Georg Busslinger

Georg Busslinger is a group leader at the Medical University of Vienna, leading the Gastrointestinal Biology Research Group under the Department of Internal Medicine III and Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology. His research focuses on epithelial cell biology of the human gastrointestinal tract, particularly the esophagus, stomach, and small intestine, using organoid technology and single-cell genomics.

• University of Vienna (B.S. in Molecular Biology)
• ETH Zurich (Master’s in Molecular Biology)
• Rockefeller University (research on epigenetic regulation of interferon response)
• Research Institute of Molecular Pathology (Ph.D. on cohesin genome localization)
• Hubrecht Institute (postdoctoral work on organoid biology)

His research utilizes CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing and single-cell RNA sequencing to study transcriptional regulation, epithelial differentiation, and disease mechanisms in gastrointestinal organs. He investigates how nutrients and microbiome signals contribute to carcinogenesis and employs organoid models to dissect functional roles of cell types like acid-secreting parietal cells and hormone-producing enteroendocrine cells.

Recent publications highlight his work on ulcerative colitis (2025), diet-induced mutations (2023), Barrett’s esophagus progression (2022), and foundational studies on single-cell characterization of gastrointestinal epithelia (2021). Collaborations with clinicians at UMC Utrecht explore organoid applications in precision oncology.

Georg Busslinger's lab is funded by the FWF Stand-Alone Program (PAT6421424) and hosts predoctoral fellows including Katharina Kohl, Franziska Langner, Daria Pajak, and Gabriela Vladova. His team also includes Lab Manager Michael Gerstorfer.