Innovative master's thesis recognized by Economic Chamber Tyrol | Analysis of plasmid DNA for cutting-edge gene and cell therapies as well as mRNA vaccines
Each year, the Economic Chamber Tyrol awards its Research Award for outstanding dissertations as well as diploma and master's theses to students from MCI | The Entrepreneurial School®, the University of Innsbruck, and the FH Kufstein. The prize highlights theses that stand out for their significant societal value, innovation, and importance to Tyrol's economic landscape.
This year, Regina Reiswig, a graduate of the MCI master's program in Biotechnology, impressed the jury with her exceptional thesis. Her research was conducted in collaboration with Novartis GmbH under the supervision of Dr. Anja Kristin Francois.
In her thesis, "Implementation and Evaluation of a Robust and Sensitive Method to Analyze Plasmid DNA Isoforms with Capillary Gel Electrophoresis," Reiswig focused on the analysis of biotechnologically produced nucleic acids, specifically plasmid DNA. These circular DNA molecules form the foundation for innovative gene and cell therapies, as well as mRNA vaccines, which have played a crucial role in combating the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Ms. Reiswig developed a method in her work to distinguish biologically different active forms of plasmid DNA that arise during plasmid production in bacterial cells. This represents a significant contribution to the analysis and quality control of these essential molecules, which are vital for the production of pharmaceutical products. Her work paves the way for future revolutionary therapies and vaccines," explained Dr. Alexander Trockenbacher, Senior Lecturer at the Department of Biotechnology & Food Engineering and MCI supervisor of the thesis.
