Highlights & News

🎓 Career Paths: Ask a Postdoc – Anna Maria Birkl-Töglhofer

As part of the “Career Paths: Ask a Postdoc” series by the Medical University of Innsbruck, Anna Maria Birkl-Töglhofer from the Institute of Neuropathology and Neuromolecular Pathology shares insights into her research and her journey as a postdoctoral researcher.

In this interview, Anna discusses her work on iron dysregulation in neurodegenerative diseases, with a particular focus on Alzheimer’s disease, as well as the challenges and rewards of life as a postdoc. She also reflects on the importance of curiosity, resilience, and independent thinking in scientific research.

Read the full interview on the official LinkedIn page of the Medical University of Innsbruck:

👉🏼 Official LinkedIn post

👉🏼 Social Media

🎤 Guest Lecture: Dr. Youri Hoogstrate

We are pleased to welcome Dr. Youri Hoogstrate, Assistant Professor at the Department of Neurology, Erasmus MC (Rotterdam, The Netherlands), to our institute.

In his lecture, Dr. Hoogstrate will present current research on DNA methylation-based signatures and demonstrate their potential for more accurate grading of IDH-mutant gliomas, highlighting their significance for diagnostics and clinical decision-making.

📅 Date
September 8, 2026 | 5:00 PM

📍 Venue
Library (1st Floor)
Müllerstraße 44
6020 Innsbruck, Austria

🎓 CME Accreditation (DFP)
Participation in this lecture is accredited with 3 DFP (Continuing Medical Education) credits.

👏🏼 Welcome, Prof. Johannes Attems!

🧠 As of July 1, 2026, we are delighted to welcome Univ.-Prof. Dr. Johannes Attems as a new member of the Institute of Neuropathology and Neuromolecular Pathology at the Medical University of Innsbruck.

🤝🏻 As part of the public-public partnership with Tirol Kliniken, Prof. Attems will contribute to research, diagnostics, and teaching, bringing his extensive international expertise in the field of neurodegeneration to our institute.

🧬 A major focus of his work will be the establishment of the Innsbruck Brain Bank. This initiative will make an important contribution to the advancement of neuropathology and research into neurodegenerative diseases, ultimately benefiting patients, Tirol Kliniken, and the Medical University of Innsbruck.

💙 We are delighted to welcome Prof. Attems to our institute and wish him every success in his new role in Innsbruck.

👉🏼 Read the full announcement by the Medical University of Innsbruck on Prof. Attems’ appointment here: Johannes Attems zum Universitätsprofessor für Neuropathologie berufen

🍍☀️ Pineapple Party 2026 🍍☀️

🏝️ Our traditional summer party got a tropical upgrade this year: instead of a classic summer celebration, we transformed it into our very own Pineapple Party 2026.

🍕 With sunny weather, delicious pizza, refreshing drinks, and great conversations, our team enjoyed a relaxed afternoon away from the everyday routine of the institute. Moments like these not only strengthen team spirit but also create opportunities for personal exchange and lasting memories.

💛 A heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us and made our Pineapple Party such a wonderful summer afternoon. We are already looking forward to celebrating together again at next year’s summer party!

🎉 Congratulations to our colleague Claudia Manzl!

We are delighted to congratulate our colleague Claudia Manzl, who was voted “Prof of the Term” by the students of the Bachelor’s Programme in Molecular Medicine as the best lecturer for the 3rd and 6th semesters.

This award recognizes her outstanding commitment to teaching and her valuable contribution to the education and training of our students.

The award ceremony took place during the Summer Festival on June 11, 2026, on the CCB terrace.

Congratulations, dear Claudia, on this well-deserved achievement! 🎉

🚀 Team Outing 2026 – Laserdrom Innsbruck

This year’s team outing took the staff of the Institute of Neuropathology and Neuromolecular Pathology to Laserdrom at B1 Innsbruck. Surrounded by neon lights, exciting matches, and an action-packed atmosphere, the focus was on team spirit, shared experiences, and having fun together.

Equipped with laser vests and laser tag equipment, we competed in teams and navigated the futuristic arena together. There was plenty of laughter, excitement, and, of course, some friendly competition as everyone aimed for the highest score.

The afternoon provided a welcome break from our daily work routine and once again strengthened the bonds within our team. It was a memorable outing filled with great moments and lasting memories.

👉🏼 Take a look at some highlights here:

📰 Innsbruck Neuropathology Featured in Science

The renowned scientific journal Science highlights the latest findings on overlapping neurodegenerative pathologies and the challenges of modern dementia research in a recent feature article.

Among those interviewed is Johannes Attems, who will assume his professorship in Neuropathology at the Institute of Neuropathology and Neuromolecular Pathology in July 2026.

The article highlights the growing understanding of so-called “co-pathologies” or “mixed pathologies”—the coexistence of multiple neurodegenerative changes in the brain, such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and TDP-43 pathology. These findings are not only reshaping diagnostic approaches but also opening new perspectives for personalized therapies.

In his concluding remarks, Johannes Attems emphasizes the future vision of modern neuropathology: to move beyond viewing diseases in isolation and instead understand the complex biological changes in the brain as an individual, integrated whole.

„In the future we will not talk about Alzheimer’s disease … You see a patient and in his brain is so much amyloid beta and so much tau, so much alpha synuclein, so much TDP-43. That’s it. And you have something to give him.“
— Johannes Attems, Science (2026)

🧠 Further information and insights can be found here:
👉🏼 Zum Science-Artikel

🔬 Long Night of Research 2026
What Can Our Brain Tell Us? – Insights into Neuropathology

As part of the Long Night of Research, we were delighted to welcome numerous visitors to the Institute of Neuropathology and Neuromolecular Pathology at the Medical University of Innsbruck.

🧠 A Look Inside the Human Brain

Under the theme “What Can Our Brain Tell Us?”, we provided visitors with insights into our daily work. One of the highlights was the opportunity to examine real human brain specimens.

Together with our visitors, we explored the anatomy of the brain, identified its major structures, and demonstrated how neuropathologists investigate pathological changes. The chance to experience these specimens up close sparked great interest and many fascinating questions.

🔍 Making Our Work Accessible

One of our main goals was to show what lies behind our work. Neuropathology is dedicated to making diseases of the nervous system visible and understandable. Using the displayed specimens, we explained how diagnoses are established and highlighted the important role neuropathology plays in modern medicine.

👩‍🔬 Meaningful Conversations

The opportunity to engage directly with our visitors—from children to adults—was one of the highlights of the evening. Their curiosity and enthusiasm once again demonstrated the importance of making science accessible and providing insights into research and diagnostics.

We would like to thank everyone who visited our station for their interest and the many engaging conversations!

📰 Further Impressions

Further reports and impressions can be found here:
👉🏼 Zeitungsartikel
👉🏼 Social Media
👉🏼 Medizinische Universität Innsbruck

🔬 IGNIDTE Project – Neuropathology Participation

We are pleased to be part of the IGNIDTE Co-Fund Project, led by Prof. Elke Gizewski and Prof. Bernhard Baumann.

👉🏼 Further information about the project can be found here:
👉🏼 https://ignidte.i-med.ac.at/projects/

A PhD call is scheduled for autumn 2026 as part of the project. Two PhD positions will be offered in collaboration with the Division of Biomedical Physics.

For further details, please visit the project website: IGNIDTE Website.

🧠 Brain Awareness Week – Lecture

As part of Brain Awareness Week, our institute had the opportunity to contribute to the program on Tuesday, March 17. Our Head of the Institute, Adelheid Wöhrer, gave a lecture entitled “The Digital Detective – How Artificial Intelligence Can Support the Detection of Brain Tumours and Other Diseases.”

The lecture demonstrated how epigenetics and artificial intelligence can make the diagnosis of brain tumours more accurate while significantly accelerating the diagnostic process.

👉 Zum Vortrag

📱 Medizinische Universität Innsbruck auf Instagram

📰 Interview in the Kronen Zeitung

We were delighted to be invited by the Kronen Zeitung (krone.at) for an interview.

During the interview, we had the opportunity to provide insights into our work in the field of neuropathology. We discussed current topics including neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease, complex brain tumours, and recent developments in precision medicine.

👉🏼 Read the full interview and the discussion on the future of medicine here: https://www.krone.at/3986494

📢 Call for Applications – Professorship in Neuropathology (§ 99(1) Austrian Universities Act)

The Medical University of Innsbruck is currently inviting applications for the position of University Professor of Neuropathology in accordance with Section 99(1) of the Austrian Universities Act (UG) at the Institute of Neuropathology and Neuromolecular Pathology.

The full job advertisement has been published in the Official Bulletin No. 13/2025, Announcement No. 56.
👉🏼 Zur Ausschreibung im Mitteilungsblatt

📰 **Article: “Tyrol to Establish a Brain Donation Biobank” – Die Presse (November 18, 2025)**

Die Presse recently featured our work in neuropathology, showcasing our modern diagnostic approaches and new research initiatives, including the establishment of the Innsbruck Brain Bank for Western Austria.

We are delighted by the interest in our work and pleased to share insights into our daily practice, research, and ongoing projects.

Link zum Artikel “Tirol bekommt eine Biobank für Gehirnspenden”

Company Trip 2025: Lama Trekking at Wattenberg

On Tuesday, October 14, 2025, we went on our annual company outing. The destination was Wattenberg, where we had the opportunity to experience a guided llama trek with TyroLama Trekking and Breeding. Together with the friendly llamas, we walked through the autumn landscape and enjoyed the relaxing atmosphere away from the daily work routine. The curious animals created many fun and unforgettable moments that will stay with us for a long time. After the trek, we rounded off the day at the Schmalzerhof inn, enjoying delicious food and great conversations.

You can find glimpses of our trip in the photo gallery:

New Cooperation Boosts Neuropathology in Innsbruck

Since June 2025, all neuropathological examinations at the Innsbruck University Clinics have been carried out by the Institute of Neuropathology and Neuromolecular Pathology at the Medical University of Innsbruck, in close collaboration with the Tirol Kliniken. This is made possible by a new cooperation agreement that strengthens both clinical diagnostics and academic research and teaching.

A central innovation in this collaboration is the use of cutting-edge molecular methods such as Nanopore Sequencing, which enables brain tumor diagnoses within just a few hours. Innsbruck is currently one of only two centers in Austria offering this ultra-fast diagnostic technology.

During a recent press conference, the interdisciplinary team led by Univ.-Prof. Adelheid Wöhrer presented their work and gave insight into current developments and future prospects in the field of neuropathology.

Read the full article by the Medical University of Innsbruck

Photos from the press conference can be found in our image gallery below (Photos: MUI/D. Bullock)

Upcoming Events

CCCI Lecture Series Invitation

We are pleased to invite you to the next event in the CCCI Lecture Series!

Speaker: Dr. Tobias Weiss (University Hospital Zurich)
Topic: Identification and Characterization of Small-Molecule Degraders
Date: 25th September 2025
Time: 4:00 PM
Location: MZA Lecture Hall, Anichstraße 35, 6020 Innsbruck
Institute: Institute of Neuropathology and Neuromolecular Pathology

Dr. Tobias Weiss will provide fascinating insights into the identification and characterization of small-molecule degraders, which play a crucial role in modern medicine and pharmacology.

The event is free and open to the public. We look forward to your participation!

Lecture by Prof. Frank Stephan
Guest lecture by Prof. Dr. Frank Stephan
“Nanopore Sequencing & Brain Tumors”
On Friday, June 27, 2025, at 5:00 PM in the Library (Institute of Neuropathology and Neuromolecular Pathology, 1st floor).
The lecture promises exciting insights into current research – we look forward to your participation!

Interesting Conferences & Symposia

European Congress on Digital Pathology, 2025 (June 25–28, 2025, Barcelona, Spain)
Society for NeuroOncology Congress (SNO), 2025 (November 19–23, 2025, Honolulu, Hawaii)
European Congress of Neuropathology (ECNP), 2025 (October 11–14, 2025, Amsterdam, Netherlands)
EANS 2025 (October 5–9, 2025, Vienna)
Austrian Working Group for Neurosurgical Oncology (ANCO)
Society of Austrian Neurooncology (SANO)

News from the Institute

Arrival of the AVITI Device
On March 3, 2025, the new AVITI sequencing device has been launched at the Institute. This technology enables ultra-fast and high-resolution analyses of tumor tissue, significantly improving patients‘ diagnostics.
Ultrafast Nanopore Sequencing
Kick-off Neuropathology
On June 17, 2025, the kick-off meeting with the Rectorate of the Medical University of Innsbruck took place in the garden of the Neuropathology department. The entire Neuropathology team was invited. Rector Univ.-Prof. Wolfgang Fleischhacker, together with Prof. Christian Haring from Tirol Kliniken, opened the meeting, which focused on the future cooperation between the Medical University of Innsbruck and Tirol Kliniken GmbH.