Research has been carried out in the Medaustron Cancer Treatment and Research Center in southern Lower Austria: domestic science institutions use the particle accelerator system for research projects from a wide variety of areas, from radiation biology to space research. Federal Minister Eva-Maria Holzleitner got an idea of the status of research activities on the Medausttron on site.
The unique infrastructure of the center – especially the particle accelerator, which delivers different jet parameters into a radiation space used exclusively for research purposes, as well as modern laboratories – creates ideal conditions for specific and interdisciplinary research projects. This is made possible by a cooperation agreement between the Federal Ministry of Women, Science and Research and Medaustron: In addition to the use of the infrastructure, access to radiation period is also contractually regulated for research purposes. This is made available to the researchers outside of the clinical operation, mainly on weekends. In 2024, an average of 59 external scientists worked at the location in Wiener Neustadt – among others from the MedUni Vienna, Technical Vienna, FH Wiener Neustadt and the Institute for High Energy Physics. The proportion of women of around 41%for the MINT area is particularly gratifying for the MINT area.
Federal Minister of Women, Science and Research Eva-Maria HolzleitnerBSC emphasizes: “Research institutions such as MedaUtron impressively show how highly specialized infrastructure in cooperation with domestic science institutions produces new knowledge with social relevance. I am particularly pleased that not only excellent research is carried out here, but also the high proportion of women in a technical and natural science environment shows: science can and must be the same.
Mag. In Dr. Thomas SchreinerCoordinator of non -clinical research at Medaustron added: “We are already looking back on an almost ten -year successful cooperation with Austrian and international research institutions, which is made possible by cooperation with the Federal Ministry of Women, Science and Research. This has been able to use over 6,400 hours at radiation for research purposes since 2016. The scientific results achieved are reflected in over 160 manuscripts published in specialist journals and in over 150 academic work.”
The current research program 2025-2027 is realized by 1,056 hours of beam period per year and focuses on the following areas: Applied particle and medicine physics, technical innovations and clinical implementation, biophysics and molecular radiation biology as well as accelerator physics. In addition, there is also the possibility to bring students closer to dealing with a particle beam in practical laboratory exercises.
The center distinguishes the treatment and research from the beginning at Medaustron under one roof. Di Franz DinhoblMP to the Lö. Landtag and City Council in Wiener Neustadt, emphasizes in this context: “The implementation of Medaustron in this form was a joint effort of the federal government, the state of Lower Austria and the city of Wiener Neustadt. Our concern is to continue writing this success story as a joint project in the future.”
Finally, Managing Director DI Alfred emphasize Zens and managing director and medical director Prof. Dr. Eugen B. Hug: “At MedaUtron, we are careful to quickly integrate relevant findings into clinical application and, on the other hand, also to support other research areas from partial detectors to space research.”