CONSORTIUM
MUV - Medizinische Universitaet Wien
The Center for Biomedical Research (CBR) (https://biomed-forschung.meduniwien.ac.at/en/about-us/the-center-for-biomedical-research/) at the Medical University of Vienna (MUV) is the primary Institute of the MUV team. Comprising three distinct divisions—the Department for Drug and Device Testing, the Department of Training and Simulation, and the Cardiovascular Institute—the CBR is a hub for cutting-edge research. With over 30 years of expertise in Cardiovascular Research, the center focuses on areas such as the consequences of cardiac pressure and volume overload on the heart, the development of small-diameter vascular grafts, and the effects of venous thrombosis and atherosclerosis on macrophages. The ultimate goal is to pioneer new and more effective therapeutic approaches.
The MUV Team has extensive expertise in cardiovascular animal models and will be responsible for validating the in vivo performance of the iGraft, in close collaboration with all other partners. Leading the MUV team is Prof. Helga Bergmeister, a medical doctor and veterinarian, Professor at MUV, and leader of the Engineered Cardiovascular Prosthesis and Biomaterials Group of CBR. She is closely assisted by Dr. Sabrina Rohringer and the Ph.D. student Anna-Maria Schmitt.
Helga Bergmeister
Prof. at MUV and leader of the Engineered Cardiovascular Prosthesis and Biomaterials Group of the Center for Biomedical Research
Biography
Helga Bergmeister is a Medical doctor and Veterinarian, Prof. at MUV and leader of the Engineered Cardiovascular Prosthesis and Biomaterials Group of the Center for Biomedical Research. With over 25 years of experience, Helga has actively participated in more than 100 projects related to cardiovascular implants. Her substantial contributions include 103 published papers, 6 book chapters, and the editorship of 1 book. Additionally, she has successfully supervised 6 Ph.D. students. Helga has served as a scientific evaluator in Horizon 2020 (H2020) and holds a position on the Austrian Society for Surgical Research Board. She is also a member of the Ethics Committee for Animal Experiments at MUV.
As an accomplished experimental surgeon, Helga specializes in the evaluation of cardiovascular devices in both small and large animal models. In her role as the coordinator of the MUV team, she is responsible for overseeing the in vivo studies crucial for the validation of the iGraft.
Helga Bergmeister is a Medical doctor and Veterinarian, Prof. at MUV and leader of the Engineered Cardiovascular Prosthesis and Biomaterials Group of the Center for Biomedical Research. With over 25 years of experience, Helga has actively participated in more than 100 projects related to cardiovascular implants. Her substantial contributions include 103 published papers, 6 book chapters, and the editorship of 1 book. Additionally, she has successfully supervised 6 Ph.D. students. Helga has served as a scientific evaluator in Horizon 2020 (H2020) and holds a position on the Austrian Society for Surgical Research Board. She is also a member of the Ethics Committee for Animal Experiments at MUV.
As an accomplished experimental surgeon, Helga specializes in the evaluation of cardiovascular devices in both small and large animal models. In her role as the coordinator of the MUV team, she is responsible for overseeing the in vivo studies crucial for the validation of the iGraft.
Sabrina Rohringer
Post-doctoral research fellow at the Center for Biomedical Research and Translational Surgery, MUV
Biography
Sabrina Rohringer received her Ph.D. in Vascular Biology from the Medical University of Vienna in 2023. Prior to this, she worked in research groups dealing with (lymph-) angiogenesis and vasculogenesis in tissue engineering. She also worked for several years in a molecular biology laboratory. Her main focus is on vitro and in vivo biocompatibility testing and vascularization techniques. To date, she has published 6 papers as first author, co-authored 14 publications, and contributed to three book chapters. In the Blood2Power project, Sabrina assists Prof. Bergmeister with the in vivo experiments and supports the project with her knowledge of bio- and hemocompatibility testing.
Sabrina Rohringer received her Ph.D. in Vascular Biology from the Medical University of Vienna in 2023. Prior to this, she worked in research groups dealing with (lymph-) angiogenesis and vasculogenesis in tissue engineering. She also worked for several years in a molecular biology laboratory. Her main focus is on vitro and in vivo biocompatibility testing and vascularization techniques. To date, she has published 6 papers as first author, co-authored 14 publications, and contributed to three book chapters. In the Blood2Power project, Sabrina assists Prof. Bergmeister with the in vivo experiments and supports the project with her knowledge of bio- and hemocompatibility testing.
Anna-Maria Schmitt
Ph.D. Student in Prof. Bergmeister Group at the Center for Biomedical Research and Translational Surgery, MUV
Biography
Anna-Maria Schmitt is a Ph.D. Student in the Group of Prof. Bergmeister at the Center for Biomedical Research and Translational Surgery. During her Bachelor and Master studies in Biochemistry, she conducted research on biomaterials for 3D modelling and tissue replacement. She joined the Group of Prof. Bergmeister for her Master thesis in 2022, studying the interaction between Perivascular Adipose Tissue and Vascular Grafts in vitro. In 2023, she started her Ph.D. in Cardiovascular Biology. As part of the Blood2Power project, she assists Prof. Bergmeister and Dr. Sabrina Rohringer in the validation of iGraft in vivo performances.
Anna-Maria Schmitt is a Ph.D. Student in the Group of Prof. Bergmeister at the Center for Biomedical Research and Translational Surgery. During her Bachelor and Master studies in Biochemistry, she conducted research on biomaterials for 3D modelling and tissue replacement. She joined the Group of Prof. Bergmeister for her Master thesis in 2022, studying the interaction between Perivascular Adipose Tissue and Vascular Grafts in vitro. In 2023, she started her Ph.D. in Cardiovascular Biology. As part of the Blood2Power project, she assists Prof. Bergmeister and Dr. Sabrina Rohringer in the validation of iGraft in vivo performances.
Contact us
Blood2Power Coordinator
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon EIC Pathfinder Challenges 2022 under grant agreement no. 101115525. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.