Peter Loidl

Peter Loidl is a Professor of Microbiology at the Department of Molecular Biology, University of Innsbruck. He served as Chairman of the Department of Microbiology (1998–2001), Vice-Rector for Teaching and Study Affairs (2013–present), and Head of the Division of Molecular Biology at Innsbruck Biocenter (2005–present). His academic leadership includes roles as Vize-Rector for Research Evaluation (1999–2003).

• Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Plant Physiology (1979, University of Innsbruck)
• Habilitation in Biochemistry (1988)

Loidl’s research focuses on chromatin structure and function, histone modifying enzymes, and acetylation of regulatory non-histone proteins. His work spans plant physiology, fungal genetics, and mammalian cell cycle regulation, with significant contributions to understanding histone acetylation dynamics and epigenetic control mechanisms.

Analysis of his 15 most recent articles (2004–2022) reveals a thematic evolution from foundational studies on Physarum polycephalum cell cycle regulation to advanced investigations in fungal histone deacetylases, synthetic HDAC inhibitors, and roles of acetylation in cancer progression (e.g., Rb2/p130 mutations in breast cancer).

Scientific Awards:

• Hoechst-Award (1984)
• Research-Award of Innsbruck (1985)
• Biochemie-Award (1987)
• Sandoz-Award (1993)
• Austrian Cancer Society Award (1995)
• Teacher-of-the-year (2006)

Loidl has supervised master’s and Ph.D. theses and teaches medical microbiology, molecular biology, and advanced topics in chromatin biology. He leads the Division of Molecular Biology at Innsbruck Biocenter and has contributed to structural studies of nuclear matrices and protein arginine methyltransferases in fungi.