research at the University for Continuing Education Krems will deepen its research in the field of inflammation and sepsis, strengthen the promotion of young scientists and further expand the existing cooperation with the IMC University of Applied Sciences at Campus Krems and the Medical University of Vienna. The infrastructure of the Core Facility Campus Krems enables state-of-the-art research and the application of advanced research methodology.
“Extracellular vesicles play an important role in the regulation of inflammatory processes and have become a ‘hot topic’ in research in recent years due to their high diagnostic and therapeutic potential. We are therefore all the more pleased that we have succeeded in developing a structured doctoral program in this field for the first time. The funding provided by the FWF enables us to support excellent young scientists in this highly topical field,” says Prof. Viktoria Weber, Vice-Rector for Research and Sustainable Development at the University for Continuing Education Krems and Head of the Department for Biomedical Research there. Each of the five positions includes several months of international mobility for the students to leading research groups in Germany, Italy, Hungary and Canada.
Inflammation is an essential part of regeneration after infections or injuries. However, maladaptation can lead to acute overreactions or chronic inflammation, which represent an enormous challenge for the healthcare system. The molecular mechanisms that control the transition from regenerative to degenerative effects are still largely unknown. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) play a central role in communication between cells. They can modulate the functions of their target cells via their molecular cargo. The aim of the doctoral program EVision is to investigate the role of EVs in the regulation of inflammation in order to gain a better understanding from a systemic perspective and to arrive at new approaches for diagnostics and therapy. Students will be able to make use of the Core Facility’s equipment for research projects as part of their dissertations.
Cooperation between universities and universities of applied sciences
The doctoral program “EVision: Extracellular Vesicles in Inflammation” comprises five doctoral positions – however, it is the declared aim to establish further positions in this field together with the partners and to create a long-term perspective.
The partners involved are the University for Continuing Education Krems, IMC Krems and the Medical University of Vienna. The program is coordinated by the University for Continuing Education Krems and Prof. Viktoria Weber.
Contact: Univ.-Prof. Dr. Viktoria Weber, University for Continuing Education Krems
