The Competence Unit Molecular Diagnostics at the AIT is concerned with the early diagnosis and therapy monitoring of chronic and age-related diseases. The focus is on the development of nucleic acid and autoantibody-based biomarker panels and ranges from screening and biomarker validation to the development of customized, novel diagnostic tests for clinical and industrial partners. In addition to blood-based tests, the focus of diagnostic test development is on saliva tests, especially since saliva as a non-invasive sample matrix opens up completely new applications in healthcare and therapy monitoring.

The portfolio of own R&D programs currently covers a wide range of oncological issues (intestine, lung, prostate, breast, thyroid), infections as well as chronic diseases such as COPD and fibrosis.
Research offers and services

Research offers and services

• Biomarker Screening: Efficient detection of biomarkers using high-throughput technologies (DNA/protein microarrays, next generation sequencing) based on RNA, DNA(-methylation) or autoantibodies.
• Validation of biomarkers and development of diagnostic assays: Design, establishment and application of multiplex assays, validation of biomarkers with special focus on the use of clinically suitable and cost-effective technologies (e.g. Luminex Bead Arrays, Protein Microarrays, Peptide Arrays).
• Support of therapy studies in clinical phases (I-IV) using Omics technology platforms (especially DNA methylation and autoantibodies) for stratification and monitoring of patient cohorts (Companion Diagnostics)
• Bioinformatics & Software Solutions: Application specific software solutions for automated and continuously logged high throughput data analysis
• Nucleic acid-based analyses in microarray, sequencing or high-throughput qPCR format (DNA, SNP, DNA methylation, mRNA, miRNA) including sample preparation and extraction of analytes from biological samples (e.g. DNA, RNA from tissue, blood, saliva, exosomes etc.)
• Analytical validation of nucleic acid-based assays according to technological guidelines (e.g. MIQE) or customer-specific requirements (e.g. ICH guidelines, GMP, GLP, isocertifications etc.)
• Protein-based assays for clinical research and diagnostics and their transfer to customized technology platforms suitable for market entry

Reference projects

• FP7: RESOLVE - Resolve Chronic Inflammation and Achieve Healthy Aging by Understanding Non-regenerative Repair
• H2020: ULTRAPLACAD- ULTRAsensitive PLAsmonic devices for early CAncer Diagnosis
• WWTF: Serum-autoantibody testing for early diagnosis of breast cancer 
• FP7: EURHEALTHAGEING - European Research on Developmental, Birth and Genetic Determinants of Ageing
• Early Diagnosis Consortium (EDC)
• FFG – EpiTyp2: Epigenetik-basierte Typ-2-Diabetes Diagnostik aus Speichel und Blut