The research focuses of the Gastein Research Institute (FOI) are rheumatic diseases and degenerative diseases of the joints. The areas of highest level of specialisation are, on the one hand, radon as a therapeutic product in its various application forms and, on the other hand, the ankylosing spondylitis (Morbus Bechterew) as well as the degenerative osteoarthroses.

The openess of the FOI research fields makes sure that despite the reasonable specialisation several areas of the subjects that are relevant to the Gastein health research can be processed. In the basic research area, the effect of the radon treatments on the cell culture systems, the inflammation occurrences, and the cytokine profile in arthritis and arthrosis models are researched.

In clinical studies, the effect of the combined hyperthermal/radon therapy in the Gastein healthcare facilities on the immune system of the patients with arthrosis, morbus Bechterew, rheumatoid arthritis and other rheumatic diseases is researched.

The FOI performs, along with its own studies, also other studies of the Gastein healing and rehabilitation facilities, as well as such of external research institutions (Paris-Lodron University Salzburg, Erlangen University, the Helmholtz Centre for Heavy Ion Research in Darmstadt, among others).

Research projects

The Gastein Research Institute (FOI) awards financial means annually in a competitive peer-review procedure for the support of scientific research projects. In this way, the independent development and coordination of clinical and basic research studies, which contribute to the understanding, quality assurance, further and,if necessary, new developments as well as to the public image of the Gastein healthcare offers, are supported.

The Gastein Research Institute FOI performs, along with its own studies, also other studies of the Gastein healing and rehabilitation facilities, as well as such of external research institutions (Paris-Lodron University Salzburg, Erlangen University, the Helmholtz Centre for Heavy Ion Research in Darmstadt, among others).

Cooperations and partners

Ludwig Boltzmann Gesellschaft
Salzburger Nachrichten
Physicians exclusive

Salzburg Province Hospitals, University Hospital for Nuclear Medicine and Endocrinology
Prof. Christian Pirich

Natural Science Faculty of Paris-Lodron University Salzburg; molecular biology speciality, Department for Allergology and Immunology, Prof. Josef Thalhamer

Natural Science Faculty of Paris-Lodron University Salzburg; cell biology speciality, Department for Cellular & Molecular Neurobiology, Prof. Hubert Kerschbaum

Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen, Institute for Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, AG Prof. DDr. Herrmann

Healing medicine Russia
Federal State Budgetary Institution, Research Institute of Rheumatology named after V.A. Nasonova, Moscow, Russia
International University of Restorative Medicine, Moscow, Russia
Russian treatment specialists make info-visit in the Gastein Research Institute


Institutions and work groups subsidise through FOI project support

Helmholtz Centre for Heavy Ions Research, Department of Biophysics, GSI, Darmstadt, Germany, AG Doz. Dr. Fournier

Natural Science Faculty of Paris-Lodron University Salzburg; molecular biology speciality, Department of Allergology and Immunology, Doz. Mag. Dr. R. Weiss, AG Prof. Dr. Thalhamer

Institute for Tendons and Bone Regeneration, Paracelsus Medical Private University, AG Priv.-Doz. Mag. Dr. Andreas Traweger (Prof. Dr. Bauer)

Institute for Clinical Immunology and Rheumatolog of Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen, AG Prof. DDr. Herrmann

University Hospital Graz, Department for Rheumatolog and Immunology, Prim. Dr. Graninger

Gastein healthcare companies

Alpentherme Bad Hofgastein

Badehospiz

Felsentherme

Gasteiner Heilstollen

Kur & Gesundheitspartner Gastein

Kurzentrum Bad Hofgastein

Radon-Thermal Dunstbad

Paracelsus Medical Private University links the physician competence bearers of the Gastein valley and the researchers of the Gastein Research Institute (FOI) in their academic teaching.

Along with the teaching activity in the study of human medicine, FOI mentors students of Paracelsus University within the framework of the research trimester, the doctorate study program in molecular medicine (Ph.D.) as well as the doctorate study in medical sciences (Ph.D.).

In addition, students from Paris Lodron University Salzburg are mentored in the master and Ph.D. education.

Publications