Exner Week: The Future of Healing

Between personalised medicine and vaccination scepticism

A panel & networking evening at the interface of research, entrepreneurship and society with RNA pioneer Katalin Karikó (University of Philadelphia, Wilhelm Exner Medal 2021), Bioelectronics Researcher Luisa Torsi (Universita di Bari, Wilhelm Exner Medal 2021), Guido Wollmann (MedUni Innbruck), Irene Fialka (Inits, Health Hub Vienna).

Science has never understood just so many diseases as well as it does today. Medicine is preparing to offer targeted effective therapies even on an individual level with „personalised medicine“. And while on the one hand there is a struggle to even find a gender-specific approach to therapies, on the other hand there is an increasing distrust of conventional medicine, a growing tendency to turn towards alternative healing methods, and currently a partly fundamental rejection of preventive vaccinations.

Along with the possibilities, the area of tension „financing the health system“ is also increasing. Governments, the population and suppliers are pursuing interests that sometimes diverge considerably. Conclusion: the social discourse on personal responsibility, achievable and desirable levels of health is missing.

Moderator: Maria Magdalena Hofmarcher-Holzhacker (Health System Intelligence)