The spirit of research: FAU Ambassador Günter Weiss
Infectiologist and Immunologist Prof. Dr. Günter Weiss
Infectiologist and Immunologist Prof. Dr. Günter Weiss, Director of the University Hospital for Internal Medicine II in Innsbruck is the new FAU Ambassador. A portrait.
“The vaccine is very effective.” These are the words that Günter Weiss uses at the beginning of his YouTube video where he calmly explains how the coronavirus vaccine works. The immunologist and infectiologist’s field has gained an increasing amount of attention during the global coronavirus pandemic. This is not a bad thing, according to Weiss, especially considering the fact that during his youth, the WHO predicted infectious diseases would no longer be relevant by the middle of the 21st century.
It’s now easier to get funding for research projects, and also for fundamental research. In return, as a scientist, he considers himself to be in a position of responsibility toward society: “It is up to science to inform the population and to address questions and anxieties. Sometimes there is not just one clear answer, but experts must still be available to answer questions.” This is the reason Weiss is a member of the advisory committee that provides advice on the coronavirus to the Austrian government. His normal day-to-day activities, on the other hand, are only indirectly linked to the coronavirus pandemic. The fundamental research Weiss and his team are currently working on is about the immune system, trying to answer questions like “How does a healthy immune system work?” Which mechanisms does it possess to defend itself against infection? How do bacteria manage to break through these defenses? Even though research in this field can look back on hundreds of years of history, the immune system still raises plenty of questions for researchers today.
Inseparable: Researchers and physicians
For as long as he can think, Weiss has been fascinated by science. “Research is in a constant state of flux.” Formulating hypotheses, taking samples and then ultimately abandoning it all because the initial hypothesis has been proven wrong. What others may consider a failure, is part of normal day-to-day research to Weiss: “The greatest achievements are often made when you continue working after throwing out the first hypothesis.” Günter Weiss prefers to keep his options open. No matter how much he is captivated by scientific research, he also values his work with his patients. At the beginning, he wasn’t sure whether it suited him. He decided to complete some work experience as a nurse in a hospital after finishing school to find out. “I really did enjoy it,” he says. He still didn’t want to decide on just one career path. He therefore began writing his thesis on biochemistry during the fifth semester of his medical degree. Günter Weiss is now Director of the Department of Internal Medicine at the Medical University of Innsbruck, where he has spent most of his academic career to date. This also enabled him to combine having a family with research.
His role as director means he has little time for patients or for spending time in the lab. Around 40 hours of his 70-hour working week are spent on administrative tasks alone. For the remaining 30 hours, he is a doctor and researcher, but also a teacher and facilitator. Despite all the tasks that Günter Weiss has to deal with every day, he still loves what he does: “It’s all about passing on the fire within you to the younger generation.”
The honor of being an ambassador
The honor of being made an FAU Ambassador is given to international researchers who have an excellent reputation internationally in their field and who have special connections with FAU. The numerous prizes and awards that Günter Weiss has received, including the Novartis Prize for Medicine and the Anton von Eiselsberg Prize, speak for themselves. Weiss’ special connection to FAU began almost 30 years ago. In 1994 he conducted research for the first time with physicians from FAU on human iron metabolism. Both faculties of medicine have remained in contact ever since as there are exchange projects for students and staff, joint research projects and presentations held at both faculties. “It’s an honor for me to be an FAU Ambassador,” says Weiss. He would like to do everything he can to ensure that the network between the University of Innsbruck and FAU is expanded further. “If two universities are interested in a similar topic of research, why not get more of them involved?” One thing is clear to Günter Weiss: Research thrives on exchanging ideas. Productive synergies are always created when shared interests are examined from different perspectives. This is especially true when obvious and simple hypotheses are proven to be incorrect, which opens up opportunities for bold ideas. This is precisely what makes a pioneering spirit in research.
by Michelle Schreiber
In the current issue you will find articles on yield losses on the power exchange for renewable energies and why this is so, on artificial tissue made of spider silk, on theater culture in the 17th century, on the third educational path, on the university hacking group FAUST and the Squirrels, an eSports group, as well as interviews with the new Vice President People Prof. Andreas Hirsch and the new FAU ambassador Günther Weiss.