Brugger Lab

Research Focus

Our research group studies the main fields of human anatomy with a specific focus on clinical questions and applications. Our members’ interests cover neuroanatomical and maxillofacial anatomy, cardiovascular anatomy and the anatomy of the locomotor system utilising classic macroscopic dissection, a diversity of histological techniques and biomedical imaging.
In addition to classical topographic and functional anatomical research we hold strong interdisciplinary collaborations with clinical and diagnostic imaging departments. These partnerships provide a fast adaption of our results to support clinical diagnostic and therapeutic patient management.

Main Objectives

• Normal and abnormal foetal development in MRI
  (P.C. Brugger, G.M. Gruber)
• Macroscopic, microscopic and sonographic anatomy of peripheral nerves
  (P.C. Brugger, G.M. Gruber)
• Maxillofacial anatomy and surgical techniques
  (H. Traxler, L. Hirtler)
• Endoscopic neuroanatomy
  (L. Hirtler)
• Arthroscopic anatomy and clinical applications
  (L. Hirtler)
• Anatomical correlations of acupuncture
  (H. Traxler)
• Cardiovascular anatomy
  (C. Rath)
• Biomechanical evaluation of surgical techniques in orthopaedics and trauma
  (L. Hirtler)
• Imaging anatomy of the locomotor system
  (L. Hirtler, C. Rath)
• Establishing large area slide histology for the verification of medical imaging findings
  (P.C. Brugger, L. Hirtler, C. Rath)
• Preparation and 3D reconstruction of sectional images for further analysis and processing.
  (P.C. Brugger, G.M. Gruber, C. Rath)

Teaching activities

Apart from undergraduate education in the curricula (medicine, dentistry) of the Medical University of Vienna, our group members organise internationally renowned postgraduate training courses for doctors in different medical specialisations.