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Research & Publications

The Institute of Neuropathology and Neuromolecular Pathology is dedicated to researching diseases of the central, peripheral, and enteric nervous systems. The focus is on brain tumors, neurodegenerative diseases, and the neural networks of the gut and their role in the context of the brain-gut axis. Our scientific approach combines state-of-the-art molecular diagnostics, high-resolution imaging, and innovative technologies such as nanopore sequencing and functional organoid models. The goal is to develop novel diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for previously hard-to-treat neurological diseases.

Ultraschnelle Diagnostik bei Gehirntumoren

Hirngewebebank für neurodegenerative Erkrankungen

Enterisches Nervensystem und sensorische Nerven

Our Research at a Glance

Technology-driven Ultra-fast Diagnostics in Brain Tumors

Leading Researchers: Claudia Manzl, Anna Birkl-Töglhofer, Zuzana Loncova, Alexander Miller-Michlits, Glory Ranches-Meunier

New technologies, such as epigenome-wide DNA methylation analysis and nanopore sequencing, allow tumor profiles to be created in a very short time—often during surgery. In close collaboration with the University Clinic for Neurosurgery and Neurology, we are developing deep learning models for multimodal tumor classification and evaluating the potential of personalized therapies in national and international studies (e.g., ATTRACT, EORTC).

Graphic created with BioRender

Brain Tissue Bank for Neurodegenerative Diseases

Leading Researchers: Adelheid Wöhrer, Anna Birkl-Töglhofer, Adelina Kjerimi

To study neurodegenerative processes, we systematically collect brain tissue from patients with neurological and psychiatric diseases. Together with partners from neurology, psychiatry, and neuroanatomy, we aim to gain new insights into brain aging and early molecular disease markers—for example, for Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s.

Enteric Nervous System and Sensory Nerves

Leading Researchers: Zuzana Loncova, Yelyzaveta Miller-Michlits, Verena Forcher

The interactions along the brain-gut axis play a central role in inflammatory, viral, and neurodegenerative processes. We examine transcriptomic and proteomic patterns of sensory nerves in tissue samples from skin and gut—such as in REM sleep behavior disorder or early childhood constipation. For this, we collaborate interdisciplinarily with pediatrics, surgery, and bioinformatics core facilities.

Graphic created with BioRender

Structure & Goals of Our Research Unit

Our institute combines diagnostic excellence with translational research. The scientific activities are divided into three main areas:

  • Rapid intraoperative tumor diagnostics
  • Brain bank for neurodegenerative diagnostics, research, and teaching
  • Gut wall nervous system and its role in systemic diseases

A central goal is the transfer of knowledge from basic research into clinical applications. We are part of national and international networks and work closely with local clinics, research institutions, and technological platforms.

Publications

  1. Sex-specific differences in DNA methylation defining prognostically relevant subgroups in glioblastoma.
    Barbara Kiesel, Borkovec Martin, Julia Furtner-Srajer, Thomas Roetzer-Pejrimovsky, Karl-Heinz Nenning, Lisa Greutter, Yelyzaveta Miller-Michlits, Georg Widhalm, Adelheid Wöhrer; J Neurosurg 2025. PMID: 39951709; DOI: 10.3171/2024.9.JNS24665
  2. Phase 2 precision oncology clinical trial in glioblastoma.
    Anna Sophie Berghoff, Maximilian J. Mair, Zoltan Spiró, Calvin Abdel Malak, Amin El- Heliebi, Franziska Eckert, Julia Furtner, Franz König, Annette Leibeseder, Martha Nowosielski, Stefan Oberndorfer, Barbara Prietl, Josef Pichler, Thomas R. Pieber, Sabine Spiegl-Kreinecker, Tadeja Urbanic Purkart, Adelheid Wöhrer, Georg Widhalm, Matthias Preusser; in press with Neurooncol. Adv. 2025
  3. Predicting critical surgical characteristics of intracranial meningiomas on MRI—A prospective study on 100 consecutive patients.
    Fabian Winter, Julia Furtner, Astrid Dunst, Gregor Kasprian, Michael Weber, Adelheid Woehrer, Karl Roessler, Christian Dorfer; Neuro-Oncology Practice, 2025; npaf004, https://doi.org/10.1093/nop/npaf004
  4. Alzheimer’s disease neuropathological change in younger individuals with IDH-mutant glioma.
    Lisa Greutter, Lisa Schnitzenlehner, Sigrid Klotz, Barbara Kiesel, Yelyzaveta Miller-Michlits, Jessica Makoli, Georg Widhalm, Bernhard Baumann, Adelheid Woehrer; Neuro-Oncology Advances, Volume 7, Issue 1, January-December 2025, vdaf057, https://doi.org/10.1093/noajnl/vdaf057
  5. Deep learning links localized digital pathology phenotypes with transcriptional subtype and patient outcome in glioblastoma.
    Thomas Roetzer-Pejrimovsky, Karl-Heinz Nenning, Barbara Kiesel, Johanna Klughammer, Martin Rajchl, Bernhard Baumann, Georg Langs, Adelheid Wöhrer. Gigascience 2024. PMID: 39185700; DOI: 10.1093/gigascience/giae057
  6. Analysis of the Porphyrin Peak Shift and Fluorescence Lifetime in Gliomas with Different Tumor Grades, Intratumoral Regions, and Visible Fluorescence Status.
    Körner, Lisa Irina, David Reichert, Marco Andreana, Angelika Unterhuber, Mikael T. Erkkilae, Jessica Makolli, Barbara Kiesel, Mario Mischkulnig, Thomas Rötzer-Pejrimovsky, Adelheid Wöhrer; Diagnostics 14, no. 23: 2651. https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics14232651
  7. Tissue clocks derived from histological signatures of biological aging enable tissue-specific aging predictions from blood.
    Ernesto Abila, Iva Buljan, Yimin Zheng, Tamas Veres, Zhilong Weng, Maja Nackenhorst, Wolfgang Hulla, Yuri Tolkach, Adelheid Wöhrer, André F. Rendeiro. bioRxiv 2024; https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.11.14.618081
  8. Frequent Alzheimer’s disease neuropathological change in patients with glioblastoma,
    Lisa Greutter, Yelyzaveta Miller-Michlits, Sigrid Klotz, Regina Reimann, Karl-Heinz Nenning, Stephan Platzek, Elena Krause, Barbara Kiesel, Georg Widhalm, Georg Langs, Bernhard Baumann, Adelheid Wöhrer. Neurooncol Adv. PMID: 39220249; DOI: 10.1093/noajnl/vdae118
  9. Multimodal analytical tools for the molecular and elemental characterization of lesions in brain tissue of multiple sclerosis patients.
    Niehaus P, Gonzalez de Vega R, Haindl MT, Birkl C, Leoni M, Birkl-Toeglhofer AM, Haybaeck J, Ropele S, Seeba M, Goessler W, Karst U, Langkammer C, Clases D. PMID:38128277; DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2023.125518
  10. PROVIT-CLOCK: A Potential Influence of Probiotics and Vitamin B7 Add-On Treatment and Metabolites on Clock Gene Expression in Major Depression.
    Kreuzer K, Birkl-Toeglhofer AM, Haybaeck J, Reiter A, Dalkner N, Fellendorf FT, Maget A, Platzer M, Seidl M, Mendel LM, Lenger M, Birner A, Queissner R, Mairinger M, Obermayer A, Kohlhammer-Dohr A, Stross TM, Häussl A, Hamm C, Schöggl H, Amberger-Otti D, Painold A, Lahousen-Luxenberger T, Leitner-Afschar B, Färber T, Mörkl S, Wagner-Skacel J, Meier-Allard N, Lackner S, Holasek S, Habisch H, Madl T, Reininghaus E, Bengesser SA; PMID: 38776887; DOI: 10.1159/000538781

ORCID List of Individual Publications

Adelheid Wöhrer https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8435-8189

Claudia Manzl https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6269-7585

Anna Maria Birkl-Toeglhofer https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6908-145X

Zuzana Loncova https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8492-7214

Gudrun C. Thalhammer-Thurner https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1592-7856

Glory Ranches https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3623-1746

National & International Collaboration Partners

Univ.-Prof.in Dr.in Romana Höftberger, Division of Neuropathology and Neurochemistry, Department of Neurology, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
https://www.meduniwien.ac.at/web/forschung/researcher-profiles/researcher-profiles/index.php?id=688&res=romana_hoeftberger

Prof. Dr. Andre Rendeiro, CeMM, Vienna, Austria
https://cemm.at/research/groups/andre-rendeiro/people

Univ.-Prof. Dr. Christoph Bock and Peter Stepper PhD, CeMM, Vienna, Austria
https://cemm.at/research/groups/core-groups/christoph-bock/people

Prof. Igor Adameyko, Center for Brain Research, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria
https://www.meduniwien.ac.at/web/studium-weiterbildung/phd-und-doktoratsstudien/phd-studium/phd-thematische-programme/neuroscience/ueber-das-programm/supervisorinnen/igor-adameyko

Prof. Dr. Gabor Kovacs, Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toronto and Krembil Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada
https://tanz.med.utoronto.ca/faculty/gabor-kovacs

Prof. Jason Sa, Department of Biomedical Informatics and Biomedical Sciences, Korea University, Seoul, Korea
https://salab.korea.ac.kr/team

Assoc. Prof.in Priv. – Doz.in DDr.in Anna Bergmeister-Berghoff, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria
https://innere-med-1.meduniwien.ac.at/en/unsere-klinischen-abteilungen/onkologie/mitarbeiterinnen/aerztinnen/anna-bergmeister-berghoff

Karl-Heinz Nenning, PhD., Center for Biomedical Imaging & Neuromodulation, Nathan S. Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, New York, USA
https://www.nki.rfmh.org/people/karl-heinz-nenning-ph-d

Zlatko Trajanoski, Dipl.-Ing. Dr.techn. Univ.-Prof., Institute of Bioinformatics, Medical University of Innsbruck, Austria
https://icbi.i-med.ac.at/index.html

For detailed project information or collaboration inquiries, please contact adelheid.woehrer@i-med.ac.at or the research team directly.