CD Lab for Allergy Diagnosis and Therapy in Salzburg (March 2006)

At the University of Salzburg, the Christian Doppler Laboratory of Allergy Diagnosis and Therapy was opened by Governor Gabriele Burgstaller. Fatima Ferreira, Professor at the University of Salzburg, will manage the new center. She is a renowned scientist in allergy research, and was the first one to prepare an artificial allergene. For years, she has been collaborating with Biomay which is the commercial partner of the CD laboratory.

Max Bayerl, CEO of Biomay, pointed out: “Biomay is happy to act as industrial partner of the laboratory. Biomay is sitting at the center of what is becoming an Austrian “allergy cluster”, its major role being the further development and commercialisation of the research results.  The main driver for Biomay is the fact that despite of some 25 % of the population  being affected by allergic diseases already,  available therapies are very old and not very effective.  Austria has a leading position in this field in Europe, which in turn is significantly ahead of the USA.”

The focus of research  of Fatima Ferreira and her team lies in the design and engineering of hypoallergens for specific immunotherapy (SIT) and in the diagnosis of allergic diseases. Important targets will be the allergies caused by Cupressaceae like e.g. Japanese Cedar and by weeds like Mugwort and Common Ragweed, all of which are important allergen sources worldwide.

In a parallel approach, Prof. Josef Thalhamer will develop genetic immunization methods and DNA- or RNA- based vaccines. These novel nucleic acid vaccines against whole groups of allergens will be optimized with respect to immunogenicity, anti-allergic activity and improved safety.

The opening of the second Christian Doppler Laboratory in Salzburg within only two years is an important signal for the willingness of science and economy to cooperate, states Heinrich Schmidinger, Rector at the University of Salzburg. According to Schmidinger, allergy research will be intensively promoted within a life sciences focus at the University Salzburg.

www.uni-salzburg.at

www.cdg.ac.at

(Salzburg, July 31, 2006)