Paracelsus Medical University – Salzburg

Center for Physiology, Pathophysiology and Biophysics – Institute of Physiology and Pathophysiology Salzburg

o FMMP
o Forschungsinstitut Gastein

The Institute of Physiology and Pathophysiology represent the fields of physiology, pathophysiology, and biophysics in teaching and research at both PMU locations in Salzburg and Nuremberg.

Physiology explores and describes normal, non-pathological body functions at all levels—from the entire organism to organs, tissues, cells, subcellular structures, and molecular processes. Pathophysiology, on the other hand, investigates and explains the causes and effects of disease-inducing disturbances within these systems.

These fields form the foundation for understanding all pathological, clinical, diagnostic, and therapeutic aspects of medicine.

Salzburg campus:

• Education of medical and pharmacy students
• Research in functional and molecular membrane physiology
• Laboratory for tumor biology and experimental therapies
• Headquarters of the Gastein Research Institute

Gastein Research Institute (FOI):

The primary mission of the Gastein Research Institute (FOI) is to independently conduct and coordinate clinical and basic research studies. These studies aim to enhance understanding, ensure quality, drive further development and innovation, and promote the health offerings of Gastein, particularly in the areas of balneology, physical therapy, spa and rehabilitation research, and pain therapy research.

Integrated within the Institute of Physiology and Pathophysiology, the FOI collaborates closely with the healthcare institutions and experts of the Gastein Valley. Additionally, the research institute partners with the university clinics and institutes of Paracelsus Medical University, as well as with national and international universities and research institutions.

The Gastein Research Institute focuses on rheumatic diseases and degenerative joint disorders. Its key areas of expertise include the therapeutic use of radon in its various application forms and the study of ankylosing spondylitis (Morbus Bechterew) and degenerative osteoarthritis.

While specializing in these areas, the research institute maintains a broad research scope, allowing it to address various topics relevant to Gastein’s health institutions. Basic research explores the effects of radon treatments on cell cultures, inflammation, and cytokine profiles in arthritis and osteoarthritis models.

Clinical studies investigate the impact of Gastein’s combined hyperthermia/radon therapy on the immune system in patients with osteoarthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, rheumatoid arthritis, and other rheumatic conditions.

Alongside its own research, the FOI also supports studies from Gastein’s spa and rehabilitation facilities, as well as external institutions such as Paris-Lodron University Salzburg, the University of Erlangen, and the Helmholtz Center for Heavy Ion Research Darmstadt.

Center of Anatomy and Cell Biology 

o Research program for Musculoskeletal Imaging

At the Research program for Musculoskeletal Imaging within the Center of Anatomy and Cell Biology at Paracelsus Medical University in Salzburg, our primary research focus is on “Quantitative Imaging in Osteoarthritis”.

We are developing sophisticated segmentation and analysis tools for various articular and peri-articular tissues, with a particular emphasis on articular cartilage morphology and matrix composition. The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Deep Learning (DL) techniques enables us to transition from manual segmentation to fully automated tissue analysis. This cutting-edge approach relies heavily on the availability of comprehensive training and validation datasets, meticulously segmented by expert readers. Our goal is to develop precise quantitative imaging biomarkers that serve as reliable indicators for clinical outcomes (surrogates) in observational studies, and that show a quick response to treatment in interventional trials, assessing disease and structure modifying pharmacological agents. Additionally, we are exploring the metabolic phenotype of osteoarthritis, particularly focusing on the influence of diabetes mellitus. Our analysis encompasses parameters such as muscle strength, specific strength, patient-reported outcomes of lower limb function, physical performance, cartilage thickness loss (progression), and changes in cartilage composition (collagen orientation and hydration via MRI T2 relaxation time). The goal of these developments is their application at patients undergoing studies at different centers in the world. We have devised and tested a refined and very efficient MRI image acquisition protocol specifically tailored for clinical research in osteoarthritis. Overall, our research strives to understand the (functional) adaptation of musculoskeletal tissues to physiological and patho-physiological conditions. Further it aims to enhance patient care strategies through the scientific understanding of imaging, and to equip clinicians and researchers with effective tools for improved diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment of joint diseases, in particular osteoarthritis.