Outcome Research in Rheumatology – Advancing Patient-Centered Care
Assoc. Prof. Helga Lechner-Radner leads a dynamic research group at the Division of Rheumatology, Medical University of Vienna, dedicated to outcome research in rheumatic diseases. Her team’s work spans rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM), always with one clear mission: to improve the lives of patients through better measurement, smarter trials, and more personalized therapies.
With a strong background in clinical epidemiology and international trial networks, Assoc. Prof. Lechner-Radner and her group investigate how disease activity, comorbidities, and patient-reported outcomes shape both treatment response and long-term prognosis. She also serves as Director of the Clinical Trial Unit at the Division of Rheumatology, ensuring that cutting-edge trial methodology directly informs clinical practice.
Recent highlights of the group’s research include:
- Developing and validating digital tools such as the COTIDIANA smartphone app to capture daily patient-reported outcomes and enable truly personalized disease monitoring.
- Exploring innovative therapies for refractory diseases, such as immunoadsorption for idiopathic inflammatory myopathies, offering new hope for patients unresponsive to standard treatment.
- Evaluating the diagnostic and therapeutic impact of muscle biopsy in suspected myositis, clarifying how histology guides real-world decision-making.
- Leading population-based clinical trials on immunogenicity and safety of COVID-19 booster vaccinations, with a focus on vulnerable patient groups.
Beyond her scientific achievements, Prof. Lechner-Radner has been recognized with multiple awards, serves as Scientific Chair of the Austrian Society of Rheumatology, and is an active member of EULAR committees driving quality of care and trial methodology. Her international collaborations – from Harvard Medical School to European digital health consortia – underscore her group’s central role in shaping the future of rheumatology.
The Lechner-Radner Group stands at the forefront of bridging clinical trials, digital health, and patient-centered outcome research, making every step in rheumatology care more evidence-based, precise, and meaningful for patients.
Current members
As of September 2025.
