VWA-MINT Award for Viktoria Versnik – Research Collaboration with Paracelsus Medical Private University

And the award goes to... Viktoria Versnik! The student from HTL Itzling in Salzburg was honored with the VWA-MINT Award from the Austrian Academy of Sciences for her outstanding pre-scientific thesis. Her diploma thesis was created in collaboration with PMU. This award recognizes excellent pre-scientific work in mathematics, computer science, natural sciences, and technology (STEM). The official ceremony took place on September 24 in the grand hall of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (ÖAW) in Vienna.

Successful Collaboration between HTL Itzling & PMU

At the PMU Institute of Pharmacy, Viktoria investigated the effects of the natural compound MF-15 and four newly developed derivatives on breast cancer cell lines. Her approach: Under sterile conditions, she cultured cells, treated them with different substances, and analyzed their effects on cell viability using the resazurin method. Resazurin is a dye that acts like a small “cell health detector.” Living, active cells have a metabolism that triggers the chemical conversion of the blue resazurin dye to pink. When cells become metabolically inactive due to substance treatment, this color change no longer occurs, and the blue remains. This allows for the distinction between living, metabolically active cells and inactive ones. Treatment of the breast cancer cells led to a significant reduction in their viability.

Petra Huber-Cantonati, a researcher at the PMU Institute of Pharmacy, co-supervised the diploma thesis on behalf of PMU: “The collaboration between PMU and Viktoria as part of the diploma thesis demonstrates the value of bridging the gap between school and research. Students gain insights into scientific work, can contribute their own ideas, and are integrated into ongoing research projects. This fosters enthusiasm for science and perhaps the next generation of researchers.”

We warmly congratulate Viktoria on this wonderful achievement!

School meets Science

Anyone who wants to experience the world of research firsthand with their class is cordially invited to register for school tours at PMU. Students and their teachers can look forward to practical workshops and active exchange with scientists from the PMU institutes. The program is aimed at middle and high schools as well as specialized training courses and can be ideally integrated into the curriculum. More information is available at: https://www.pmu.ac.at/school-meets-science