Introduction

The Department is focused on the broad field of vascular biology and thrombosis research. Historically, the roots of the ?medical branch? of the Department are in the field of the physiology of plasma proteins and specifically of proteins related to the fibrinolytic system (?Angiokinase? the first name for tPA isolated form vascular perfusates, T&H,1971; first purification of tPA to homogeneity, JBC, 1979; first purification of an active plasminogenactivator inhibitor, JBC, 1986; first description of ?signaling? by the uPA-uPAR system, PNAS,1989). In 1985 a core facility to generate monoclonal antibodies was established and the Department was among the first world wide to obtain monoclonal antibodies against most of the components of the fibrinolytic system. By means of these antibodies test systems could be established and clinical studies were performed analyzing the fibrinolytic system in patients. At the same time the originally biochemical research approach was expanded towards vascular cells and the analysis of the regulation and the effects of fibrinolysis in these cellular systems. When in 1996 the group from the Sandoz Research Institute joined, the Department had available all biochemical, cell- and molecular-biology techniques necessary to pursue cutting edge research. In fact, according to a ranking for the scientific output calculated as published impact factor per University funded researcher that was initiated in 1992, the Department ranked originally number three among all basic research departments and clinics of the Medical School in Vienna and has been number two since 4 years. The same position is held also when institutions from the two other Medical Universities in Austria are included. Also according to a survey done in 2002 by the federal government on scientific quality based on citations of papers published by the Departments and Clinics involved in ?Biomedical Research? in Austria, the Department ranked number three in Vienna and number four in Austria.