Giulio Superti-Furga takes over the professorship for Medical Systems Biology at the Medical University of Vienna. The Scientific Director of CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences was previously a Visiting Professor of Molecular Pharmacology at the Medical University of Vienna. At the same time Sylvia Knapp, Professor of Infection Biology at the Medical University of Vienna and Principal Investigator at CeMM takes over the newly created position of Director of Medical Affairs at CeMM.

Superti-Furga is a strong proponent of systems biology approaches in medicine and drug research with the aim to link basic and clinical research. His research contributes to the elucidation of modes of action of specific drugs. Most recently Superti-Furga and his team discovered the enzyme MTH1 as an Achilles' heel of malignant tumor cells, and at the same time succeeded in identifying the chemical mirror image of an existing anti-cancer drug called crizotinib to be an efficient inhibitor of MTH1 activity (Huber et al., Nature 2014). In another study, the group found a molecular sensor that controls cell growth mechanism (Rebsamen et al. Nature 2015). This sensor represents a potential point of attack for the development of targeted therapies for the treatment of cancer and metabolic diseases, caused by an undesirable anabolism and cell growth.

"Superti-Furga is an exceptionally active international top scientist. I am very pleased to have him at the Medical University of Vienna," MedUni Rector Wolfgang Schütz says. "Giulio Superti-Furga´s professorship at the Medical University of Vienna and the appointment of Sylvia Knapp to the position of Director at CeMM will deepen the relationship. A number of joint publications in top scientific journals testify a very positive development in recent years and point to a good and successful collaboration. "

In 2006 Sylvia Knapp joined the management of the Research Laboratory of the Department of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine at the Medical University of Vienna, and was appointed Principal Investigator at CeMM in the same year. Since 2012 she has been Professor of Infection Biology at the Department of Internal Medicine of the Medical University of Vienna and in 2013, she became a member of the senate of the Medical University of Vienna. Sylvia Knapp successfully combines many years of experience as an intensive care physician with insight into clinical needs and basic research. She is a leading expert in the field of clinical and experimental infection biology.

Together with the Scientific Director Professor Giulio Superti-Furga and the Administrative Director Anita Ender, Professor Sylvia Knapp is now part of the CeMM management team and in her new role is responsible for all the medical and ethical issues related to CeMM. She will also take over the coordination of the CeMM PhD program.

CeMM’s research is strongly oriented towards medical needs and integrates basic research with clinical expertise to develop innovative diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. The research focus is on cancer, inflammation and infection. The Medical University of Vienna is one of the most important research partners of the Austrian Academy of Sciences Institute and plays a key role in the career development of the CeMM students.