Osteoarthritis (colloquially known as arthrosis) is the degenerative breakdown of cartilage in joints. It is a widespread condition for which there are still no effective treatments. In addition to large joints such as the knee, hip and shoulder, the finger joints are also often affected – with corresponding limitations in everyday life. Figures from Germany show that from the age of 60, one third of men and more than half of women suffer from arthrosis. It is precisely these statistics that drive Burkhard Klösch, who has been researching for more than two decades how cartilage and bones can be protected from degeneration and, ideally, regenerated. ‘In addition to cartilage degradation, I am also concerned with bone degradation – osteoporosis also affects mostly women, especially during menopause. Together, these two conditions affect several hundred thousand people in Austria every year.’

With this endeavour, he is directly fulfilling the mission of the LBG – to provide science for society. He began his career in 2003 at the LBI for Traumatology in Vienna with research into bone regeneration and growth factors. When he moved to the LBI for Arthritis and Rehabilitation in 2008, he shifted his focus to hydrogen sulphide as a therapeutic option for bones and joints. The key researcher currently heads a branch office at the Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology at the University of Graz. The structure of the LBI for Arthritis and Rehabilitation also supports the seamless connection of basic research with applied use cases, such as rehabilitation in collaboration with the Pensionsversicherungsanstalt (PVA).

Since ancient times and to this day, sulphurous baths have been used to relieve joint pain. However, it is difficult to transfer hydrogen sulphide (H2S) from external to internal application in inflammatory and degenerative joint diseases: the molecule is short-lived, its release is difficult to control and it is toxic in high doses. The molecular biologist and pharmacologist is therefore focusing on the chemical synthesis of carrier molecules that control H2S, releasing it in low doses and only within the cell into specific cell organelles. This is a good time to talk about a long research career, which of course also has its ups and downs and failures: “I have asked myself many times whether it makes sense to continue, especially after setbacks. You feel frustrated and desperate, but you try to come up with new ideas, especially in this phase. In my case, studying the literature often helped, i.e. using approaches from publications in the context of my own work. That’s how I always managed to make a little progress.‘ In this respect, he is more of the ’quiet little room” type. In any case, the current research question has always automatically followed on from the previous one for him.

Decisive steps have been taken since 2011 in collaboration with Erwan Galardon at Paris Descartes University. Three COX-2 inhibitors (aspirin, naproxen and ibuprofen) are being investigated as ‘carrier molecules’. An initial screening of candidate drugs was carried out in cell cultures. Of the 30 substances originally synthesised, three remained that proved to be non-toxic. In the next step, these were tested both in an in vitro model for inflammation and in a model for bone loss. In both (!) cases, they showed the desired effect. In future, therefore, the Styrian researcher will be looking at the connection between joints and bones, as in the human body. Extensive animal testing is necessary to further test the dual-purpose molecules and bring them into drug development. This requires even more preparatory work and additional financial resources. Burkhard Klösch has therefore now initiated a collaboration with the LBI for Osteology in Vienna: ‘We still know too little about the substances, so we are going “back to the roots” and trying to elucidate the mechanism – now with brainpower and tools from three institutes.’

Burkhard Klösch never obtained a postdoctoral qualification, but he has repeatedly led research groups. When he tried his hand at the pharmaceutical industry a few years ago, he realised that he would not feel at home there. He has pursued his career almost exclusively outside academia in Austria. ‘A product of chance,’ he says, although he would recommend all young researchers to spend time abroad. After completing his doctorate at the Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, he spent three years in pathology at Graz University Hospital before looking for a job. His boss at the time told him about a permanent position at the LBI for Traumatology in Vienna: ‘I was immediately hooked, and I wanted to go to Vienna anyway. So within a few weeks, I packed up my things in Graz and became a group leader at this very well-equipped institute.’

An anecdote from a hospital in Vienna illustrates his character, as does his choice of studies. But first things first. Influenced by his father, an electrical engineer and amateur naturalist, Burkhard Klösch originally wanted to study botany. However, his fellow student convinced him to enrol in the new molecular and microbiology programme (Studium irregulare), which was launched in 1987 in cooperation between Graz University of Technology and the University of Graz. ‘He said that he didn’t think studying botany was very forward-looking. We were a small group of about ten students who still had to submit the curriculum to the ministry.’

Most of his colleagues have also become researchers: ‘It makes a huge difference whether you conduct research on your own or are integrated into an existing, well-functioning working group. I gradually built everything up from scratch, and as things stand at present, it is slowly bearing fruit.’ He remembers his first day at work at the Kaiser Franz Josef Hospital in 2008, when he first had to dust off the equipment, some of which was getting on in years. He was led into a small laboratory with the words: ‘Dr Klösch, this is where you start, get to work.’

He describes Prof. Günter Steiner from the Rheumatology Department at Vienna General Hospital as his mentor and motivator: “He is just as big a fan of sulphur as I am, and we both started at the LBI for Arthritis and Rehabilitation in 2008. However, he was the new head of the institute and I was a senior scientist. We found each other through our shared new beginning, and thanks to his years of support, I am still researching a project that has been on the brink of closure several times.” Important benchmarks for Burkhard Klösch are the regular institute evaluations of scientific output, to which he has contributed over many years.

His dream is to bring an effective substance to market: “We will continue to test the substances we have developed ourselves and hopefully be able to patent them soon. Within the LBG, the issue of intellectual property is clearly regulated by contract. In addition, the internal research network gives me access to infrastructure and clinical resources, for example at KFU Graz or MedUni Vienna. From my long research career, I already know a number of colleagues, which makes it even easier to advance my research. We are pooling all our internal resources so as not to waste any more time.”

His motivation comes from the suffering of his patients, and since the age of 18, Burkhard Klösch has been generating the necessary energy from sport and nature: in the gym and on his mountain bike. The animal lover lives with two rescued mixed-breed dogs and three cats and is passionate about playing the recorder and piano – his favourite composer is Vivaldi: ‘Music and science go very well together, because creativity and a playful element are important for both.’