Klaus Hackner

Klaus Hackner is a Clinical Associate Professor and senior physician at the Clinical Department of Pulmonology, Krems University Hospital, affiliated with the Karl Landsteiner Private University of Health Sciences. He is actively engaged in clinical practice, research, and medical education, with a focus on lung cancer, interstitial lung diseases, and sleep-related breathing disorders in chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH).

His research interests span pulmonology, oncology, and interdisciplinary medicine, particularly in the areas of immune checkpoint inhibitors, rheumatoid arthritis-associated interstitial lung disease (RA-ILD), and diagnostic latency in rare lung conditions. He has led significant projects such as CTEPH-SDB and contributes to national guidelines, including those on sarcoidosis. His recent publications reflect a strong trend toward clinical oncology, immunotherapy safety, and consensus-based diagnostic frameworks.

Among his notable recognitions are the Lower Austrian Medical Society Science Prize (2017, 2018), the ÖGP Michael Neumann Prize (2017), the Ritschl Prize (2019), and the ÖMCCV Science Prize (2013).

He mentors medical students and young physicians, emphasizing inquiry-based learning and resilience in research. His work involves extensive collaboration with rheumatologists, pathologists, and oncologists, reflecting a strong commitment to interdisciplinary care. He is also involved in professional societies such as the Austrian Society of Pulmonology and contributes to the development of clinical registries to improve early diagnosis of rare lung diseases.