Medizinische Universität Graz - Research portal
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Ass.-Prof.in Priv.-Doz.in Dr.in med.univ. Katharina Leithner, PhD.
- Division of Pharmacology
- Head of Research Unit
- FE Lung Cancer Metabolism and Microenvironment
- EMail: katharina.leithner(at)medunigraz.at
- Tel: +43/316/385/74138
- https://www.medunigraz.at/en/team-katharina-leithner
- MEDonline-Visitenkarte
- Externe ID's
- Researcher ID: E-7662-2011
- ORCiD: 0000-0002-8252-9279
Fields of expertise
- Our aim is to understand the role of cellular metabolism in the interplay of tumor cells and immune cells and to identify metabolic vulnerabilities of cancer cells. We are focused on lung cancer, a tumor with an often dismal prognosis despite novel treatment options. Metabolic pathways that are activated in tumor cells and certain immune cells (macrophages) under low nutrient conditions, especially gluconeogenesis, are of particular interest for the group, since these conditions may prevail in certain parts of lung cancer. We investigate these pathways in our international team using heavy precursors, such as 13C-glucose or 13C-glutamine and address their function using genetic silencing approaches (CRISPR-Cas9). With our research we aim to contribute to identifying potential novel targets for lung cancer treatment. Collaborations: In longstanding collaborations with the Division of Thoracic Surgery, the Division of Pulmonology, the Diagnostic and Research Institute of Pathology and the Biobank we investigate the relevance of our findings for human lung cancer. To this end, we utilize fresh and archival lung and lung cancer specimens obtained from surgery. Further, we successfully collaborate with the Core Facility Mass Spectrometry at the Center for Medical Research (ZMF), the Division of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, the Division of Medical Chemistry, the Division of Immunology and the Division of Oncology as well as with experienced labs worldwide, e.g. the VIB-KU Leuven Center for Cancer Biology (Leuven, Belgium), the Idibell (Barcelona, Spain), and the University of Chicago (USA).
Statistik Austria, science classification
- Cancer research - (301904)
Scientific Expertise
- Cancer biology
- Molecular biology
Curr. Vitae
| 2024 | Ass.-Prof. for Lung Cancer Metabolism, Division of Pharmacology, Otto Loewi Research Center for Vascular Biology, Immunology and Inflammation |
| 2022 -2022 | Research visit (3 months) at the Sarah-Maria Fendt lab, VIB, Leuven, Belgium. |
| 2017 | Habilitation (Venia docendi) at the Medical University of Graz (Experimental Pneumology) |
| 2016 -2016 | July-August guest researcher at the Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Hypoxia and Angiogenesis Group, PI: Prof. Adrian L. Harris, University of Oxford, UK |
| 2015 -2024 | University assistant (research) at the Division of Pulmonology, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz. |
| 2014 -2015 | Post-doc at the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Lung Vascular Research, Graz (part-time). |
| 2010 -2014 | PhD (Molecular Medicine) at the Lung Cell Laboratory, Division of Pulmonology, Medical University of Graz |
| 2008 -2010 | Maternal leave and research assistant in part-time at the Division of Pulmonology, Medical University of Graz |
| 2006 -2007 | Research assistant at the Lung Cell Laboratory (LuCeL) of the Division of Pulmonology, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz. |
| 2004 -2006 | Intern at the Division of Pulmonology, Department of Internal Medicine, and at the Division of Pulmonology and Allergic Disease, Paediatric Department, Medical University Graz, Austria |
| 2000 -2004 | Free collaborator at the Dept. of Vascular Biology and Thrombosis Research, Medical University Vienna, Austria, head: Prof. Bernd Binder and maternal leave |
| 1998 -2000 | Thesis: "Mechanisms of Redox-Modulation of Angiogenesis", Dr. med. univ (M.D.) July 2000 |
| 1994 -2000 | Study at Medical University Vienna, Austria |
Awards
| 2017 | Best Oral Presentation Award, Austrian Proteomics and Metabolomics Research Symposium 2017 |
| 2014 | Thesis prize (third best dissertation) 2013/14 of the Medical University of Graz |
| 2011 | Poster Prize, Doctoral Day of the Medical University of Graz |
| 2011 | 2. Posterpreis, Jahrestagung der Österreichischen Gesellschaft für Pneumologie (ÖGP) |
| 2008 | Poster Prize at the annual ZMF.DAY of the Center for Medical Research at the Medical University of Graz, Austria |
| 2008 | The European Respiratory Society Thoracic Oncology Award 2008 (Best Poster Abstract) |
| 2006 | 2. Posterpreis, Jahrestagung der Österreichischen Gesellschaft für Pneumologie (ÖGP) |
| 2000 | Dissertationspreis des Vereins zur Förderung von Wissenschaft und Forschung im AKH |
Reviewer for scientific journals
| 2015 -2024 | CELL REPORTS |
| 2020 -2024 | NATURE COMMUNICATIONS |
| 2024 -2024 | CELL REPORTS |
| 2024 -2024 | ONCOIMMUNOLOGY |
| 2023 -2023 | ISCIENCE |
| 2023 -2023 | NEOPLASIA |
| 2021 -2022 | FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY |
| 2021 -2021 | BBA - MOLECULAR CELL RESEARCH |
| 2019 -2019 | BIOCHIMIE |
| 2019 -2019 | CANCER RESEARCH |
| 2016 -2017 | ONCOTARGET |
| 2014 -2015 | TUMOUR BIOLOGY |
| 2015 -2015 | SCIENTIFIC REPORTS |
| 2006 -2014 | VIRCHOWS ARCHIV-AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY |
| 2014 -2014 | WIENER KLINISCHE WOCHENSCHRIFT |
| 2009 -2009 | TUMORI |
Reviewer/Expert funding organizations
| 2024 -2024 | Fund for Scientific Research (FNRS) - Belgium |
| 2019 -2019 | Tiroler Wissenschaftsfonds (TWF) Amt der Tiroler Landesregierung - Austria |
| 2016 -2016 | Jubiläumsfond der Österr. Nationalbank, Österreich - Austria |
| 2009 -2011 | British Lung Foundation - United Kingdom |
Organizer of scientific conferences, Chairs
| 2025 | Doc Day 2025 Chair |
| 2024 | Doc Day 2024 Mitglied Organisationskomitee |