Our Research
The Center for Cancer Research at the Medical University of Vienna investigates the causes and mechanisms of cancer and develops methods for prevention, diagnosis and therapy.
In order to be able to treat cancer successfully, all influencing factors and aspects of the disease must be understood:
- What role do environmental influences play in the development of cancer, such as air pollution, nutrition and many more?
- Why does a cell "degenerate" and grow uncontrollably?
- How do metastases arise?
- Which therapy works particularly well for which patients and which diseases? How can we arrive at tailor-made therapies?
Only when these and many other questions have been answered, a successful therapy can be developed and the mortality rate reduced after a cancer diagnosis.
What makes the center unique?
The Center for Cancer Research covers oncological research more comprehensively than any other institution in Austria. It enjoys an international and national reputation as an outstanding competence center for experimental cancer research.
An important part of our research is close collaboration with professional groups dedicated to cancer research and cancer treatment. Only in this way is it possible for us, beyond the limits of the laboratory, to bring our results directly into clinical practice and therapy. Conversely, new successes in treatment can immediately flow into our research and be further refined. As the only university cancer research facility in Austria, the center also offers a wide range of opportunities for training and further education through courses, university courses and doctoral programs.
A look into history
1904
Foundation of the Cancer Committee within the Society of Physicians on December 2, 1904
1910
Foundation of the Austrian Cancer Society on December 17, 1910 as a forerunner organization of the Austrian Cancer Aid under the patronage of Emperor Franz Joseph
1945
Wolfgang Denk becomes President of the Austrian Cancer Society
1946
Reconstitution of the Austrian Society for Research and Control of Cancer under the direction of Wolfgang Denk and patronage of Cardinal Franz König
1951
Groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the institute on the site of the university clinics on November 12, 1951 with subsidies from the Federal Ministry for Social Affairs, the Association of Austrian Industrialists, the Austrian Association of Companies, the Chamber of Labor and the Main Association of Social Insurance Institutions
1952
Securing the legal basis through the establishment of a board of trustees on May 29, 1952
1953
Opening of the "Austrian Cancer Research Institute" on May 18, 1953 under the direction of Wolfgang Denk
1965
On the occasion of the 600th anniversary of the University of Vienna, the institute is handed over to the federal administration and incorporated into the medical faculty
1966
Heinrich Wrba becomes head of the Austrian Cancer Research Institute
1983
Restructuring of the institute and division into four independent research units
1985
Rolf Schulte-Hermann becomes head of the Institute for Tumor Biology and Cancer Research
2000
Renaming to "Institute of Cancer Research"
2004
Implementation of the Universities Act 2002; establishment of the Medical University of Vienna as an independent scientific institution with university autonomy and self-administration. Incorporation of the Institute of Cancer Research into the Department of Medicine I (Head: Christoph Zielinski).
Michael Micksche becomes head of the Institute of Cancer Research at the Medical University of Vienna
2010
Maria Sibilia becomes head of the Institute of Cancer Research at the Medical University of Vienna
2016
Anniversary: 50 years of the Institute of Cancer Research
2022
The Institute of Cancer Research becomes the organizational unit "Centre for Cancer Research" of the Medical University of Vienna (Head: Maria Sibilia)