Center for Biomarker Research in Medicine (CBmed)

What Center for Biomarker Research in Medicine (CBmed) does

CBmed GmbH is an Austrian public-private partnership founded in 2014 and headquartered in Graz, operating a multi-omics precision medicine platform that spans biomarker discovery, translational research, and clinical-grade laboratory services. The company is co-owned by four universities and two research institutions and is the first COMET center to successfully transition into a sustainable operating model after its public funding phase. Its core technology stack integrates molecular pathology, cancer immunobiology, metabolomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and data science, anchored by co-located access to Europe's largest biobank in Graz (7 million patient samples) and the BBMRI-ERIC network (60 million patient samples). Proprietary platforms include an ex vivo compound screening system using patient-derived tumor spheroids (with 150+ screened against 80 anti-cancer drugs in 2021–2023), the MyBioScope/CBioMe in-vitro microbiome modulation platform, iPSC-based diabetes islet models, multiplex fluorescent IHC with HALO/CNN image analysis, and a microplastics detection platform.

CBmed monetizes through three revenue streams: long-term industry research partnerships with pharmaceutical companies (anchored by a strategic 2024 partnership with Boehringer Ingelheim for biomarker identification across Boehringer's oncology pipeline), government-funded research projects (COMET Module via FFG, FWF 1000 Ideas, Ludwig Boltzmann Gesellschaft, EU Horizon Europe / SUSTRONICS, Land Steiermark), and academic/clinical research services delivered to Austrian Medical Universities and nine clinical trial sites. Go-to-market is direct enterprise business development ([email protected]) complemented by event-driven visibility through Austria's Leading Companies awards, peer-reviewed publications, and government engagement. Pricing is bespoke, project-by-project, with no public rate card disclosed. The company holds ISO 9001 (achieved June 2025) and ISO 15189 quality certifications and operates with GDPR-compliant data handling.

The company's primary customers are enterprise pharmaceutical and biotech firms (Boehringer Ingelheim as the lead commercial counterparty), academic medical universities (Graz, Vienna, Innsbruck, plus Karl Landsteiner, JKU Linz, Danube Private University), and clinical research organizations participating in the ATTRACT glioblastoma Phase 2 trial (240 enrolled patients across 9 Austrian sites). The organization employs 11–50 staff and is expanding research infrastructure in Graz with dedicated labs and up to 30 translational scientists and physicians dedicated to the Boehringer Ingelheim partnership from April 2024. Leadership consists of co-CEOs Robert Lobnig (CEO/CFO) and Thomas Pieber (CEO/CSO), with Vanessa Stadlbauer-Köllner as General Manager of Translational Precision Medicine.

Name

Center for Biomarker Research in Medicine (CBmed)

Legal name

CBmed GmbH Center for Biomarker Research in Medicine

Website

https://cbmed.at

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CBmed is an Austrian public-private partnership operating a multi-omics biomarker research platform spanning ex vivo drug screening, microbiome, diabetes, and microplastics research, serving pharmaceutical companies (notably Boehringer Ingelheim), Austrian medical universities, and clinical research organizations with bespoke translational research services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Biomarker Research Services

NAICS

Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories (6215), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)

SIC

Services-Medical Laboratories (8071), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), In Vitro & In Vivo Diagnostic Substances (2835)

akta.pro primary industry

Translational Medicine & Biomarkers (HLAIALAF)

Keywords

• Biomarker research
• Precision medicine
• Omics analysis
• Translational research
• Microbiome research

Headquarters

HQ city

Graz

HQ country

Austria

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Industry Research Partnerships & Contract Research: CBmed generates revenue through strategic long-term partnerships with pharmaceutical companies (e.g., Boehringer Ingelheim) for translational medicine research, biomarker discovery, and drug development support. Services include ex vivo compound screening, multi-omics analysis, and biomarker validation under collaborative research agreements. Financial terms are not disclosed.
2. Publicly Funded Research Projects: CBmed participates in government-funded research programs including COMET Module (FFG), FWF 1000 Ideas Program, FFG, Ludwig Boltzmann Gesellschaft, European Union grants (SUSTRONICS), and regional funding (Land Steiermark). These grants support specific research projects in microplastics, glioblastoma, diabetes, and sustainable electronics.
3. Academic & Clinical Research Services: CBmed provides biomarker research services to academic institutions, universities, and clinical research organizations, leveraging its biobank access, core technologies, and data science capabilities. Revenue is generated through research collaboration agreements and service contracts.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

CBmed (Center for Biomarker Research in Medicine) is an Austrian public-private partnership research center founded in 2014 in Graz, focused on biomarker research in precision medicine. It provides translational research services and core laboratory technologies including ex vivo compound screening, microbiome research, ELISA, flow cytometry, IHC, live cell imaging, cell culture, and data science. The center combines proprietary biomarker patents (AGRA, eIF) with multi-omics analytics to deliver biomarker discovery, validation, and clinical translation for pharmaceutical companies, academic institutions, and clinical researchers.

Product overview

CBmed is a public-private partnership offering a comprehensive biomarker research platform comprising multiple integrated service modules. The core offerings include Ex Vivo Compound Screening for high-throughput drug discovery, Core Technologies (flow cytometry, immunohistochemistry, cell culture, live cell imaging), Microbiome Research with CBioMe modelling, Diabetes Research using patient-derived iPSC islet models, Data Science with bioinformatics and AI-powered image analysis, and Microplastics & Health research. Additional services include Soluble Biomarkers (ELISA), Cell Culture (2D/3D), and Live Cell Imaging. The portfolio is supported by quality management (ISO 9001/15189) and includes patents (AGRA, eIF) and funded projects (microONE, ATTRACT, BRAINTOX, SUSTRONICS). The company connects academic research infrastructure with industry partners including Boehringer Ingelheim to accelerate translational precision medicine.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Ex Vivo Compound Screening

Quantifiable outcome

• 150+ patient spheroids screened against 80 anti-cancer drugs between 2021–2023
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability5 records

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.

• Boehringer IngelheimcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 February 2024Long-term strategic partnership to apply translational medicine approaches to accelerate development of first-in-class cancer medicines. CBmed provides biomarker identification and validation services across Boehringer's oncology pipeline to support early proof of therapeutic effect, patient selection, and identification of new indications. CBmed expanded its Graz infrastructure in April 2024 with dedicated labs, offices, and up to 30 translational scientists and physicians for this partnership.
• Medical University of GrazcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCBmed is co-owned by four universities and two research institutions. The Medical University of Graz is a core academic partner providing research infrastructure, biobank access (Europe's largest with 7 million patient samples), clinical expertise, and collaborative research in oncology, hepatology, and microbiome science. Hellmut Samonigg, Rector of Medical University of Graz, welcomed the Boehringer partnership as validation of the Medical Science City Graz concept.
• Medical University of ViennacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCore academic partner and lead of the ATTRACT glioblastoma clinical trial consortium. CBmed collaborates with Medical University of Vienna on oncology translational research, biomarker discovery, and clinical trials. Markus Müller, Rector of Medical University of Vienna, noted the strengthening of the Vienna-Graz research axis through the Boehringer partnership.
• Medical University of InnsbrucksecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the ATTRACT clinical trial consortium for glioblastoma, contributing to the multi-center randomized Phase 2 study spanning 9 Austrian clinical sites.
• Karl Landsteiner University / St. Pölten University HospitalsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the ATTRACT glioblastoma clinical trial consortium, contributing patient enrollment and clinical expertise to the multi-center study.
• Johannes Kepler University / Kepler University HospitalsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the ATTRACT glioblastoma clinical trial consortium, participating in the multi-center randomized Phase 2 study across 9 Austrian sites.
• Danube Private UniversitysecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the ATTRACT glioblastoma clinical trial consortium for personalized targeted glioblastoma therapies.
• Austrian Institute of Technology (AIT)secondaryTechnology or IntegrationPartner in the ATTRACT clinical trial consortium contributing technological capabilities to the interdisciplinary pan-Austrian consortium for glioblastoma research.
• Joanneum ResearchsecondaryTechnology or IntegrationCollaborates with CBmed on the BRAINTOX project to determine the best metabolomic technology (mass spectrometry or nuclear magnetic resonance) for identifying changes in cellular metabolism induced by uremic toxins in glioblastoma.
• BBMRI-ERIC (Biobanking and Biomolecular Resources Research Infrastructure – European Research Infrastructure)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCBmed has access to the world's largest biobank network with 60 million patient samples through BBMRI-ERIC, supporting large-scale biomarker discovery and validation studies.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Celerion: Bioanalytical and PK/PD-focused clinical research services provider serving pharma and biotech. Comparable in providing regulated, quality-managed sample analysis and biomarker services for drug development.
• Crown Bioscience: Provides preclinical oncology services including patient-derived xenograft and 3D spheroid drug screening for pharma sponsors. Highly comparable patient-derived tumor model and ex vivo screening capability to CBmed's core platform.
• Evotec: Global CRO operating long-term drug discovery and translational research partnerships with pharma (e.g., Bayer, Boehringer). Directly comparable business model of multi-modality R&D collaborations underpinned by academic-style research infrastructure.
• Metabolon: Specialized metabolomics services provider for pharma and academic researchers, with a similar model of fee-for-service omics profiling on proprietary platforms. Comparable as an omics-focused lab service serving pharma biomarker needs.
• Champions Oncology: Specializes in patient-derived tumor models (PDX, organoids) and ex vivo drug screening for translational oncology research with pharma. Closely comparable in patient-derived model-based drug response profiling.
• BioAgilytix: Specialized biomarker and bioanalytical services provider supporting pharma and biotech drug development across multiple modalities (PK, immunogenicity, cell-based assays). Comparable as a biomarker-focused lab services company with pharma clients.

Emerging players

• Protagen Diagnostics: Biomarker discovery and diagnostics company focused on immune-related and oncology indications. Comparable as a smaller, biomarker-focused life sciences services company with similar translational research orientation.
• SomaLogic: Specialized proteomics biomarker discovery platform serving pharma and clinical research. Comparable as an omics-based biomarker discovery service, though focused on protein affinity rather than the multi-modal breadth CBmed offers.

Broad incumbents

• Eurofins Discovery: Division of Eurofins providing drug discovery, biomarker and screening services to pharma. A larger incumbent offering overlapping capabilities in screening, in vitro pharmacology, and biomarker analysis.
• Charles River Laboratories: Large global CRO with extensive biomarker, bioanalytical, and translational research services. While much broader in scope, it competes with CBmed for translational research and biomarker validation contracts from pharma.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Center for Biomarker Research in Medicine (CBmed)