The LBG Xchange, which has been held annually since 2023, puts the spotlight on research, leadership in science and social responsibility. The Federal Minister was a guest at the Leopold Museum for the third time and praised the interdisciplinary approach of the Ludwig Boltzmann Association, which, in addition to its own research in medicine, the life sciences and the humanities, social sciences and cultural studies, is also active as a funding body in the field of clinical research. A call for proposals is currently open for a new clinical research group in the field of gender medicine and women’s health research, which is set to complement the already existing six clinical research groups from next year onwards. To further raise public awareness of the importance of clinical research, a dedicated campaign on the topic will also be launched shortly.

In her welcoming address, President Smolle-Jüttner referred to a very recent success: the LBG is to receive 6.5 million euros in funding from the ‘Fonds Zukunft Österreich’ to establish an Austria-wide platform for clinical research. Clinical Trials Austria will develop a new service infrastructure in close collaboration with clinical trial centres and relevant stakeholders, with the aim of making clinical trials in Austria more efficient, accessible and attractive to trial sponsors in future.

Science Talk on Clinical Research

One of the highlights of the evening was the Science Talk featuring Robab Breyer-Kohansal (Scientific Director of the LEAD study at the LBI for Lung Health), Roland Kocijan (Head of the Clinical Science research group at the LBI for Osteology) and Silvia Bonelli-Nauer (Scientific Director of the EPICONN Clinical Research Group at the Medical University of Vienna). Presenter Kristina Schranz spoke to them about their current work:

• The Vienna-based long-term LEAD (Lung – hEart – sociAl – boDy) study investigates the lung health of over 15,000 participants from Vienna and the surrounding area. It is the most comprehensive research study on prevention and health promotion amongst the Viennese population and was launched back in 2012 at the LBI for Lung Health in collaboration with the Vienna Health Network. The data is continuously analysed and published; most recently, for example, a study on the decline in cigarette smoking in Austria and the simultaneous rise in vaping received widespread media attention.
• The program line Clinical Science at the LBI for Osteology conducts research into osteoporosis, a condition that primarily affects women. As this is a chronic condition, early diagnosis is particularly important for effective treatment. The institute has therefore launched a pilot project at www.frakturimgriff.at to better inform patients with bone fractures about early warning signs. The aim is to detect osteoporosis-related fractures more quickly and prevent further cases.
• Epilepsy is a brain disorder characterised by recurrent seizures. If these seizures originate in specific areas of the brain, the condition is referred to as focal epilepsy. The condition can not only affect physical and mental health, but also restrict social life and, in some cases, shorten life expectancy. The data collected as part of the EPICONN Clinical Research Group (Towards EPIleptomics – a CONNectome-based perspective on epileptic networks, cognition and clinical outcome) are intended to help identify meaningful biomarkers and develop new treatment approaches. Over the next four years, these findings are to be applied at several Austrian epilepsy centres to assess which of them prove particularly helpful in everyday clinical practice.

Leadership Excellence Awards in Research go to Sandra Diller and Marina Grzinic-Mauhler

Scientific excellence requires good leadership: research leaders are responsible not only for scientific outcomes, but also for their teams and the development of early-career researchers. Since 2023, the LBG Career Center has been presenting the Leadership Excellence Award in Research to individuals who fulfil their leadership roles in an outstanding manner and thereby make a significant contribution to science. The keynote address of the evening was delivered by Hannah Schragmann, who spoke on the topic ‘What One Health teaches us about good leadership’, discussing the benefits and characteristics of excellent leadership. She concluded that such leadership not only produces results but also safeguards the relational environment in which excellence becomes – and remains – possible in the first place. Concrete examples of this were then provided by this year’s two award winners:

In the Emerging Leaders category, the Leadership Excellence Award in Research 2026 was presented to Sandra Diller, Associate Professor of Organisational Psychology at Schloss Seeburg Private University, Research Affiliate at the IOC Harvard Medical School, and coach and trainer at LMU Munich.

In the Experienced Leaders category, Marina Grzinic-Mauhler, a philosopher and professor at the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna, as well as a researcher at the Institute of Philosophy at the Science and Research Centre of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts (ZRC SAZU) in Ljubljana, received the award.