Gerda Egger is leading the research program focusing on the development of molecular biomarkers for non-invasive diagnostics and on the establishment of preclinical test systems:

We aim to develop predictive and prognostic biomarkers for advanced stage prostate and colorectal cancer allowing for a dynamic measure of therapy response and monitoring in patients. In a first step we will define molecular targets that are suitable for molecular PET/SPECT imaging and for testing in liquid biopsies of patients. Such targets will include therapy relevant mutations, gene expression patterns and epigenetic alterations.

Thomas L. Mindt is a well-recognized expert in the development of radiotracers with focus on radiometals/peptides and leading the research program exploring Imaging Biomarkers. This includes the development, production and preclinical evaluation of radiolabelled, tumour-targeting imaging probes (radiopharmaceuticals, radiotracers).

Radiopharmaceuticals of interest are conjugates that combine a radionuclide specific for a given application with a biological vector that is specific for a recognition element overexpressed by tumour cells. Depending on the application, the nature of the radionuclide and the vector molecule, different chemical and biological techniques are required for their preparation.

For preclinical evaluation, the radiopharmaceuticals are first tested in vitro (on cells) for their tumour-targeting properties, which usually includes experiments determining cellular uptake, affinity towards a given receptor/antigen, and other parameters (e.g., metabolic and enzymatic stability, hydrophilicity on the basis of physicochemical methods and new applied models, plasma protein binding, cell internalisation.). Promising candidates are then carried forwards to in vivo investigations (in mice) for determination of their pharmacokinetic and -dynamic properties employing biodistribution experiments and/or small animal imaging by µSPECT/PET/CT.

Markus Zeitlinger is leading the research program that focuses on clincial applications. The overall aim of this research will be the translation of knowledge gained by molecular pathology and novel imaging biomarkers to patients suffering from cancer.

We will perform retrospective validation of biomarkers in liquid biopsies from different cancer entities and monitoring of disease progression. However, the core of the program will be built by prospective clinical trials employing a completely novel concept of introducing tumour material into preclinical models, and by using these models as well as molecular imaging probes in order to tailor disease monitoring and ultimately to optimize therapy for individual patients. In parallel, new imaging targets will be identified and corresponding biomarkers will be developed. This will require establishing novel radiotracers in first-in-man studies in cooperation with different clinical departments at the Medical University of Vienna to ultimately introduce the novel tools into patients.

Judit Simon is leading the program on exploring relevant broader socioeconomic research questions.

The research program focuses on methodological and applied health economics questions in the area of personalised oncology diagnosis and treatment including individual patient-level data analyses, decision analytic modelling, health technology assessment, and value of information analysis in order to support the development of cost-effective test-treatment strategies and to assess their budget impact. Relevant ethical, social and legal considerations are also researched.