Institute for Neurointervention
Research

Research in experimental neurointervention is divided into two main areas: neurovascular research in clinical settings and basic research.

The institute collaborates extensively with regional, national, and international partners from both academia and industry,  with medical professionals and scientists working together in various researach groups within an interdisciplinary environment.

Main research areas

• Testing, refining, and optimizing new materials and techniques, particularly for treating intracranial aneurysms. The aim is to make procedures like aneurysm closure as low-risk as possible and to reduce the number of follow-up examinations required for patients. One example is the use of specially coated coils designed for aneurysm closure.
• Together with the Department of Neurology's Stroke Unit and the Department of Radiology, we conduct quantitative MR imaging of cerebral blood flow using CT and MRI before and after procedures. Along with long-term assessments of cerebral infarctions using multimodal MR techniques (such as diffusion, tensor imaging, and spectroscopy), these studies provide valuable insights into stroke epidemiology, supporting the development of new prevention and treatment strategies.
• New methods for the rapid reopening of blocked cerebral vessels, such as through thrombectomy or thrombus aspiration. In collaboration with industry, the institute is developing new catheters and instruments. The Research Institute for Neurointervention actively participates in numerous studies in this field and works closely with other centers both within Austria and internationally.
• Research on neuroimplants for aneurysms and microcatheters that allow MR-guided navigation within the brain.
• Development of stents that can be implanted without the need for dual therapy with Plavix and aspirin. Stent-like implants (flow diverters) used for aneurysm closure are also being evaluated and further developed for their long-term effectiveness, safety, and material compatibility.
• Exploring neuroimmunological changes in cerebrovascular diseases and vascular changes, particularly focusing on the blood-brain barrier in neurological and neuroimmunological conditions. Our research in vacular neuroimmunology includes examining changes in immunological parameters in the blood of stroke patients with and without neurointervention and correlating these with clinical and neuroradiological findings. Additionally, this area of research investigates how different medical devices impact the immune system.
• Optimizing specialized imaging sequences for MR-guided neurointervention. Our research on MR methods is a closely coordinated with the Neurocognition Research Group in the Department of Psychology at the University of Salzburg.