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JOANNEUM RESEARCH (JR) is a leading international research organization located in Graz (Austria) that develops solutions and technologies for businesses and industry covering a wide range of sectors. JR has a focus on applied research and technology development and promotes technology transfer to industry.
HEALTH – Institute of Biomedicine and Health Sciences provides a link between basic medical research and industrial applications. HEALTH develops comprehensive, interdisciplinary solutions to problems encountered in the fields of medicine, pharmacy, medical technology and health care research.
HEALTH is certified according to ISO 9001:2008 and ISO 13485 incl. IEC62304 standards. The vision of the institute -“ to bring technical solutions to medical research and health care” – is supported by an interdisciplinary scientific team of about 70 employees including biomedical researchers, biomedical technicians, biochemical analysts, and statisticians.
JR provides a strong expertise in bioengineering and sampling techniques and in clinical and preclinical applications. JR has developed a new sampling technique – open flow microperfusion (OFM) for peripheral tissue sampling which is mainly applied in pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics studies.
In cooperation with the US FDA, JR is currently developing a new measurement system to test for bioequivalence in the skin. OFM sampling in the brain is currently used in various industrial projects and 3 academic projects funded by national and international institutions. JR has also developed several different animal models to test pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics and holds a row of patents regarding the sampling technology and applications in animal models.
JR will perform preclinical in-vivo tests on substance transport across the BBB. Tests will be performed using cOFM a probe technic that allows sampling in brain tissue with intact BBB. This setup allows a head to head comparison of different types of formulations and gives direct feedback for the development of nanoparticles.