Verena NIEDERBERGER-LEPPIN, MD
Associate Professor, Dept. of Otorhinolaryngology, Medical University of Vienna
Education:
M.D.: Medical University of Vienna
Postdoctoral Training in basic allergology and immunology (Medical University of Vienna)
Clinical Training in Otorhinolaryngology (Dept. of Otorhinolaryngology, Medical University of Vienna and Guy´s Hospital, London, UK)
Research Interests:
• Translational Research in Allergy – innovative clinical trials for allergy treatment
• Clinical Allergy and Immunotherapy
• Respiratory airways
• IgE production and IgE receptors
Biography:
Verena Niederberger is an associate Professor of Otorhinolaryngology at the Medical University of Vienna. After obtaining her M.D. degree at the Medical University of Vienna, she first trained in a basic research laboratory before starting her clinical education in Vienna and London, UK, to become an otorhinolaryngologist (ENT-doctor). She continued with basic research alongside her clinical work and has been the PI of an allergy research group, supervising both PhD and MD students, since 1999. She has authored several publications on the characterization and diagnostic use of allergen components, the nasal mucosa as a site of allergen encounter and defense against allergens, the induction and control of allergen-specific IgE production and on mechanisms of allergen immunotherapy. She played a central role in the first allergen immunotherapy study with genetically modified recombinant allergens. Being qualified as a certified clinical study investigator, part of her current scientific work is performing clinical research in allergic patients. She thus focuses on bridging basic research topics with clinical research and bringing laboratory results to clinical application.
Proposed PhD research projects:
1) Comparison of VH regions of IgE in various lymphatic human tissues to characterize sites of IgE production
2) Investigation of cell types and receptors involved in allergen pick up at the nasal epithelium
Selected publications:
- Eckl-Dorna, J., I. Pree, J. Reisinger, K. Marth, K.W. Chen, S. Vrtala, S. Spitzauer, R. Valenta, V. Niederberger. 2012. The majority of allergen-specific IgE in the blood of allergic patients does not originate from blood-derived B cells or plasma cells. Clin Exp Allergy 42:1347-1355. PMID: 22925321
- Gangl, K., R. Reininger, D. Bernhard, R. Campana, I. Pree, J. Reisinger, M. Kneidinger, M. Kundi, H. Dolznig, D. Thurnher, P. Valent, K.W. Chen, S. Vrtala, S. Spitzauer, R. Valenta, V. Niederberger. 2009. Cigarette smoke facilitates allergen penetration across respiratory epithelium. Allergy 64:398-405. PMID:19120070
- Reisinger, J., A. Triendl, E. Küchler, B. Bohle, M.T. Krauth, I. Rauter, P. Valent, F. Koenig, R. Valenta, V. Niederberger. 2005. IFN-gamma-enhanced allergen penetration across respiratory epithelium augments allergic inflammation. J Allergy Clin Immunol 115:973-981. PMID:15867854
- Niederberger, V., F. Horak, S. Vrtala, S. Spitzauer, M.T. Krauth, P. Valent, J. Reisinger, M. Pelzmann, B. Hayek, M. Kronqvist, G. Gafvelin, H. Grönlund, A. Purohit, R. Suck, H. Fiebig, O. Cromwell, G. Pauli, M. van Hage-Hamsten, R. Valenta. 2004. Vaccination with genetically engineered allergens prevents progression of allergic disease.Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 101:14677-14682. PMID: 15310844
- Niederberger, V., B. Hayek, S. Vrtala, S. Laffer, A. Twardosz, L. Vangelista, W. R. Sperr, P. Valent, H. Rumpold, D. Kraft, K. Ehrenberger, R. Valenta, S. Spitzauer. 1999. Calcium-dependent immunoglobulin E recognition of the apo- and calcium-bound form of a cross-reactive two EF-hand timothy grass pollen allergen, Phl p 7. FASEB J. 13:843-856. PMID: 10224228
