Management VRC
Ursula Schmidt-Erfurth
Lead Vienna Reading Center
Scientific and Strategic Director
Ursula Schmidt-Erfurth has founded the Vienna Reading Center in 2005. In her scientific research, she focuses on developing novel diagnostic techniques, in retinal imaging and new treatment strategies such as intravitreal pharmacotherapy. She serves furthermore as Adjunct Professor at the Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University Chicago and is President of the European Health Forum.
Bianca S. Gerendas
Bianca S. Gerendas
Managing Director
Bianca S. Gerendas is the Managing Director of the VRC since 2017. As a clinician she is a consultant retina specialist at the Department of Ophthalmology, Medical University of Vienna. She finished her MD at the University of Heidelberg, Germany, where she in parallel obtained an MSc in Healthcare Management in 2010. At the Medical University of Vienna she completed her habilitation (Assoc. Prof.) and a PhD in Medical Physics and is now a tenured PhD senior supervisor in two PhD programs. Her primary research interests are in the field of retinal imaging biomarkers, interdisciplinary ophthalmic image analysis and personalized/individualized medicine.
Christina Habermann
Christina Habermann
Director of Operations
Christina Habermann completed her studies at the Cologne University of Applied Sciences and at the Edinburgh Napier University with a specialization in Management & Controlling as well as Business Organization & Information Technology. She has 20 years professional experience in the banking sector. Her main field of activity has been risk controlling combined with an increasing focus on IT-related solutions. In January 2019 she joined the Vienna Reading Center and was appointed Director of Operations in May 2019.
Gabor-György Deak
Gabor-György Deak
Director of Grading
Gábor Deák completed medical school at the Semmelweis University in Budapest in 2004, after which he started his residency at the 1st Department of Ophthalmology at the University. In 2007, he moved to the Department of Ophthalmology and Optometry at the Medical University of Vienna to continue his residency, becoming a board certified ophthalmologist in 2010. He joined the Vienna Reading Center as senior reader in 2007, and was appointed Medical Director of the VRC in 2008. In addition to his activities at the VRC, he is a consultant at the Department of Medical Retina and Uveitis Services.
Michael Eberl
Michael Eberl
Director of IT Systems
Michael Eberl completed his studies in Technical Physics in Vienna in 1995. Until 2003 he worked for Siemens as a software developer, then he worked in his own company as Head of IT on various web projects. In May 2019 he joined the Vienna Reading Center and was appointed Director of IT Systems in May 2022.
Theresia Pieler
Theresia Pieler
Study Operations Management
Theresia Pieler joined the Vienna Reading Center in 2007, combining her expertise from her earlier work in advertising with medical and scientific interests. Since 2008, she has been the Head of Administration and a project leader for clinical studies evaluated at the VRC.
Her passion is to ensure the best trial implementation and set up, providing consistent quality and smooth trial progress for sites and companies participating in studies. A decade of experience allows her to provide expert support in pre-study services, the study set-up phase, main study progress, quality management and data reconciliation.
