Research competencies in Salzburg

At the Salzburg location, there is comprehensive life sciences expertise through the University of Salzburg, the Paracelsus Medical University (PMU), and the Salzburg University Hospital (SALK), complemented by the Department of Health Sciences at the Salzburg University of Applied Sciences. Together, they form the central knowledge and education hub for life sciences.

One of Salzburg’s fields of excellence is cancer research and immunology, represented among others by the Cancer Cluster Salzburg (a cooperation between various research institutions). Its goal is to deliver top-level clinical cancer therapy and research at one of Austria’s two largest oncology centers, to further expand research, and to closely link teaching and training. Another area of excellence is neuroscience, where a long-established, high-level collaboration exists between the major research institutions—University of Salzburg, PMU, and SALK. Research focuses include epilepsy, chronic disorders of consciousness, depression, and anxiety. Salzburg’s research is also internationally recognized in the field of regenerative medicine, especially in cell therapy and wound healing, including the treatment of epidermolysis bullosa, the so-called “butterfly disease.”

The fields of rehabilitation, prevention, nursing, and health sciences are already well established in Salzburg and hold great potential for future development. Collaborations between various (non-)university research institutions are not only generating forward-looking projects but also creating new and innovative educational formats for nursing professions.

A cross-cutting or core competence topic is digital medicine or digital health, which is being researched at several Salzburg institutions. One example is the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Digital Health and Prevention (LBI-DHP), whose goal is to support cardiovascular patients in changing their lifestyles through digital technologies.

Supporting institutions

Clinical Research Center Salzburg (CRCS)

From connecting study personnel and experts to contract management and invoicing—both industry clients and academic researchers who wish to conduct a clinical study in Salzburg receive comprehensive, end-to-end support here. This also includes training of study personnel and workshops for clinical researchers.

GMP Laboratory (Small New World Laboratories GmbH)

Here, too, EV (extracellular vesicle) technology is used to address the current shortcomings of stem cell therapies in terms of personalization, dosage, and unexpected side effects. Small New World Laboratories produces biopharmaceuticals from human cells to improve and accelerate the body’s healing processes by suppressing inflammatory immune responses and fibrosis.

EB House Austria

This center of expertise for Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB)—also known as the “Butterfly Children” disease—and specialized clinic is a project of DEBRA Austria, located on the premises of Salzburg University Hospital. It combines an outpatient clinic with a research unit, a clinical study center, and an academy. As such, it serves as a flagship model for the professional care of patients with rare (skin) diseases.

Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Nanovesicular Precision Medicine

Founded in early 2024, this is already the second Ludwig Boltzmann Institute in Salzburg. Its focus lies on extracellular vesicles (EVs), a natural cellular transport system that delivers molecules precisely to where they are needed in the body. The institute not only studies the transport mechanisms and capabilities of EVs, but also, in collaboration with PMU, explores potential clinical applications and ways to involve patients in the research process.