Austrias first centre of excellence in biomedicine, Vienna based Bio Molecular Therapeutics (BMT), is going from strength to strength. With a workforce of over 60 and an annual budget of more than EUR 3.63 million, BMT is currently working on four major projects. The centre is researching into the genetic causes of chronic inflammatory diseases such as rheumatism and arteriosclerosis, inflammation of the gastro-intestinal tract, and disorders of the immune system.

BMT is a research association the only one of its kind in Austria that brings together leading university institutes, pharmaceutical companies, and domestic and foreign start-ups in order to achieve rapid transfers of research results from the laboratory to the patient. There is much to be gained, as the present lack of effective treatments for these widespread diseases is to blame for severe disabilities and about half of all fatalities. Although it was founded only two years ago, BMT can already point to palpable success in the form of international publications, patent registrations and promising new therapeutic approaches.

The decoding of the human genome is widely regarded as a milestone in the history of the biosciences. Less well known is the fact that the real purpose of these endeavours is to identify the genetic origins of diseases. BMT a line-up of ten commercial and scientific partners with complementary areas of expertise is in the forefront of these efforts. The chosen organisational and managerial set-up of the centre is aimed at ensuring that relevant research results are applied, in the interests of patients.

BMTs operational partners are the Medical Faculty of the University of Vienna (the Institute of Vascular Biology and Thrombosis Research, the Institute of Immunology, and the Department of Immunodermatology and Infectious Skin Diseases, University Clinic
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Contact: Gudrun Baumann
gudrun.baumann@bmt-research.at
43-1-8673691
PR&D Public Relations for Research & Development
26-Nov-2001