The University of Vienna opens the Center of Excellence for Metaproteomics in collaboration with Bruker

The new Center of Excellence for Metaproteomics at the University of Vienna will focus on microbiome research using high-resolution protein-based methods. The strategic partnership between the University of Vienna and Bruker combines cutting-edge research with state-of-the-art technology. The new Center of Excellence for Metaproteomics will be headed by biochemist David Gómez-Varela from the University of Vienna.

The microbiome plays a crucial role in diverse ecosystems including human health and disease. David Gómez-Varela and Manuela Schmidt from the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Vienna have developed innovative methods in the field of metaproteomics. Metaproteomics includes experimental approaches for the investigation of proteins (the entire set of proteins is called the proteome) of microbial communities in living organisms and environmental sources. This facilitates the analysis of changes in the proteome of both microorganisms and their host. For example, metaproteomics can be used to study the microbiome of the human gut and, in parallel, the human gut cells themselves. The unique advantage of this post-genomic method is that it enables scientists not only to understand which microorganisms are present in a sample, but also how they work and interact with each other. Consequently, deeper insights into the microbiome and its functions can be gained promising significant advances in the fields of healthy ageing, personalized medicine, and disease prevention.

As a manufacturer of scientific instruments for molecular and material-based research, Bruker is an important strategic partner. The company has established cooperations with top research institutions in so-called Centers of Excellence.
In the new Center of Excellence for Metaproteomics, scientists from the University of Vienna and experts from Bruker will work side by side to develop highly sensitive methods for studying the microbiome. 

"We welcome this new collaboration, in which the University of Vienna and the manufacturer Bruker combine cutting-edge research with state-of-the-art technology. The ultimate goal is to generate new knowledge about the microbiome to improve human health," says Ronald Maier, Vice Rector for Digitalization and Knowledge Transfer at the University of Vienna.

"This partnership with Bruker is a great opportunity. Bruker's leading position in developing cutting-edge technologies to decode proteins, i.e. the functional language of all living organisms, will significantly advance our research. Together, we aim to use metaproteomics to diagnose and predict diseases, improve the efficacy of therapies, and develop new biotechnological tools for biomedical applications," says David Gómez-Varela, Director of the newly established Center of Excellence for Metaproteomics.

"We are delighted to establish a long-term collaboration with the University of Vienna, and, in particular, with David Gómez-Varela and Manuela Schmidt, to realize our shared vision of using metaproteomics to understand biology, improve health, and treat disease," says Rohan Thakur, President of the Life Science Mass Spectrometry Division at Bruker. "Together, this partnership will foster a dynamic and collaborative environment for biomedical research in Vienna."

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Fig. 1: From left to right: David Gómez-Varela, Torsten Mueller und Ronald Maier. C: Alexander Bachmayer