{"count":2068,"next":"https://api-test.medunigraz.at/v1/typo3/news/?format=json&limit=20&offset=280","previous":"https://api-test.medunigraz.at/v1/typo3/news/?format=json&limit=20&offset=240","results":[{"id":15507,"url":"https://www.medunigraz.at/news/detail/spendenaktion-ein-ostergeschenk-das-von-herzen-kommt#sl-content","media":[],"gallery":[{"id":83337,"media":{"url":"https://api-test.medunigraz.at/typo3/media/71257/","original":"https://www.medunigraz.at/frontend/user_upload/images/header-news/header-news-speziell/2026/03-2026/Spende_Ostern-MedUniGraz.jpg","mimetype":"image/jpeg","filename":"Spende_Ostern-MedUniGraz.jpg","size":1208185},"title":"Donation handover, Easter 2026","description":null,"alternative":"Donation handover, Easter 2026"}],"contact_box":[],"breadcrumb":[{"uid":61,"pid":8139,"title":"News-Storage","is_siteroot":false,"domains":[],"uri":null},{"uid":8139,"pid":0,"title":"Med Uni Graz","is_siteroot":true,"domains":["www.medunigraz.at"],"uri":"https://www.medunigraz.at/"}],"categories":[9,315],"groups":[],"related_links":[{"id":3615,"datetime":"2026-04-03T12:53:06+02:00","title":"University Library","description":null,"url":"https://bibliothek.medunigraz.at/en/"}],"related_media":[],"header_image":{"url":"https://api-test.medunigraz.at/typo3/media/70818/","original":"https://www.medunigraz.at/frontend/user_upload/events_news/_sujets/themen/blumen/blumen_AdobeStock_612861204.jpeg","mimetype":"image/jpeg","filename":"blumen_AdobeStock_612861204.jpeg","size":1189374},"datetime":"2026-04-02T12:51:10+02:00","title":"Fundraising campaign: An Easter gift from the heart","teaser":"Spreading joy at Easter: collected bottles were turned into new toys for children in the hospital","body":"

Since October 2025, the evening team at the Graz University Medical Library has been collecting returnable bottles to help the environment and bring joy to children.

Thanks to donations, which mainly come from students in the form of returnable bottles, a substantial sum has once again been raised since the start of the year. This was donated at Easter to the Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine at the LKH-Univ. Klinikum Graz. This has made it possible to equip the playroom with new games that the children will enjoy for a long time to come. The idea came from two female students who are running the campaign with the support of the management of the University Medical Library. 

We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to all the donors and the student staff who have made this wonderful initiative possible!

","start":null,"end":null,"author":"Victoria Zotter","email":null,"keywords":null,"description":null,"topnews":false,"last_modified":"2026-04-07T10:52:16+02:00","language":6},{"id":15501,"url":"https://www.medunigraz.at/news/detail/spendenaktion-ein-ostergeschenk-das-von-herzen-kommt#sl-content","media":[],"gallery":[{"id":83328,"media":{"url":"https://api-test.medunigraz.at/typo3/media/71257/","original":"https://www.medunigraz.at/frontend/user_upload/images/header-news/header-news-speziell/2026/03-2026/Spende_Ostern-MedUniGraz.jpg","mimetype":"image/jpeg","filename":"Spende_Ostern-MedUniGraz.jpg","size":1208185},"title":"Spendenübergabe Ostern 2026","description":null,"alternative":"Spendenübergabe Ostern 2026"}],"contact_box":[],"breadcrumb":[{"uid":61,"pid":8139,"title":"News-Storage","is_siteroot":false,"domains":[],"uri":null},{"uid":8139,"pid":0,"title":"Med Uni Graz","is_siteroot":true,"domains":["www.medunigraz.at"],"uri":"https://www.medunigraz.at/"}],"categories":[9,14,314,315],"groups":[],"related_links":[{"id":3616,"datetime":"2026-04-07T10:52:16+02:00","title":"Universitätsbibliothek","description":null,"url":"https://bibliothek.medunigraz.at/oes"}],"related_media":[],"header_image":{"url":"https://api-test.medunigraz.at/typo3/media/70818/","original":"https://www.medunigraz.at/frontend/user_upload/events_news/_sujets/themen/blumen/blumen_AdobeStock_612861204.jpeg","mimetype":"image/jpeg","filename":"blumen_AdobeStock_612861204.jpeg","size":1189374},"datetime":"2026-04-02T12:51:10+02:00","title":"Spendenaktion: Ein Ostergeschenk, das von Herzen kommt","teaser":"Zu Ostern Freude schenken: Gemeinsam gesammelte Pfandflaschen wurden zu neuen Spielen für Kinder","body":"

Seit Oktober 2025 sammelt das Abendteam der Universitätsbibliothek der Med Uni Graz Pfandflaschen, um der Umwelt etwas Gutes zu tun und Kindern eine Freude zu bereiten.

Durch die Spenden, die hauptsächlich von Studierenden in Form von Pfandflaschen stammen, konnte seit Anfang des Jahres erneut ein hoher Betrag gesammelt werden. Dieser wurde nun zu Ostern an die Universitätsklinik für Kinder- und Jugendheilkunde am LKH-Univ. Klinikum Graz gespendet. So war es möglich, den Spieletreff mit neuen Spielen auszustatten, an denen die Kinder lange Freude haben werden. Die Idee stammt von zwei Studentinnen, die die Aktion mit Unterstützung der Leitung der Medizinischen Universitätsbibliothek durchführen. 

Wir möchten uns herzlich bei allen Spender*innen und den studentischen Mitarbeiter*innen bedanken, die diese großartige Aktion ermöglichen!

","start":null,"end":null,"author":"Victoria Zotter","email":null,"keywords":null,"description":null,"topnews":false,"last_modified":"2026-04-07T10:52:16+02:00","language":null},{"id":15488,"url":"https://www.medunigraz.at/news/detail/gesund-altern-ist-kein-zufall-lebensstil-als-schluessel-zum-healthy-aging#sl-content","media":[],"gallery":[],"contact_box":[{"id":111076,"media":{"url":"https://api-test.medunigraz.at/typo3/media/54264/","original":"https://www.medunigraz.at/frontend/user_upload/images/contact/L-N/madreiter-sokolowski-corina.png","mimetype":"image/png","filename":"madreiter-sokolowski-corina.png","size":970198},"title":"Assoz.-Prof.in PDin Mag.a pharm.","name":"Corina Madreiter-Sokolowski","phone":"+4331638571948","url":"https://ris.medunigraz.at/de/persons/f1ec4169-1fc0-4507-8a42-369bb548e7b3 - - \"Research profile\"","link_label":"Research profile","email":"corina.madreiter@medunigraz.at","headline":"Weitere Informationen und Kontakt","address":["Division of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry ","Medical University of Graz "]}],"breadcrumb":[{"uid":61,"pid":8139,"title":"News-Storage","is_siteroot":false,"domains":[],"uri":null},{"uid":8139,"pid":0,"title":"Med Uni Graz","is_siteroot":true,"domains":["www.medunigraz.at"],"uri":"https://www.medunigraz.at/"}],"categories":[9,268,270,271,275],"groups":[],"related_links":[{"id":3590,"datetime":"2026-04-08T11:31:31+02:00","title":"Press release","description":null,"url":"https://www.medunigraz.at/frontend/user_upload/themen-pr/presseinformationen/2026/pressrelease-lifestyle-aging.pdf"},{"id":3589,"datetime":"2026-04-08T11:31:31+02:00","title":"Corina Madreiter Sokolowski","description":null,"url":"https://ris.medunigraz.at/en/persons/f1ec4169-1fc0-4507-8a42-369bb548e7b3"}],"related_media":[],"header_image":{"url":"https://api-test.medunigraz.at/typo3/media/71081/","original":"https://www.medunigraz.at/frontend/user_upload/events_news/_sujets/forschung/bakterien-viren-zellen/mitochondrien_AdobeStock_1638524448.jpeg","mimetype":"image/jpeg","filename":"mitochondrien_AdobeStock_1638524448.jpeg","size":5186012},"datetime":"2026-03-31T08:34:04+02:00","title":"Healthy aging is no accident: Lifestyle as the key","teaser":"Corina Madreiter-Sokolowski researches and explains, what we can do today for a healthy future","body":"

There are many anti-aging promises, from natural miracle cures to high-tech treatments. Yet the most effective strategies for healthy aging are often surprisingly easy. What we eat on a daily basis, how much we exercise or how well we sleep—a lot of small decisions influence how healthily we age. This is the starting point of the new book by cell biologist Corina Madreiter-Sokolowski of the Medical University of Graz and general practitioner Kristina Hütter-Klepp: They show how our lifestyle has an influence on the aging process. The sooner you start to adopt a healthier lifestyle, the better, because critical trajectories are set at a young age.

In various research projects funded by the Austrian Science Fund (FWF), Madreiter-Sokolowski is also exploring the cellular mechanisms of aging and attempting to identify new targets for healthy aging strategies.

Lifestyle influences how we age

How can we live healthily as long as possible and age healthily? At Med Uni Graz, scientists involved in interdisciplinary exchange have devoted themselves to this question and shown that our lifestyle plays a deciding role. \"We are working intensively on new approaches that keep cells healthy for longer. Only on the basis of a healthy lifestyle can they reach their greatest potential,\" emphasizes cell biologist Madreiter-Sokolowski. To a large extent, it is possible to influence whether and how we age. \"Studies show that factors such as exercise, diet, sleep or social integration can significantly extend a healthy lifespan, with certain ones adding even more than a decade,\" explains the researcher. 

Some of the most important factors are regular exercise, a plant-based diet, sufficient sleep, stress reduction and not smoking. Social contact also plays a key role: Social isolation can have impacts on health almost as negative as those of known risk factors. 

Exercise, diet and sleep as the basis

Even simple measures have measurable effects: \"Even a brisk daily walk can clearly lower the risk of cardiovascular disease,\" says Madreiter-Sokolowski. What is crucial is the combination of endurance and strength training to strengthen the muscles, metabolism and cardiovascular system in the long term.

Diet also has a great influence on the aging process. A varied, fiber-rich and mostly plant-based diet has an anti-inflammatory effect and supports central metabolic processes. Chronic, low-level inflammation, or \"inflammaging,\" is considered to be partly responsible for many age-related diseases.

Sufficient sleep is equally important. During the night, cellular repair mechanisms are activated and harmful metabolic products are broken down.

Small decisions with a large impact

Along with exercise and diet, daily habits have a significant influence on health in old age. Smoking shortens life expectancy by around ten years on average and is associated with numerous diseases. Alcohol should also be regarded critically: From a scientific perspective, there is no safe amount that can be consumed.

\"Healthy aging does not mean to prolong life as long as possible, but to extend the healthy years,\" explains Madreiter-Sokolowski. What is critical is an evidence-based approach: Measures should be supported by science and tailored to the individual.

Aging begins in the cells and daily life

The research at Med Uni Graz shows that aging does not progress linearly. Instead, it is characterized by dynamic changes. Thus early prevention can be especially effective. Along with new scientific approaches, one key finding remains: Many of the most effective measures for healthy aging are already known and can be implemented in daily life. Or as the expert summarizes it: “Healthy aging begins not in old age but with the decisions we make every day.”

Profile: Corina Madreiter-Sokolowski

Corina Madreiter-Sokolowski is an associate professor of molecular aging at the Medical University of Graz and deputy head of the Division of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry. Her work focuses on the mitochondria, the \"powerhouses\" of the cell, whose function and age-related changes she investigates with her team. Using state-of-the-art fluorescence microscopy and innovative biosensors, she and her team analyze processes in living cells, including metabolic activity, ion currents and structural changes. Her research includes cellular aging models, cancer cells, patient samples and model organisms such as the threadworm Caenorhabditis elegans. The goal is to identify new targets for anti-aging therapies and to develop strategies for keeping cells healthy for longer and better treating age-related diseases.

#Healthy Aging
Healthy Aging at Med Uni Graz—Research, Education and Practice in Dialog.

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Ein Nachwuchswissenschafter der Klinischen Abteilung für Plastische, Ästhetische und Rekonstruktive Chirurgie der Med Uni Graz wurde mit dem renommierten LEO AWARD der Österreichischen Gesellschaft für Handchirurgie ausgezeichnet.

Im Rahmen der Jahrestagung 2026 der Österreichischen Gesellschaft für Handchirurgie, die von 13. bis 14. März 2026 in Linz stattfand, erhielt Michael Kohlhauser den mit 5.000 Euro dotierten Preis für seine wissenschaftliche Arbeit mit dem Titel: “An analysis of the medial femoral condyle flap anatomy and the involvement of different tissue components for the reconstruction of complex defects.”

Der LEO AWARD dient der Förderung des wissenschaftlichen Nachwuchses im Bereich der Handchirurgie und zählt zu den bedeutendsten Auszeichnungen auf diesem Gebiet in Österreich.

Bereits im Jahr 2023 ging die Auszeichnung an dieselbe Klinische Abteilung: Damals wurde Raimund Winter für seine Publikation “Minimal invasive treatment of trapeziometacarpal osteoarthritis: Results of a blinded, randomized controlled trial” geehrt.

Die wiederholte Verleihung des LEO AWARD unterstreicht die hohe wissenschaftliche Qualität und Innovationskraft der Plastischen Chirurgie der Med Uni Graz. Die Klinische Abteilung zeigt sich über die erneute Auszeichnung äußerst erfreut und sieht darin eine Bestätigung ihrer konsequenten Forschungsarbeit im Bereich der Handchirurgie.

Die Med Uni Graz gratuliert herzlich zu diesem Erfolg!

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A junior researcher from the Division of Plastic, Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgery at the Medical University of Graz has been awarded the prestigious LEO AWARD by the Austrian Society for Hand Surgery.

At the 2026 Annual Conference of the Austrian Society for Hand Surgery, which took place in Linz from 13 to 14 March 2026, Michael Kohlhauser received the prize, worth 5,000 euros, for his scientific paper entitled: “An analysis of the medial femoral condyle flap anatomy and the involvement of different tissue components for the reconstruction of complex defects.”

The LEO AWARD serves to promote young scientists in the field of hand surgery and is one of the most prestigious awards in this field in Austria.

The award had already gone to the same clinical department in 2023: at that time, Raimund Winter was honoured for his publication “Minimal invasive treatment of trapeziometacarpal osteoarthritis: Results of a blinded, randomised controlled trial”.

The repeated awarding of the LEO AWARD underscores the high scientific quality and innovative strength of the Division of Plastic, Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgery at the Medical University of Graz. The division is delighted to have received this award once again and sees it as confirmation of its consistent research work in the field of hand surgery.

The Medical University of Graz extends its warmest congratulations on this success!

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On 17 March 2026, the Graz Chamber Music Hall provided the setting for the ceremonial presentation of the Congress Award. With this prize, the City of Graz honours those individuals who position the city as an international beacon for science and conferences. Due to the excellent quality of the entries, two additional special recognition awards for outstanding innovation were presented this year, alongside the main prize of €10,000 and a sustainability prize of €5,000.

One such prize went to the International Student Congress (ISC) at the Medical University of Graz, which impressed the jury with its autonomous organisation by medical students and its global appeal. The initiative connects young talents in the health sciences with experienced experts at an early stage and brings around 170 international guests to Graz each year. This scientific exchange on an equal footing serves as an important career springboard into the global research world and underlines our university’s role within a forward-looking research hub.

The International Student Congress will also take place in 2026. From 3 to 6 June, those interested can take part in a varied programme of workshops, courses and keynote speeches – and, of course, there will be plenty of entertainment and networking opportunities too.

Med Uni Graz extends its warmest congratulations on this success!

Photo Credit: International Student Congress

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Der Grazer Kammermusiksaal bildete am 17. März 2026 die Kulisse für die feierliche Verleihung des Congress Awards. Mit diesem Preis würdigt die Stadt Graz jene Köpfe, die den Standort als internationalen Leuchtturm für Wissenschaft und Tagungen positionieren. Aufgrund der exzellenten Qualität der Einreichungen wurden in diesem Jahr neben dem mit 10.000 Euro dotierten Hauptpreis und einem Nachhaltigkeitspreis über 5.000 Euro zwei zusätzliche Würdigungspreise für besondere Innovationskraft vergeben.

Ein solcher Preis ging an den International Student Congress (ISC) der Medizinischen Universität Graz, der durch seine autonome Organisation durch Medizinstudierende sowie seine globale Strahlkraft überzeugte. Die Initiative vernetzt junge Talente der Gesundheitswissenschaften bereits frühzeitig mit erfahrenen Expert*innen und bringt jährlich rund 170 internationale Gäste nach Graz. Dieser wissenschaftliche Austausch auf Augenhöhe fungiert als wichtiges Karrieresprungbrett in die globale Forschungswelt und unterstreicht die Rolle unserer Universität innerhalb eines zukunftsorientierten Forschungsstandorts.

Der International Student Congress findet auch 2026 statt. Interessierte können vom 3. bis 6. Juni an einem vielfältigen Programm mit Workshops, Kursen und Keynotes teilnehmen - und natürlich kommen auch Unterhaltung und Möglichkeiten zum Netzwerken nicht zu kurz.

Die Med Uni Graz gratuliert herzlich zu diesem Erfolg!

Fotonachweis: International Student Congress

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Wo habe ich den Schlüssel hingelegt? Wie hieß noch gleich diese Schauspielerin? Solche Momente gehören für viele Menschen zum Älterwerden. Sie verunsichern, weil Veränderungen im Gehirn nicht nur einzelne Funktionen betreffen, sondern auch unser Selbstverständnis. Der Fachbereich Neuropsychologie & Neuroscience an der Medizinischen Universität Graz beschäftigt sich mit den kognitiven Veränderungen im Laufe des Alterns sowie bei neurologischen Erkrankungen wie der Alzheimer-Krankheit. Ziel der Forschung ist es, Veränderungen der kognitiven Leistungsfähigkeit frühzeitig zu erkennen, besser zu verstehen und langfristig zu prognostizieren.

„Digitaler Zwilling“ des Gehirns als Forschungsvision

Altern bedeutet nicht zwangsläufig Abbau: „Das alternde Gehirn zu verstehen, heißt, es ganzheitlich zu betrachten: Was ist altersnormal und was bereits auffällig?“, erklärt Neuropsychologin Marisa Koini von der Univ.-Klinik für Neurologie der Med Uni Graz. Die Forscherin beschäftigt sich mit strukturellen und funktionellen Veränderungen des Gehirns im Alter sowie mit Biomarkern und deren Einfluss auf kognitive Fähigkeiten wie Gedächtnis, Aufmerksamkeit oder Sprache. Ein besonderer Fokus liegt dabei auch auf digitalen Technologien, die künftig helfen könnten, kognitive Veränderungen früher zu erkennen. Langfristiges Ziel ihrer Forschung ist die Entwicklung eines „digitalen Zwillings“ des Gehirns, der biologische Faktoren – etwa Veränderungen im Hippocampus – ebenso berücksichtigt wie Lebensstil und Umweltbedingungen wie körperliche Aktivität, Schlaf oder Luftverschmutzung.

Altern ist individuell und das Gehirn bleibt anpassungsfähig

Mit zunehmendem Alter verlangsamen sich einige Prozesse im Gehirn. Informationen werden etwas langsamer verarbeitet, Namen oder Begriffe fallen nicht immer sofort ein. Gleichzeitig bleiben viele Fähigkeiten stabil oder entwickeln sich sogar weiter – etwa Erfahrungswissen, emotionale Stabilität oder die Fähigkeit, komplexe Situationen einzuordnen. „Unser Gehirn bleibt bis ins hohe Alter formbar und anpassungsfähig“, betont Marisa Koini. Diese Fähigkeit wird als neuronale Plastizität bezeichnet. Sie ermöglicht es dem Gehirn, sich an neue Anforderungen anzupassen und teilweise auch Defizite zu kompensieren.

Altersnormal oder krankhaft?

Eine der häufigsten Fragen lautet: Handelt es sich um normales Vergessen oder um erste Anzeichen einer Erkrankung wie Demenz? Gelegentliche Gedächtnislücken sind Teil des gesunden Alterns. Kritisch wird es, wenn Gedächtnisprobleme den Alltag deutlich beeinträchtigen, etwa wenn vertraute Wege nicht mehr gefunden werden oder alltägliche Aufgaben zunehmend schwerfallen. In solchen Fällen erfolgt an der Univ.-Klinik für Neurologie der Med Uni Graz eine umfassende neurologische und neuropsychologische Abklärung. Dabei werden unter anderem Gedächtnis, Aufmerksamkeit, Sprache und exekutive Funktionen mithilfe standardisierter Tests untersucht.

Lebensstil beeinflusst das Demenzrisiko

Studien zeigen, dass zahlreiche Risikofaktoren für kognitiven Abbau beeinflussbar sind. Dazu zählen unter anderem Bewegungsmangel, Rauchen, Bluthochdruck, Diabetes, Depressionen, soziale Isolation oder Luftverschmutzung. Diese Faktoren wirken sich auf die sogenannte kognitive Reserve aus, also die Widerstandsfähigkeit des Gehirns gegenüber altersbedingten Veränderungen. „Es gibt kein ‚zu spät‘, um das Gehirn zu unterstützen“, sagt Marisa Koini. Entscheidend sei eine Kombination aus geistiger Aktivität, Bewegung, sozialen Kontakten, ausreichendem Schlaf und ausgewogener Ernährung. Besonders wirksam sind Aktivitäten, die mehrere Fähigkeiten gleichzeitig fordern, wie beispielsweise Lernen, Planung und soziale Interaktion.

Digitale Technologien für die Früherkennung

Neue Technologien eröffnen zusätzliche Möglichkeiten, kognitive Veränderungen frühzeitig zu erkennen. Adaptive Tests mit KI-Auswertung, Eyetracking, Wearables oder Virtual-Reality-Anwendungen könnten künftig wichtige Hinweise auf beginnende Veränderungen liefern.

Im Forschungsprojekt LETHE-AT, an dem die Med Uni Graz als Projektpartnerin beteiligt ist, untersucht ein interdisziplinäres Team, ob Veränderungen des Lebensstils das individuelle Demenzrisiko senken können. In der 18-monatigen Interventionsstudie werden am Standort Graz insgesamt 100 Teilnehmer*innen begleitet. Ziel ist die Entwicklung eines IT-gestützten Präventionsprogramms und neuer Konzepte für sogenannte Brain Health Services – Gedächtnisambulanzen der nächsten Generation.

Weitere Informationen und Teilnahme unter: https://www.lethe.at/

Tipps für ein gesundes Gehirn

Auch wenn sich Alterungsprozesse im Gehirn nicht vollständig verhindern lassen, kann jede*r selbst aktiv zur sogenannten Brain Health beitragen. Schon kleine Veränderungen im Alltag können dabei helfen, die kognitive Reserve zu stärken und die Leistungsfähigkeit des Gehirns möglichst lange zu erhalten. Marisa Koini fasst die wichtigsten Aspekte zusammen:

Steckbrief: Marisa Koini

Marisa Koini ist klinische Neuropsychologin, assoziierte Professorin an der Medizinischen Universität Graz und an der Univ.-Klinik für Neurologie tätig. In ihrer wissenschaftlichen Arbeit beschäftigt sie sich mit altersbedingten und krankheitsassoziierten Veränderungen des Gehirns, insbesondere im Zusammenhang mit Demenzerkrankungen und gesundem Altern. Zu ihren zentralen Forschungs- und Behandlungsschwerpunkten zählen Demenz und Healthy Aging, funktionelle und strukturelle Bildgebung des Gehirns sowie digitale Gesundheitsanwendungen. Darüber hinaus untersucht sie den Einsatz neuer Technologien in der Demenzforschung und ‑diagnostik, etwa digitale Tests, innovative Analyseverfahren oder andere Ansätze aus dem Bereich Digital Health, um kognitive Veränderungen frühzeitig zu erkennen und besser zu verstehen. 

Im Projekt LETHE.AT bündeln Med Uni Graz, FH Joanneum, MedUni Wien, Med Uni Innsbruck und sieben weitere Partner*innen ihre kompetenzen rund um das alternde Gehirn

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Where did I put my keys? What's the name of that actress? For many people, such moments are part of growing older. They make us uneasy because changes in the brain affect not just individual functions but also the way we see ourselves. The field of neuropsychology and neuroscience/Neuropsychology and Neuroscience specialty area at the Medical University of Graz is concerned with cognitive changes in the course of aging and in neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's disease. The goal of research is early detection, better understanding and long-term prediction of changes in cognitive performance.

Research vision: a \"digital twin\" of the brain

Aging does not inevitably mean decline: \"To understand the aging brain means to look at it holistically—what is normal with age and what is conspicuous?\" explains neuropsychologist Marisa Koini of the Med Uni Graz Department of Neurology. The researcher studies structural and functional changes in the brain as it ages as well as biomarkers and their influence on cognitive abilities such as memory, attention or language. A special focus is on digital technologies, which in the future may help to detect cognitive changes earlier. The long-term goal of research is to develop a \"digital twin\" of the brain that takes into account biological factors—for example changes in the hippocampus—as well as lifestyle and environmental conditions, for example physical activity, sleep or air pollution.

Aging is individual and the brain remains adaptable

As people age, certain processes in the brain slow down. Information is processed a little slower, and names or terms do not come to mind right away. At the same time, many abilities remain stable or even continue to develop—for example, experiential knowledge, emotional stability or the ability to categorize complex situations. \"Our brain remains malleable and adaptable into advanced age,\" stresses Marisa Koini. This ability is referred to as neural plasticity. It makes it possible for the brain to adapt to new requirements and sometimes to compensate for deficits.

Normal for one's age or pathological?

One of the most common questions is: Is this normal forgetfulness or the first signs of a disease like dementia? Occasional gaps in one's memory are part of healthy aging. The situation turns critical when memory problems significantly impact daily life, for example when a person cannot find their way in a familiar setting or daily tasks become increasingly difficult. In such cases, a comprehensive neurological and neuropsychological assessment is conducted at the Department of Neurology at Med Uni Graz. Memory, attention, language and executive functions are some of the items investigated using standardized tests.

Lifestyle influences dementia risk

Studies show that numerous risk factors for cognitive decline can be influenced. These include lack of exercise, smoking, hypertension, diabetes, depression, social isolation or air pollution. These factors have an effect on cognitive reserve, or the resistance of the brain to age-related changes. \"It's never \"too late\" to support the brain,\" says Marisa Koini. What is crucial is a combination of mental activity, exercise, social contact, sufficient sleep and a balanced diet. Activities that call for several skills at once are particularly effective, for example learning, planning and social interaction.

Digital technology for early detection

New technologies open up additional options for early detection of cognitive changes. Adaptive tests with AI analysis, eye tracking, wearables or virtual reality applications could provide important clues about incipient impairment in the future.

Med Uni Graz is involved as a project partner in the research project LETHE-AT, in which an interdisciplinary team is investigating whether lifestyle changes can lower an individual's risk for dementia. In the 18-month-long intervention study, a total of 100 participants will be accompanied at the Graz location. The objective is to develop an IT-based prevention program and new concepts for brain health services—next-generation memory clinics.

For further information and participation, visit: https://www.lethe.at/

Tips for a healthy brain

Even if aging processes in the brain cannot be completely prevented, everyone can actively contribute to \"brain health.\" Even small changes in daily life can help strengthen cognitive reserve and maintain brain performance as long as possible. Marisa Koini summarizes the most important elements:

Profile: Marisa Koini

Marisa Koini is a clinical neuropsychologist and associate professor at the Medical University of Graz and the Department of Neurology. In her scientific work, she deals with age-related and disease-associated changes in the brain, especially those associated with dementia and healthy aging. Her research and treatment mainly focus on dementia and healthy aging, functional and structural imaging of the brain and digital health applications. In addition, she examines the use of new technologies in dementia research and diagnostics for early detection and better understanding of cognitive changes, for example digital tests, innovative analysis procedures or other approaches from the field of digital health. 

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Kürzlich wurde Stefan Rössler, Absolvent des Diplomstudiums Zahnmedizin an der Medizinischen Universität Graz, von der Österreichischen Gesellschaft für Mund-, Kiefer- und Gesichtschirurgie für seine Diplomarbeit  „Identification of the masseteric nerve in facial reanimation surgery using anatomical landmarks and topography“ mit dem renommierten Hans-Pichler-Preis 2026 ausgezeichnet.

Die Österreichische Gesellschaft für Mund-, Kiefer- und Gesichtschirurgie vergibt alljährlich einen nach ihrem Gründer Hans Pichler benannten Preis für hervorragende wissenschaftliche Arbeiten aus diesem Gebiet. Die Bewertung der Arbeiten erfolgt durch ein Gremium, das aus drei gewählten Mitgliedern der Gesellschaft besteht. Um den Preis können sich alle Mitglieder der Österreichischen Gesellschaft für Mund-, Kiefer- und Gesichtschirurgie sowie alle auf dem Gebiet der Mund-, Kiefer- und Gesichtschirurgie tätigen Ärzt*innen und Zahnärzt*innen sowie ihre Co-Autor*innen bewerben.

Aus der Diplomarbeit von Stefan Rössler sind bereits zwei Publikationen entstanden:

Seine Betreuer*innen, Veronica Alexandra Antipova und Niels Hammer (Lehrstuhl für Makroskopische und Klinische Anatomie) sowie Wolfgang Zemann (Klinische Abteilung für Mund-, Kiefer- und Gesichtschirurgie) sind stolz auf ihren Diplomanden und wünschen ihm alles Gute für die Zukunft.

Die Medizinische Universität Graz gratuliert Stefan Rössler herzlich!

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Stefan Rössler, a graduate of the dental medicine programme at the Medical University of Graz, was recently awarded the prestigious Hans Pichler Prize 2026 by the Austrian Society for Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery for his thesis entitled “Identification of the masseteric nerve in facial reanimation surgery using anatomical landmarks and topography”.

The Austrian Society for Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery awards an annual prize named after its founder, Hans Pichler, for outstanding scientific work in this field. The work is assessed by a panel consisting of three elected members of the Society. All members of the Austrian Society for Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, as well as all doctors and dentists working in the field of oral and maxillofacial surgery and their co-authors, are eligible to apply for the prize.

Stefan Rössler’s thesis has already resulted in two publications:

His supervisors, Veronica Alexandra Antipova and Niels Hammer (Division of Macroscopic and Clinical Anatomy) and Wolfgang Zemann (Division of Oral-, Maxillofacial Surgery), are proud of their graduate and wish him all the best for the future.

The Medical University of Graz extends its warmest congratulations to Stefan Rössler!

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Kürzlich machte sich die deutschsprachige Radioonkologie-Community auf den Weg nach Graz – über 130 Expert*innen folgten dem Ruf des Jahrestreffens der Arbeitsgruppe Radiochirurgie-Stereotaxie der DEGRO und der DGMP, gemeinsam ausgerichtet mit den österreichischen Schwestergesellschaften ÖGRO und ÖGMP und lokal organisiert von Thomas Brunner und Peter Winkler der Med Uni Graz. Auf dem Programm: uroonkologische Tumore, allen voran das Prostata- und das Nierenzellkarzinom.

Den Auftakt machte ein Appetizer der besonderen Art: eine pointierte Diskussion zu den Wechselwirkungen von stereotaktischer Hochpräzisionsradiotherapie (SBRT) vertreten durch Daniel Bürgy aus Mannheim und Immuntherapie vom Onkologen Philipp Jost aus Graz.

Dann folgte der eigentliche Paukenschlag: das Nierenzellkarzinom, jahrzehntelang als strahlungsresistentes Sorgenkind der Radioonkologie angesehen, wird durch SBRT neu betrachtet. Mit Lokalkontrollraten von bis zu 100 % steht dieser Tumor plötzlich ganz oben auf der Indikationsliste – ein echter Paradigmenwechsel, der sich durch starke Evidenz selbstbewusst in das neue Selbstverständnis der Radioonkologie einschreibt.

Kontrovers und kurzweilig wurde es beim Prostatakarzinom: Roboterchirurgie (Sacha Ahyai, Graz) gegen SBRT (Zoltan Löcsei, Graz), Brachytherapie (Ute Ganswindt, Innsbruck) gegen stereotaktische Radiotherapie (Simon Spohn, Freiburg) – die Diskussionen hatten durchaus Duell-Charakter, ohne dass am Ende jemand das Feld räumen musste. Vielmehr zeigte sich: Der Wettbewerb der Methoden belebt das wissenschaftliche Geschäft.

Den geselligen Abschluss bildete ein Networking-Abend nur wenige Meter vom Grazer Rathaus entfernt – gefolgt von den Arbeitsgruppenmeetings der Mediziner*innen und Physiker*innen am Samstagvormittag.

","start":null,"end":null,"author":null,"email":null,"keywords":null,"description":null,"topnews":false,"last_modified":"2026-04-01T08:44:16+02:00","language":null},{"id":15491,"url":"https://www.medunigraz.at/news/detail/graz-im-zeichen-der-praezision-degro-dgmp-jahresmeeting#sl-content","media":[],"gallery":[],"contact_box":[],"breadcrumb":[{"uid":61,"pid":8139,"title":"News-Storage","is_siteroot":false,"domains":[],"uri":null},{"uid":8139,"pid":0,"title":"Med Uni Graz","is_siteroot":true,"domains":["www.medunigraz.at"],"uri":"https://www.medunigraz.at/"}],"categories":[9,14,314,315],"groups":[],"related_links":[{"id":3595,"datetime":"2026-04-01T08:44:16+02:00","title":"Thomas Brunner","description":null,"url":"https://ris.medunigraz.at/de/persons/dd05e511-ec46-4302-af44-370c9343e8d8"}],"related_media":[],"header_image":{"url":"https://api-test.medunigraz.at/typo3/media/70871/","original":"https://www.medunigraz.at/frontend/user_upload/events_news/_sujets/medizin/onkologie/krebszellen-AdobeStock_625824354.jpeg","mimetype":"image/jpeg","filename":"krebszellen-AdobeStock_625824354.jpeg","size":2761850},"datetime":"2026-03-24T12:20:35+01:00","title":"Graz: A City of Precision – DEGRO/DGMP Annual Meeting","teaser":"130 radiation oncologists and medical physicists from German-speaking countries met in Graz.","body":"

Recently, the German-speaking radiation oncology community made its way to Graz – over 130 experts responded to the call of the annual meeting of the DEGRO and DGMP Working Group on Radiosurgery and Stereotaxy, jointly hosted by the Austrian sister societies ÖGRO and ÖGMP and locally organised by Thomas Brunner and Peter Winkler of the Medical University of Graz. On the agenda: uro-oncological tumours, primarily prostate and renal cell carcinoma.

The event kicked off with a special kind of appetiser: a pointed discussion on the interactions between stereotactic high-precision radiotherapy (SBRT), presented by Daniel Bürgy from Mannheim, and immunotherapy, presented by oncologist Philipp Jost from Graz.

Then came the real showstopper: renal cell carcinoma, long regarded as a radiation-resistant problem child of radiation oncology, is being re-evaluated through SBRT. With local control rates of up to 100%, this tumour suddenly finds itself at the very top of the list of indications – a genuine paradigm shift that, backed by strong evidence, is confidently establishing itself within the new self-image of radiation oncology.

Things became controversial and entertaining when it came to prostate cancer: robotic surgery (Sacha Ahyai, Graz) versus SBRT (Zoltan Löcsei, Graz), brachytherapy (Ute Ganswindt, Innsbruck) versus stereotactic radiotherapy (Simon Spohn, Freiburg) – the discussions took on a distinctly duel-like character, without anyone having to concede defeat in the end. Rather, it became clear that competition between methods invigorates scientific discourse.

The event concluded on a convivial note with a networking evening just a few metres from Graz City Hall – followed by the working group meetings of the clinicians and physicists on Saturday morning.

","start":null,"end":null,"author":null,"email":null,"keywords":null,"description":null,"topnews":false,"last_modified":"2026-04-01T08:44:16+02:00","language":6},{"id":15492,"url":"https://www.medunigraz.at/news/detail/das-mikrobiom-im-kranken-darm-netzwerke-von-archaeen-und-bakterien#sl-content","media":[],"gallery":[],"contact_box":[{"id":111085,"media":{"url":"https://api-test.medunigraz.at/typo3/media/54389/","original":"https://www.medunigraz.at/frontend/user_upload/images/contact/L-N/moissl-eichinger-christine.png","mimetype":"image/png","filename":"moissl-eichinger-christine.png","size":696254},"title":"Univ.-Prof.in Dr.in habil. rer. nat. ","name":"Christine Moissl-Eichinger","phone":"+4331638573770","url":"https://ris.medunigraz.at/en/persons/9c0e475d-67ea-483f-abca-4741184e9bdd - - \"Research profile\"","link_label":"Research profile","email":"christine.moissl-eichinger@medunigraz.at","headline":"Contact and further information","address":["Diagnostic and Research Institute of Hygiene, Microbiology and Environmental Medicine","Medical University of Graz"]}],"breadcrumb":[{"uid":61,"pid":8139,"title":"News-Storage","is_siteroot":false,"domains":[],"uri":null},{"uid":8139,"pid":0,"title":"Med Uni Graz","is_siteroot":true,"domains":["www.medunigraz.at"],"uri":"https://www.medunigraz.at/"}],"categories":[9,270,271,276],"groups":[],"related_links":[{"id":3597,"datetime":"2026-03-31T13:33:11+02:00","title":"To the publication","description":null,"url":"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41720792/"},{"id":3598,"datetime":"2026-03-31T12:55:16+02:00","title":"Christine Moissl-Eichinger","description":null,"url":"https://ris.medunigraz.at/de/persons/9c0e475d-67ea-483f-abca-4741184e9bdd"},{"id":3599,"datetime":"2026-03-31T12:55:16+02:00","title":"Rokhsareh Mohammadzadeh","description":null,"url":"https://ris.medunigraz.at/de/persons/ab9a5240-1a11-4564-b3e8-cb6262a4ece3"}],"related_media":[],"header_image":{"url":"https://api-test.medunigraz.at/typo3/media/70822/","original":"https://www.medunigraz.at/frontend/user_upload/events_news/_sujets/forschung/bakterien-viren-zellen/bakterien_AdobeStock_755568398.jpeg","mimetype":"image/jpeg","filename":"bakterien_AdobeStock_755568398.jpeg","size":10732434},"datetime":"2026-03-24T09:30:33+01:00","title":"The unhealthy gut microbiome: strong networks of archaea and bacteria","teaser":"Med Uni Graz researchers investigate, how and why the gut microbiome changes with disease.","body":"

The human gut is a habitat for a highly complex microbial ecosystem that significantly contributes to health. While microbiome research has focused on bacteria for many years, archaea—an evolutionarily independent group of microorganisms—have hardly been investigated. A new international study led by the Medical University of Graz and published in Nature Communications has now shown that gut archaea are important partners within microbial networks, opening up new perspectives on how to understand colorectal cancer.

Carried out by an international research consortium, the study combines a large-scale meta-analysis of clinical datasets with computer-assisted metabolic modeling, lab experiments and modern metabolomics.

An underestimated component of the gut microbiome

Archaea are single-celled microorganisms that, similar to bacteria, are part of the human gut microbiome, yet they fundamentally differ in their cell structure, metabolism and genetics. In the human gut, they are responsible above all for methane production and play a key role in microbial metabolic balance.

\"Archaea have long been regarded as harmless inhabitants of the gut,\" explains Christine Moissl-Eichinger of the Medical University of Graz. “Our findings now show that they are functionally much more strongly involved in negative microbial processes than previously assumed.”

Large datasets provide new insights

The researchers analyzed almost 3,000 metagenomic samples from nineteen clinical trials and twelve countries. Colorectal cancer, chronic inflammatory bowel disease, type 2 diabetes and neurological disorders were taken into account. It appeared that changes in archaeal communities are disease-specific and very different.

Particularly consistent was a greater occurrence of the archaeon Methanobrevibacter smithii in patients with colorectal cancer. What is important to note is that the study does not provide any indication that archaea cause cancer. Instead, the data suggest that the microbial network in the gut changes over the course of the disease—and archaea are part of these adaptations.

Metabolic cooperation 

Methanobrevibacter smithii uses metabolic products of other gut bacteria, especially hydrogen and carbon dioxide, for methane formation, indirectly supporting bacterial fermentation and stabilizing microbial balance.

\"This type of metabolic cooperation is a natural component of the gut ecosystem,\" explains co-author Alexander Mahnert. “Our experiments show that archaea can influence the growth of certain bacteria associated with cancer—without becoming pathogenic on their own.”

Co-culture experiments have confirmed that M. smithii promotes early growth of some bacterial partners while the archaea themselves hardly see any benefit. These asymmetrical interactions underline their role as metabolic mediators in the gut.

Metabolic products with varied biological effects

Using state-of-the-art analytic methods, Tobias Madl's team identified numerous metabolites in the common cultures. They included substances associated with tumors as well as substances with potentially tumor-inhibiting properties.

What is remarkable is that some of these bioactive molecules were able to be directly assigned to the archaea. \"This shows that archaea not only indirectly have an effect through other microorganisms but also actively contribute to chemical diversity in the gut,\" says first author Rokhsareh Mohammadzadeh.

New perspectives in microbiome research

The study makes it clear that archaea are integral components of microbial networks and must be taken into greater account in the future interpretation of microbiome data. For colorectal cancer in particular, new research approaches are opening up that do not focus on individual microorganisms but on the interaction of entire microbial communities.

\"Our goal is to understand the microbiome as a dynamic system,\" stresses Moissl-Eichinger. \"This is the only way that we can clarify in the long term which microbial constellations contribute to health—and which change over the course of the disease.\" 

Thus the research underlines the importance of archaea as previously underestimated players in the gut microbiome and lays the foundation for future studies, for example with spatial imaging or personalized microbiome analysis.

In the future, archaea might become more important in preventive therapies for colorectal cancer. The microbiome of individuals with cancer is extremely complex and the understanding of each individual component might yield new conclusions for improved treatments or ideas for further research.

Profile: Christine Moissl-Eichinger

Christine Moissl-Eichinger has been a professor at Med Uni Graz since 2014 and leads a research group at the Diagnostic and Research Institute of Hygiene, Microbiology and Environmental Medicine. The subject of her research is how microbes interact with each other and with their environment, e.g., the human body. Her focus is on exploring the function of archaea in the human gastrointestinal microbiome. She is director of the BioTechMed Graz research initiative and co-director of the \"Microbiomes Drive Planetary Health\" Cluster of Excellence. Last year she was the recipient of an ERC Advanced Grant. 

","start":null,"end":null,"author":null,"email":null,"keywords":null,"description":null,"topnews":true,"last_modified":"2026-03-31T13:33:11+02:00","language":6},{"id":15439,"url":"https://www.medunigraz.at/news/detail/das-mikrobiom-im-kranken-darm-netzwerke-von-archaeen-und-bakterien#sl-content","media":[],"gallery":[],"contact_box":[{"id":110779,"media":{"url":"https://api-test.medunigraz.at/typo3/media/54389/","original":"https://www.medunigraz.at/frontend/user_upload/images/contact/L-N/moissl-eichinger-christine.png","mimetype":"image/png","filename":"moissl-eichinger-christine.png","size":696254},"title":"Univ.-Prof.in Dr.in habil. rer. nat. ","name":"Christine Moissl-Eichinger","phone":"+4331638573770","url":"https://ris.medunigraz.at/de/persons/9c0e475d-67ea-483f-abca-4741184e9bdd - - Forschungsprofil","link_label":"Forschungsprofil","email":"christine.moissl-eichinger@medunigraz.at","headline":"Kontakt und weitere Informationen:","address":["Diagnostik- & Forschungsinstitut für Hygiene, Mikrobiologie und Umweltmedizin","Medizinische Universität Graz"]}],"breadcrumb":[{"uid":61,"pid":8139,"title":"News-Storage","is_siteroot":false,"domains":[],"uri":null},{"uid":8139,"pid":0,"title":"Med Uni Graz","is_siteroot":true,"domains":["www.medunigraz.at"],"uri":"https://www.medunigraz.at/"}],"categories":[9,270,271,276],"groups":[],"related_links":[{"id":3550,"datetime":"2026-03-24T10:17:58+01:00","title":"Zur Presseinformation","description":null,"url":"https://www.medunigraz.at/frontend/user_upload/themen-pr/presseinformationen/2026/presseinfo-darmmikrobiom-darmkrebs-versand.pdf"},{"id":3551,"datetime":"2026-03-24T10:17:58+01:00","title":"Zur Publikation","description":null,"url":"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41720792/"},{"id":3552,"datetime":"2026-03-24T10:17:58+01:00","title":"Christine Moissl-Eichinger","description":null,"url":"https://ris.medunigraz.at/de/persons/9c0e475d-67ea-483f-abca-4741184e9bdd"},{"id":3553,"datetime":"2026-03-24T10:17:58+01:00","title":"Rokhsareh Mohammadzadeh","description":null,"url":"https://ris.medunigraz.at/de/persons/ab9a5240-1a11-4564-b3e8-cb6262a4ece3"},{"id":3554,"datetime":"2026-03-24T10:17:58+01:00","title":"Artikel auf APA-Science","description":null,"url":"https://science.apa.at/power-search/1339733302838751423"}],"related_media":[],"header_image":{"url":"https://api-test.medunigraz.at/typo3/media/70822/","original":"https://www.medunigraz.at/frontend/user_upload/events_news/_sujets/forschung/bakterien-viren-zellen/bakterien_AdobeStock_755568398.jpeg","mimetype":"image/jpeg","filename":"bakterien_AdobeStock_755568398.jpeg","size":10732434},"datetime":"2026-03-24T09:30:33+01:00","title":"Das Mikrobiom im kranken Darm: Netzwerke von Archaeen und Bakterien ","teaser":"An der Med Uni Graz wird erforscht, wie sich das Mikrobiom im kranken Darm verändert.","body":"

Der menschliche Darm ist Lebensraum für ein hochkomplexes mikrobielles Ökosystem, das maßgeblich zur Gesundheit beiträgt. Während Bakterien seit vielen Jahren im Zentrum der Mikrobiomforschung stehen, sind Archaeen – eine evolutionär eigenständige Gruppe von Mikroorganismen – bislang kaum untersucht. Eine neue internationale Studie unter Leitung der Medizinischen Universität Graz, veröffentlicht in Nature Communications, zeigt nun, dass Darm-Archaeen wichtige Partner innerhalb mikrobieller Netzwerke sind und damit neue Perspektiven für das Verständnis von Darmkrebs eröffnen.

Die Studie wurde von einem internationalen Forschungskonsortium durchgeführt und kombiniert eine groß angelegte Metaanalyse klinischer Datensätze mit computergestützter Stoffwechselmodellierung, Laborexperimenten und moderner Metabolomik.

Ein unterschätzter Bestandteil des Darmmikrobioms

Archaeen sind einzellige Mikroorganismen, die, ähnlich wie Bakterien, Teil des menschlichen Darmmikrobioms sind, sich jedoch grundlegend in Zellaufbau, Stoffwechsel und genetischer Ausstattung unterscheiden. Im menschlichen Darm sind sie vor allem für die Methanproduktion verantwortlich und spielen eine zentrale Rolle im mikrobiellen Stoffwechselgleichgewicht.

„Archaeen gelten seit Langem als harmlose Mitbewohner des Darms“, erklärt Christine Moissl-Eichinger von der Medizinischen Universität Graz. „Unsere Ergebnisse zeigen nun, dass sie funktionell deutlich stärker auch in negative mikrobielle Prozesse eingebunden sind als bisher angenommen.“

Große Datensätze liefern neue Einblicke

Die Forscher*innen analysierten knapp 3.000 metagenomische Proben aus 19 klinischen Studien und zwölf Ländern. Berücksichtigt wurden unter anderem Darmkrebs, chronisch-entzündliche Darmerkrankungen, Typ-2-Diabetes sowie neurologische Erkrankungen. Dabei zeigte sich, dass Veränderungen in archaeellen Gemeinschaften krankheitsspezifisch und sehr unterschiedlich ausfallen.

Besonders konsistent war ein vermehrtes Auftreten des Archaeons Methanobrevibacter smithii bei Patient*innen mit kolorektalem Karzinom. Wichtig dabei: Die Studie liefert keine Hinweise darauf, dass Archaeen Krebs verursachen. Vielmehr deuten die Daten darauf hin, dass sich das mikrobielle Netzwerk im Darm im Verlauf der Erkrankung verändert – und Archaeen Teil dieser Anpassungen sind.

Metabolische Zusammenarbeit 

Methanobrevibacter smithii nutzt Stoffwechselprodukte anderer Darmbakterien, insbesondere Wasserstoff und Kohlendioxid, zur Methanbildung. Dadurch unterstützt es indirekt bakterielle Gärungsprozesse und stabilisiert das mikrobielle Gleichgewicht.

„Diese Art der metabolischen Kooperation ist ein natürlicher Bestandteil des Darmökosystems“, erklärt Co-Autor Alexander Mahnert. „Unsere Experimente zeigen, dass Archaeen das Wachstum bestimmter mit Krebs assoziierten Bakterien beeinflussen können – ohne selbst krankmachend zu sein.“

In Co-Kultur-Experimenten bestätigte sich, dass M. smithii das frühe Wachstum einiger bakterieller Partner fördert, während die Archaeen selbst kaum profitieren. Diese asymmetrischen Wechselwirkungen unterstreichen ihre Rolle als metabolischer Vermittler im Darm.

Stoffwechselprodukte mit vielfältigen biologischen Effekten

Mittels höchstmoderner Analyseverfahren identifizierte das Team um Tobias Madl zahlreiche Stoffwechselprodukte in den gemeinsamen Kulturen. Darunter befanden sich sowohl Stoffe, die mit tumorassoziierten Prozessen in Verbindung stehen, als auch Substanzen mit potenziell tumorhemmenden Eigenschaften.

Bemerkenswert ist, dass einige dieser bioaktiven Moleküle direkt den Archaeen zugeordnet werden konnten. „Das zeigt, dass Archaeen nicht nur indirekt über andere Mikroorganismen wirken, sondern selbst aktiv zur chemischen Vielfalt im Darm beitragen“, so Erstautorin Rokhsareh Mohammadzadeh.

Neue Perspektiven für die Mikrobiomforschung

Die Studie macht deutlich, dass Archaeen integrale Bestandteile mikrobieller Netzwerke sind und bei der Interpretation von Mikrobiomdaten künftig stärker berücksichtigt werden müssen. Insbesondere für Darmkrebs eröffnen sich neue Forschungsansätze, die nicht auf einzelne Mikroorganismen fokussieren, sondern auf das Zusammenspiel ganzer mikrobieller Gemeinschaften.

„Unser Ziel ist es, das Mikrobiom als dynamisches System zu verstehen“, betont Moissl-Eichinger. „Nur so können wir langfristig klären, welche mikrobiellen Konstellationen zur Gesundheit beitragen – und welche sich im Krankheitsverlauf verändern.“ 

Die Arbeit unterstreicht damit die Bedeutung von Archaeen als bislang unterschätzte Akteure im Darmmikrobiom und legt die Grundlage für zukünftige Studien, etwa mit räumlicher Bildgebung oder personalisierten Mikrobiom-Analysen.

In Zukunft könnten Archaeen stärker im Fokus von Therapien zur Prävention von Dickdarmkrebs stehen. Das Mikrobiom im Rahmen von Krebserkrankungen ist äußerst komplex und das Verstehen jeder einzelnen Komponente davon könnte neue Rückschlüsse für verbesserte Therapien oder Anhaltspunkte für weitere Forschung liefern.

Steckbrief: Christine Moissl-Eichinger

Christine Moissl-Eichinger ist seit 2014 Professorin an der Med Uni Graz und leitet eine Forschungsgruppe am Diagnostik- & Forschungsinstitut für Hygiene, Mikrobiologie und Umweltmedizin. Thematisch beschäftigt sie sich mit der Interaktion von Mikroben untereinander und mit ihrer Umgebung, z. B. dem menschlichen Körper. Der Schwerpunkt liegt auf der Erforschung der Funktion von Archaeen im menschlichen gastrointestinalen Mikrobiom. Christine Moissl-Eichinger ist Direktorin der Forschungsinitiative BioTechMed Graz, Co-Direktorin des Cluster of Excellence „Microbiomes drive Planetary Health“ und hat letztes Jahr einen ERC Advanced Grant eingeworben.

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To recognise innovative approaches to improving teaching quality, the Medical University of Graz awards an annual special grant totalling 50,000 euros. One of the projects to receive this award is “Health of Students – Peer2Peer: Analog & Digital”.

Not least due to the crises of recent years, students’ health has deteriorated noticeably. With a low-threshold and wide-ranging programme comprising workshops, lectures, social media presence, three elective modules and one-to-one counselling, “Health of Students – Peer2Peer” positions itself as a specialised point of contact for promoting and strengthening student wellbeing. Students are to be supported quickly and easily, whether they are facing stress or crises due to excessive demands or academic failure, personal problems in their private lives or illness, or when developing solutions and fostering personal development. At the same time, this aims to lay the foundations early on for health-promoting strategies for the future professional careers of health professionals and scientists alike.

Experienced team

The delivery of content and support during one-to-one sessions is provided by specially trained peers (senior students) under the motto ‘helping people to help themselves’. Specialist support (e.g. psychiatric or psychotherapeutic expertise) is provided by a team of lecturers and specialists from the Clinical Department of Medical Psychology, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy. This team of experts also oversees the supervision and training of the peers.

Core objectives of Health of Students – Peer2Peer

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Um innovative Herangehensweisen bei der Qualitätssteigerung in der Lehre zu würdigen, schreibt die Med Uni Graz jährlich eine Sonderdotation von insgesamt 50.000 Euro aus. Ein ausgezeichnetes Projekt ist „Health of Students – Peer2Peer: Analog & Digital“. 

Nicht zuletzt durch die Krisen der vergangenen Jahre hat sich die Gesundheit von Studierenden zusehends verschlechtert. Mit einem niederschwelligen und breiten Angebot durch Workshops, Vorträge, Social-Media-Auftritte, drei Wahlfächer und Einzelberatungen positioniert sich „Health of Students – Peer2Peer“ als spezialisierte Anlaufstelle zur Förderung und Stärkung der Gesundheit von Studierenden. Sowohl bei Belastungen oder Krisen aufgrund von Überforderung oder Misserfolg im Studium, persönlichen Problemen im Privatleben oder Erkrankung als auch bei der Erarbeitung von Lösungen und der Förderung der Persönlichkeitsentwicklung sollen Studierende schnell und unkompliziert unterstützt werden. Zugleich soll somit frühzeitig ein Grundstein für gesundheitsstärkende Strategien für die spätere berufliche Karriere von Health Professionals wie auch Wissenschafter*innen gelegt werden.

Erprobtes Team

Die Vermittlung der Inhalte sowie die Begleitung in Einzelgesprächen erfolgt durch speziell geschulte Peers (höhersemestrige Studierende) unter dem Motto „Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe“. Fachliche Unterstützung (bspw. psychiatrische oder psychotherapeutische Fachexpertise) wird durch ein Lehrenden- und Fachteam der Klinischen Abteilung für Medizinische Psychologie, Psychosomatik und Psychotherapie zur Verfügung gestellt. Dieses Expert*innenteam sorgt zudem für die Supervision und inhaltliche Schulung der Peers.

Grundziele von Health of Students – Peer2Peer

","start":null,"end":null,"author":null,"email":null,"keywords":null,"description":null,"topnews":false,"last_modified":"2026-03-20T14:43:17+01:00","language":null},{"id":15417,"url":"https://www.medunigraz.at/news/detail/welttag-der-zahngesundheit-wie-der-stoffwechsel-mundgesundheit-beeinflusst#sl-content","media":[{"id":83032,"media":{"url":"https://api-test.medunigraz.at/typo3/media/71145/","original":"https://www.medunigraz.at/frontend/user_upload/themen-pr/videos/science-flash/Peikert-Stefanie.mp4","mimetype":"video/mp4","filename":"Peikert-Stefanie.mp4","size":285935139},"title":"Metabolism and dental health","description":null,"alternative":null}],"gallery":[],"contact_box":[],"breadcrumb":[{"uid":61,"pid":8139,"title":"News-Storage","is_siteroot":false,"domains":[],"uri":null},{"uid":8139,"pid":0,"title":"Med Uni Graz","is_siteroot":true,"domains":["www.medunigraz.at"],"uri":"https://www.medunigraz.at/"}],"categories":[9,268,271,274],"groups":[],"related_links":[{"id":3546,"datetime":"2026-03-20T09:34:02+01:00","title":"Stefanie Peikert","description":null,"url":"https://ris.medunigraz.at/de/persons/2ba0c20d-e236-479e-9470-2ef88cefed4d"},{"id":3547,"datetime":"2026-03-20T09:34:02+01:00","title":"Department of Dental Medicine and Oral Health","description":null,"url":"https://zahnmedizin.medunigraz.at/en/"}],"related_media":[],"header_image":{"url":"https://api-test.medunigraz.at/typo3/media/71155/","original":"https://www.medunigraz.at/frontend/user_upload/events_news/_sujets/medizin/organe/zahn-AdobeStock_267804683.jpg","mimetype":"image/jpeg","filename":"zahn-AdobeStock_267804683.jpg","size":715965},"datetime":"2026-03-20T08:30:42+01:00","title":"Oral Health Day: Metabolism and Oral Health","teaser":"A team from the Medical University of Graz is researching the interplay between diet and dental health","body":"

How does oral health affect metabolism, and how does metabolism affect our mouths? This interaction is currently being researched at the Medical University of Graz by Stefanie Peikert and her team. Specifically, the focus is on periodontitis, a chronic inflammation of the periodontium. For example, they are investigating how certain medications, such as GLP-1 receptor agonists—which are used to control blood sugar levels—affect inflammatory processes in the mouth, and what impact diet has on dental health.

In the video, Stefanie Peikert and her team provide an insight into their research.

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Wie wirkt sich die Mundgesundheit auf den Stoffwechsel beziehungsweise der Stoffwechsel auf unseren Mund aus? Dieses Zusammenspiel wird an der Med Uni Graz von Stefanie Peikert und ihrem Team aktuell erforscht. Konkret geht es um Parodontitis, also eine chronische Entzündung des Zahnhalteapparates. So wird zum Beispiel untersucht, wie sich gewisse Medikationen wie GLP-1-Rezeptorantagonisten, die zum Beispiel zur Kontrolle des Blutzuckers eingesetzt werden auf Entzündungsprozesse im Mund auswirken und welche Auswirkungen die Ernährung auf die Zahngesundheit hat.

Im Video geben Stefanie Peikart und ihr Team einen Einblick in ihre Forschung.

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EDITH is an international joint degree programme run by the Medical University of Graz, the Medical University of Łódź (Poland), the Università degli Studi di Naples Federico II (Italy), the Institut Mines-Télécom Business School (France), Donau-University Krems, and the business partners Digital Pharma Lab (France) and Med-System (Poland).

The European Institute of Innovation and Technology label recognises, among other things, degree programmes that promote practical skills in the fields of innovation and entrepreneurship and move away from purely theoretical teaching.

The awarding of the EIT label is preceded by an intensive process in which degree programmes are thoroughly assessed to determine their suitability for the coveted seal.

By being awarded the EIT label, EDITH, together with its international partners, demonstrates its innovative strength.

Med Uni Graz extends its warmest congratulations on this success!

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