The program clinical research groups (KFG), which was established by the Federal Ministry of Women, Science and Research (BMFWF) together with the Ludwig Boltzmann Gesellschaft (LBG), is Austria’s first collaborative research funding with clear focus on patient-oriented, medically relevant topics in the field of non-commercial clinical research. In 2022, a funding gap in the clinical research area was closed to bring results from basic research closer to the patient: inside. Today, as part of a press conference, together with Federal Minister of Women, Science and Research Eva-Maria Holzleitner, LBG President Freyja-Maria Smoll-Jüttner and Vice Rector for Research and Innovation at the Medical University of Vienna Michaela Fritz, three new KFG were presented in the areas of oncology and neurology.
24 million euros for clinical research in Austria
With a funding of 24 million euros from the BMFWF and the Fund Future Austria fund, three research groups can fully focus on their research with the support of the LBG. “The funding program underlines Austria’s commitment to a patient: internally and practice-oriented clinical research. We are not only a funding, but also actively help: as a bridge builder between practice and science. We ensure evidence-based innovation in health care and thus strengthen the health and research location,” says Eva-Maria Holzleitner, Federal Minister for Women, Science and Research.
LBG President Freyja-Maria Smoll-Jüttner is also pleased: “The great interest in our KFG program impressively shows what potential in clinical research in Austria. With the three new clinical research groups, we are focusing on excellent, interdisciplinary teams that are directly developed for the benefit of patients. The patient: to introduce the inside and at the same time set new impulses for excellent science in the field of life sciences. ”
“The new program starts exactly where it is used the most: in promoting synergies and more intensive cooperation within our scientific community,” says Michaela Fritz, Vice Rector for Research and Innovation of the MedUni Vienna. “Especially in the area of investigator-driven studies-i.e. science-driven studies-we see an enormous need. The clinical research groups not only create a valuable structure here, but also enable interdisciplinary research to strengthen and sustainably strengthen.
The three KFG at a glance: improve quality of life for intestinal, bladder cancer and epilepsy
This year’s call also took into account cancer research in accordance with the “EU Mission Cancer”. After a comprehensive tender, the three new research groups were „CRC-RES”, „StrikeBC“ and „EPICONN“ Selected by a top-class international expert: Interior Commission and are now funded for up to eight years and with up to around eight million euros each:
CRC res: combat therapy resistance in colon cancer with personalized tumor models
In around 50 percent the patient: Healing is currently not possible on the inside with colon cancer. The main problem arises as soon as metastases form and only chemotherapy or immunotherapy remain as treatment options. Many affected people initially show good therapy successes, but therapy resistance often develops in the course. To make matters worse, every tumor is individual – no one is like the other.
The clinical research group “CRC-Res” under the direction of Johannes Längle from the Medical University of Vienna has set itself the task of identifying new therapeutic approaches with personalized tumor-models in order to combat therapy resistance. For this purpose, pieces of tumor tissue are removed and bred in the laboratory in order to examine which active ingredient combination promises the best therapeutic effect.
Strikebc: improves opportunities for survival and quality of life of people with bladder cancer
Bladder cancer is the most ninthest cancer worldwide – and the number of those affected is increasing steadily. The disease does not only affect the patient: strong inside, but also the entire health system. A particular challenge in treatment is the individually very different course of the disease.
Under the direction of Bernhard Enginger from the Medical University of Vienna, the clinical research group “Strikebc” pursues the goal of shaping the treatment of bladder cancer more specifically, individual and gentle. For this purpose, a variety of information is collected- for example from blood and tissue samples, imaging examinations and from laboratory experiments with models that reproduce the disease. With the help of modern data analysis methods, it is then examined how this information is interacted. The research goal is to develop treatments that are individually tailored to every person and thus noticeably improve the chances of survival and quality of life of people with bladder cancer.
Epiconn: forward -looking and personalized treatment for focal epilepsy
Epilepsy is a neurological disease that causes recurring seizures. When these seizures come from certain areas of the brain, one speaks of focal epilepsy. This can affect both physical and mental health, restrict social life and reduce life expectancy. For most affected people, the seizures can be checked with medication. However, about a third speaks the patient: not on the inside of the drug treatment.
A new scientific approach assumes that the causes of epilepsy are not limited to individual brain regions, but concern wide networks in the brain. The research group “Epiconn” led by Silvia Bonelli-Nauer from the Medical University of Vienna has set itself the goal of identifying these complex changes. Biological characteristics of the brain – so -called biomarkers – are identified for this. These enable the best possible treatment to be found faster. In addition, they provide insights into how epilepsy affects the brain, which factors are related, how they affect the course of therapy and who particularly suffers from side effects. The goal is foresight and personalized treatment that significantly improves the quality of life of people with epilepsy.
In the first four years, 300 people with focal epilepsy are to be invited to participate in the study. In a second funding period over another four years, the knowledge gained should be put into practice in several Austrian epilepsy centers.
Next KFG advertisement 2026
For 2026, the next round of application for the funding program of the LBG clinical research groups is already planned. Current tender documents will be on the LBG website in good time https://lbg.ac.at/kfg/published.