The establishment of the research platform strengthens an already existing productive cooperation between Bernhard Keppler, Head of the Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, and Walter Berger und Michael Micksche from the Institute of Cancer Research from the Medical University of Vienna. The platform's aim is the development of new metal-based anticancer drugs and the improvement of existing ones; the main focus currently lies on the development of an improved version of the drug "Oxaliplatin", regularly used in therapy against colon cancer, but often causing numerous and severe side effect. Over the span of five years, the researchers succeeded in changing the molecule so that it binds better to the DNA of the tumour cells, allowing for higher dosage and greater efficacy. With the help of an industry partner, Bernhard Keppler hopes to reach the stage of clinical studies on patients within three to five years.

• Krebstherapie: Vom Tarnen und Täuschen (Press release, Medienportal Universität Wien, 22.7.2008, in German)
• Neue Forschungsplattform "Translational Cancer Therapy Research" (Der Standard, 28.7.2008, in German)
• Ein vielversprechender neuer Weg in der Krebstherapie: Vom Tarnen und Täuschen (NEWS, 24.7.2008, in GErman)