Research

Hauptarbeitsgebiete:

Grundlegende Arbeiten zum Verständnis der immunologischen Funktionen des Hautorgans, Entdeckung der immunologischen Funktion epidermaler Langerhanszellen und deren Beeinflussung durch Umweltnoxen (UV), Medikamente (Kortikosteroide) und Mikroorganismen (HIV) Entdeckung der autochthonen Lymphozytenpopulation der Epidermis

Aufklärung der Pathogenese atopischer Erkrankungen und Erarbeitung von Therapiekonzepten
Entwicklung von Tumor-Vakzinen

In-vitro-Generation von Langerhanszellen aus Stammzellen des peripheren Blutes

Einsatz dieser Zellen für Vakzinierungszwecke sowie für Studien des Sekretionsmusters und des zellulären Tropismus von HIV

Career

• 1998 Specialist (Facharzt) in Immunology
• 1992 Chairman and Professor, Division of Immunology, Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Department of Dermatology, University of Vienna Medical School, Austria
• 1991 Professor of Dermatology, specialization of Immundermatology and Infectious Dermatosis, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
• since 1986 Head of the Department of AIDS-infected person, at the I. University Dermatological Clinic Vienna, Austria
• 1985-1986 Guest Researcher, Laboratory of Immunology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, USA
• 1985 Professor of Dermatology, Chief, Div. of Cutaneous Immunobiology, Department of Dermatology I., University of Vienna Medical School, Vienna, Austria
• 1981-1992 Staff member at the Department of Dermatology I., University of Vienna Medical School, Austria, Director of the Immunology program at this department
• 1981-1985 Head of department of the I. University Dermatological Clinic, Vienna, Austria
• 1980 Specialist (Facharzt) in Dermatology and Venerology
• 1980 Associate Professorship venia legendi for Dermatology and Venerology
• 1978-1981 Staff member at the Department of Dermatology, University of Innsbruck Medical School, Austria, Establishment of an immunological laboratory
• 1977-1978 Visiting fellowship at the Dermatology Branch, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, USA,
• 1974-1976 Immuno(dermato)logical research at the Immunology Institute, University of Vienna, Austria
• 1973-1976 Internship and Residency at the Department of Dermatology I., University of Vienna Medical School, Austria
• 1973 M.D.: Promotio sub auspiciis praesidentis rei publicae
• 1966-1973 University of Vienna Medical School, Vienna, Austria

Functions

• since 2011 President of the Mathematics & Natural Sciences Class of the Austrian Academy of Science
• since 2006 Member of the Presidium of the German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina, which was appointed the National Academy of Sciences, in 2008, Halle (Saale)
• 2003-2013 Member of the Presidium, Austrian Academy of Sciences
• 2003-2011 Secretary of the Mathematics & Natural Sciences Class of the Austrian Academy of Science
• 2002-2007 Secretary General, International League of Dermatological Societies (ILDS)
• 2001-2003 President of the European Dermatology Forum
• 1998-2000 President of the Austrian Society of Allergology and Immunology
• since 1997 Board Member of the European Dermatology Forum
• 1997-2011 Board Member of the International Committee of Dermatology
• since 1996 Vice President of the Austrian Society of Allergology and Immunology
• 1995-1996 President of the Austrian Society of Dermatology and Venerology
• 1992-1993 President of the European Society for Dermatological Research
• 1990-1998 Vice President of the Austrian AIDS Society
• 1990-1994 Advisory Board Member of the Austrian Society of Allergology and Immunology
• since 1988 Board Member of the Austrian Society of Dermatology and Venerology
• 1988-1994 Board Member of the European Society for Dermatological Research
• 1984-1988 Vice President and Advisory Board Member of the Austrian Society of Allergology and Immunology
• 1982-1983 President of the German Society for Investigative Dermatology
• 1982 Diplomate of the American Board of Dermatology
• 1981-1984 Board Member of the German Society for Investigative Dermatology

Honours and Memberships

• 2012 Honorary Membership of the Society for Investigative Dermatology
• 2010 Nekam Medal of the Hungarian Dermatological Society
• 2009 EADV Scientific Achievement Award, Berlin
• 2009 Lifetime Achievement Award of the American Skin Association (ASA)
• 2009 Karl Landsteiner-Medal of the Austrian Society of Allergology and Immunology
• 2008 Pro Meritis Award of the European Dermatology Forum
• 2007 Kardinal Innitzer Award
• 2007 UNNA Medal of the German Dermatologic Society
• 2006 Prize of the City of Vienna for the Medical Science
• 2003 Stephen Rothman Award of the Society for Investigative Dermatology
• 2003 Honorary Member of the European Society for Dermatological Research (ESDR)
• 1999 Honorary Doctor of the Semmelweis Medical University of Budapest
• 1996 Dermatitis Research Award of the American Skin Association (ASA)
• 1992 Clemens von Pirquet Award of the Austrian Society for Allergology and Immunology
• 1988 Karl Landsteiner Award for  basic immunological research of the Austrian Society for Allergology and Immunology
• 1987 AIDS Award of the Austrian Society of Allergology and Immunology
• 1986 Montagna Award of the Society for Investigative Dermatology
• 1984 Award of the Hoechst Foundation
• 1983 Sandoz Award for Medicine
• 1981 Unilever Award of the Austrian Dermatological Society
• 1981 Alexandre Besredka Award of the Foundation “Immunologische Tage Münster-Lyon”
• 1980 Ferdinand von Hebra Award of the Austrian Dermatological Society
• 1976 Max Ritter Award of the European Society for Dermatological Research