Institute of General Pathology

Our institute is organized within the Department of Pathology of the Medical University of Innsbruck. Operating under a shared organizational umbrella with the Institute of Neuropathology and Neuromolecular Pathology (https://neuropath.i-med.ac.at/), we benefit from shared facilities, state-of-the-art equipment, and frequent interdisciplinary exchange.

Our Focus: Research & Teaching

Following the restructuring of the former Institute of Pathology, Neuropathology and molecular pathology our department now focuses specifically on:

• Comprehensive Research: Advancing the field of General Pathology (all areas outside of Neuropathology).
• Academic Teaching: Training the next generation of medical professionals at the Medical University of Innsbruck.

Diagnostic Services

Please note that the Institute of General Pathology is not primarily a diagnostic facility.

• Clinical Diagnostics: All diagnostic processing for the Tirol Kliniken / University Hospitals Innsbruck is handled by INNPATH GmbH (https://innpath.at/). Several of our specialized physicians provide their expertise directly through INNPATH GmbH as well.

Our Mission: Excellence in Research & Education

The Institute of General Pathology is a center for academic innovation. Our mission is twofold: advancing the frontier of medical science through independent research and providing a first-class educational foundation for the physicians of tomorrow.

A Hub for Tissue-Based Research

We serve as a strategic partner for the scientific community. Whether within the university or through external collaboration, we provide the expertise and infrastructure necessary for sophisticated tissue analysis.

• Independent Research: We implement original projects to improve the fundamental understanding of diseases.
• Collaborative Partnership: We support researchers in all fields of tissue-based research.
• Specialized Services: We offer a comprehensive range of methods and technical expertise to internal and external academic partners and commercial clients.

Pathology

The term pathology originates from the ancient greek páthos (suffering/disease) and lógos (study). Historically rooted in anatomy and general medical research, the discipline was transformed in the 19th century by Rudolf Virchow. His work on cellular pathology laid the groundwork for how we study diseased cells and tissues today.

In modern medicine, the pathologist acts as an essential “pilot” for the therapy of various diseases. Quite simply: without a diagnosis, there can be no therapy.

 Clinical pathology today:

• Examines tissue samples and fluids of patients from almost every clinical specialty
• Provides definitive diagnoses.
• Classifies complex diseases.

Identifies specific therapeutic targets and enables individualized treatment tailored to the patient’s specific condition.

It is important to distinguish the different branches of medicine regarding the examination of the deceasedHistorically and currently, autopsies remain a vital tool for quality control and understanding disease progression. In Austria, this is referred to as “clinical pathology,” focusing exclusively on natural causes of death and disease manifestations.The investigation of non-natural causes of death or legal inquiries is handled by forensic medicine (https://www.i-med.ac.at/gerichtsmedizin/).

News

Participation of Dr. med. Michael Günther at the German Cancercongress in Berlin (February 2026) News

Picture: DKG/Peter-Paul Weiler