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EB RI About us

About us
Get to know the EB Research Institute

The aim the institute is to pioneer innovative approaches to treating Epidermolysis bullosa (EB) - we are dedicated to improving lives of people living with EB by transitioning research and development into novel therapies. 

Our dedicated team of scientists, innovators, and industry experts combines cutting-edge knowledge with a shared passion for advancing treatments, working collaboratively to develop solutions that improve lives of people living with EB and shape the future of EB diagnostic and treatment options.

Building on 20 years of EB expertise

EB research in Salzburg began in 1992 at the Department of Dermatology, LKH University Hospital. The founding of DEBRA Austria in 1995 and the opening of the EB House Austria in 2005 laid the groundwork for today’s internationally recognized center of expertise.

Over the years, Salzburg has become a leading hub for EB care and research, advancing new treatments for skin cancer, wound healing, and inflammation.

Building on this foundation, the EB Research Institute, established in 2024 and operational since 2025, drives innovation from basic science to drug discovery—with a clear mission to develop better therapies and improve life for people living with Epidermolysis bullosa.

Our team

Executive Board

EB Research Institute Managing Director Hana Cernecka

Dr. Hana Cernecka, PharmD

Managing Director EB Research Institute
DEBRA Austria Obmann Dr. Rainer Riedl

Dr. Rainer Riedl

Managing Director EB Research Institute | Chairman & Managing Director DEBRA Austria

Biobank

EB-Haus Forschungsmitarbeiterin

Christina Guttmann-Gruber, PhD

Biobank Manager
EB-Haus Forschungsmitarbeiter

Stefan Hainzl, PhD

Biobanking Specialist
EB-Haus Forschungsmitarbeiterin

Bernadette Liemberger, PhD

Biobanking Specialist
EB-Haus Forschungsmitarbeiterin

Verena Moos, MSc

Scientific Associate

Research

Michael Ablinger, MSc

Senior Scientific Associate
EB-Haus Forschungsmitarbeiterin

Marina Barros-Pinkelnig, MSc

Senior Scientific Associate

Johannes Bischof, PhD

Senior Research Scientist
EB-Haus Forschungsmitarbeiterin

Stefanie Gruner, BSc

Scientific Associate
EB-Haus Forschungsmitarbeiter

Markus Hierl, BA MSc

Research Scientist

Assoc.-Prof. Thomas Kocher, PhD

Senior Research Scientist

Assoc.-Prof. Ulrich Koller, PhD

Principal Investigator
Michael Lew, BSc

Michael Lew, MSc

Senior Scientific Associate / Bioinformatics
EB-Haus Forschungsmitarbeiterin

Krisztina Ɩtvƶs, PhD

Research Scientist

Josefina Piñón Hofbauer, PhD

Preclinical Model Specialist

Victoria Reichl, PhD

Senior Research Scientist
EB Research Institute Employee

Lara Ronacher, BA MSc

Scientific Associate
Lena Schmid

Lena Schmid, BSc

Scientific Associate
EB-Haus Forschungsmitarbeiterin

Daniela Stoica-Andrei, PhD

PostDoc

Monika Wimmer, PhD

Research Scientist - currently on maternity leave
Dr Roland Zauner, EB-Forscher

Roland Zauner, PhD

Principal Investigator
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