We were saddened to learn of the passing of Prof. Dr Othmar Förster, who died peacefully on 29 October at the age of 98. Our condolences go out to his family and friends.
Othmar Förster studied medicine in Innsbruck from 1945-51 and completed his specialisation in internal medicine at the University of Vienna's Department of Internal Medicine II from 1951-60. After a two-year post-doctoral stay at the University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and at the Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, California, he worked from July 1962 to December 1992 at what was then the Institute of General and Experimental Pathology (now the Institute of Pathophysiology and Allergy Research). The research work of his immunopathology working group, which he headed from 1972, focused on inflammation, carbohydrate and fat metabolism, as well as cellular defence mechanisms, in particular the role of macrophages. After his habilitation in 1976, he became Professor of General and Experimental Pathology in 1980. From March 1982 (retirement of Prof Lindner) to September 1983 (appointment of Prof Peterlik) he was head of the institute and from 1983 to 1992 deputy head of the institute.
Prof Förster was a passionate teacher for medical students and mentor to numerous scientific staff at the Institute. Some of his students remained at the Medical University of Vienna or became department heads at Viennese hospitals. He was co-editor and co-author of several textbooks and congress volumes and organised several national and international congresses.
Prof Othmar Förster was characterised by his unifying nature, which was based on his interest in many different medical-scientific fields. In addition, his extensive general knowledge and his fine sense of humour were greatly appreciated by everyone and always made him an interesting and interested conversation partner.
Even in his well-deserved retirement, Prof. Förster regularly took part in various scientific events, in particular the annual congress of the Austrian Society for Allergology and Immunology (ÖGAI), where he made a particularly positive impression with his scientifically topical questions, even in old age. As one of the first people to receive a SARS-CoV-2 vaccination, he will also be remembered as a testimonial for the importance of vaccinations!
On behalf of all members of the Institute of Pathophysiology and Allergy Research and the Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology at MedUni Vienna