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Neuroimmunology

  1. Department of Neurology
  2. Our Departments
  3. Division of Neuropathology and Neurochemistry (NPNC)
  4. Research
  5. Neuroimmunology

Research Groups and Laboratories

Research Group Hametner

Neuropathology of multiple sclerosis, iron metabolism, post-mortem imaging of MS

 

Dr.med.univ. Simon Hametner, PhD
simon.hametner@meduniwien.ac.at

Research Focus:

  • Our focus is on neuropathology and post-mortem imaging of multiple sclerosis (MS). Here we focus in particular on iron as a magnetic resonance (MR) imaging marker and its pathogenetic relevance in MS. We are also involved in various national and international collaborations regarding MS and other demyelinating-degenerative diseases (X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy, progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy). The aim of our work is to translate neuropathological observations via MR imaging into the clinic (diagnosis, prognosis).

Methods:

  • Histochemistry, immunohistochemistry, large area sections, post-mortem MRI imaging, biochemical iron quantification in tissue, current methods of molecular pathology.

Funding:

  • International Progressive MS Alliance PA-2002-36405 – "Multimodal decoding of CD163 immune cell function in progressive MS" (PI) – 2021–2022
  • National Institutes of Health R01NS114227 – "Nucleus-specific decline in thalamic iron with disease progression in multiple sclerosis" (Subaward recipient) – 2021–2025

Research Group Höftberger

Neuroimmunology, neuropathology

 

Univ.-Prof.in Priv.-Doz.in Dr.in Romana Höftberger
romana.hoeftberger@meduniwien.ac.at

PhD Students:

Alumni (PhD):

Alumni (Human medicine diploma thesis):

  • Dr.inmed.univ. Stephanie Fink
  • Dr.inmed.univ. Julia Lang (2017)
  • Dr.med.univ. David Mikocki
  • Dr.inmed.univ. Valérie Anne Quinot (2021)
  • Sophie Oberndorfer, MSc

Alumni (master thesis):

  • Theresa Kreiner, MSc (2021)
  • Alexandra Lang, MSc (2018)
  • Valerie Pichler, MSc (2016)
  • Vera Wallner, MSc (2021)

Research Focus:

  • Our focus is on neuroimmunology and neuropathology with a focus on autoimmune diseases and trauma to the central and peripheral nervous system (e.g. autoimmune encephalitis, demyelinating CNS/PNS diseases, spinal cord injuries).
  • Research into neuropathological characteristics and immunopathological mechanisms should lead to a more detailed understanding of the disease and subsequently enable better diagnosis and treatment of affected patients. Crucial processes also include the improvement and establishment of clinical and immunological markers as well as detection methods (including detection of new, as yet uncharacterized antibodies) of various anti-neuronal and anti-glial autoimmune diseases.
  • Collaboration with local, national and international partners enables the interaction of basic, translational and clinical research to decipher the corresponding pathomechanisms of immune-associated tissue damage.

Methods:

  • Neuropathology, histology, immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, light and confocal microscopy, neurochemistry, cell-based (CBA) and tissue-based (TBA) assays, immunoblot/line assays, ELISA, western blot, immunoprecipitation, cell culture including primary neuronal and glial cell cultures

Keywords:

  • autoimmune encephalitis, neuropathology of antibody-mediated neurological diseases, neuroimmunology

Selected third party funds/ongoing projects:

  • 2017-2021: ERA-Net Neuron JTC2016; I3334-B27

  • 2018-2022: Doc-Funds FWF, DOC 33-B27

  • 2019-2022: FWF, P32699-B         

  • 2019-2022: Wissenschaftsförderung d. Österreichische Gesellschaft f. Neurologie 

  • 2020-2023: FWF, I4685-B

  • 2020-2023: Medizinisch-Wissenschaftlicher Fonds des Bürgermeisters der Bundeshauptstadt Wien; COV38

  • 2023-2026: FWF, I6565-B

Research Group Koneczny

Myasthenia gravis, neuroimmunology, IgG4 autoimmunity

 

Mag.a Inga Koneczny, DPhil
inga.koneczny@meduniwien.ac.at

Research Focus:

  • Inga Koneczny made groundbreaking contributions to the field of Myasthenia gravis research and IgG4 autoimmunity. During her DPhil studies at the University of Oxford with Prof. Angela Vincent, FRS FRCPath, she was the first to unravel the pathogenic mechanisms of MuSK autoantibodies as a functional block of binding between MuSK and Lrp4, and demonstrated their pathogenicity in vitro.
  • In her postdoctoral work with Prof. Marc De Baets and Drs Pilar-Martinez-Martinez and Mario Losen, she was the first to discover that MuSK autoantibodies, which belong to the rare IgG4 subclass, are bispecific in vivo in the patient serum, and that bispecific autoantibodies and Fab fragments are pathogenic in vitro.
  • In further projects she investigated the involvement of the thymus in Lrp4 MG, and the impact of long-term immunosuppression on IgG subclass distribution. She also contributed to reviews and wrote a book chapter for the Encyclopedia of Immunobiology.
  • She was awarded three  prestigious stipends from the Austrian science fund and the Austrian academy of sciences, two travel grants, one prize for the best conference poster and was invited speaker at several conferences. In 2023, as consortium coordinator, she was able to successfully obtain a large EU grant ("Doctoral Networks grant") for research into IgG4 autoimmune diseases ("IgG4-TREAT"), and is conducting research in another collaboration with Dr. Sarah Hoffmann from the Charité Berlin with seronegative myasthenia gravis ("Mya-DACH").

Keywords:

  • myasthenia gravis, neuroimmunology, IgG4 autoimmunity

Links:

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