ludwig boltzmann institute of osteology

The LBI of Osteology is the scientific core center within a multidisciplinary clinical network located at the Hanusch Hospital and the Trauma Centre Meidling targeting diagnosis and treatment of bone and joint diseases. Its mission is to achieve the highest level of scientific excellence through basic and clinical research in osteology, as well as the training of young scientists and clinicians. The primary goal is the improvement of patient care. Towards this goal, the study of bone is undertaken at all hierarchical levels through a multidisciplinary approach by a worldwide unique combination of techniques. The aim is the elucidation of the mechanisms underlying the basic function of bone, and musculoskeletal diseases, leading to the discovery and development of effective strategies for diagnosis, prevention, and treatment. For example, ongoing research provides insights into the basis of bone fragility in osteoporosis and osteogenesis imperfecta. The gained knowledge provides benchmarks against which current therapies are evaluated, and provides the basis for the design of new, targeted ones. To achieve stated goal, LBIO basic scientists and clinicians in tandem with national and international collaborators as well as industry, are utilizing LBIO expertise and available combination of analytical approaches to study bone at all hierarchical levels. The existing combination of instrumental capabilities allows analyses to be performed from a clinical, cell & molecular biology, physical chemical, and material science perspective.