Gerhard LITSCHER, Univ.-Prof. Prof. hc mult. MSc PhD MDsc
Gerhard Litscher is Head of the Research Unit for Complementary and Integrative Laser Medicine, of the Research Unit of Biomedical Engineering in Anesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine and Chairman of the TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) Research Center at the Medical University of Graz, Austria, Europe. He is a Doctor of Technical Sciences and Doctor of Medical Sciences and has published approximately 600 scientific papers (>220 SCI/PubMed-listed). He is the author and/or editor of 16 books and editor and/or editorial board member of more than 35 international journals. Gerhard Litscher is also President of the International Society for Medical Laser Applications (ISLA transcontinental, since 2012), German Vice President of the German-Chinese Research Foundation (DCFG, since 2014), and Chairman of Consensus Guidelines for Laser Acupuncture of the World Association for photobiomoduLation Therapy (WALT). He is a member of the expert panels of the World Health Organization (WHO) for acupuncture and related fields, and is currently honorary or guest professor at 11 top universities and institutions in Asia (www.litscher.info).
Curr. Vitae
| 2017 -2020 | Election as Executive Council Member of the Board of Speciality committee of Cardiac Rehabilitation of World Federation of Chinese Medicine Societies, Beijing, China (May 21, 2017) Dec 2016 - Dec 2020, Topic: heart rate variability |
| 2016 -2020 | Appointment as Member of Education Working Committee of the World Federation of Acupuncture-Moxibustion Societies (WFAS), Wuhan, China, 13.05.2016 |
| 2016 -2018 | Reappointment as Visiting Professor at the Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion at China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China (July 1, 2016) |
| 2016 | Reappointment as Visiting Professor at China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan (February 19, 2016) |
| 2015 -2020 | Visiting Professor at Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Beijing, China (May 18, 2015) |
| 2015 | Visiting Professor at Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, China (Jan 12th, 2015) |
| 2015 | Visiting Professor at the Shanghai University of TCM, Shu Guang Hospital, Shanghai, China (November 19, 2015) |
| 2015 | Honorary Professor at Hubei Provincial Collaborative Innovation Center of Preventive Treatment by Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Wuhan, China (May 20, 2015) |
| 2015 | Reappointment as Visiting Professor at China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan (Jan 20, 2015) |
| 2014 | Director of the Sino-Austrian Research Center for High-Tech Acupuncture and Clinical & Experimental Integrative Medicine, Beijing Hospital of TCM affiliated to Capital Medical University, Beijing, China and Graz, Austria |
| 2014 | Appointment as German Vice-President of the German-Chinese Research Foundation (Porto/Portugal Oct 3rd, 2014) |
| 2014 | Reappointment as Visiting Professor of the Institute of Acupuncture & Moxibustion at China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China (June 13th, 2014) |
| 2014 | Reappointment as Visiting Professor at China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan (March 13, 2014) |
| 2013 | Visiting Professor at Beijing University of Science and Technology, Beijing, China (November 2013) |
| 2013 | Visiting Professor at China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan (May 1, 2013) |
| 2012 | Professor at Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital. Authorized by the Council as visiting professor of the Military Acupuncture Training Center (August 15th, 2012) |
| 2012 | Visiting Professor at Capital Medical University, Beijing, China (May 21st, 2012) |
| 2012 | Visiting Professor of Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, China (May 23rd, 2012) |
| 2012 | "Professor honoris causa (Prof. h.c.)" at Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University School of Clinical Traditional Chinese Medicine (May 21st, 2012) |
| 2012 | Head of the Stronach Research Unit for Complementary and Integrative Laser Medicine , Medical University of Graz, Austria |
| 2011 | Visiting Professor of the Institute of Acupuncture & Moxibustion at China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China (Sept 20th, 2011) |
| 2010 | University Professor (Honorary Title) appointed by the President of Austria |
| 2008 | Scientific and managing leadership of the inter-university Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine (Acupuncture - MUG) together with Prof. R. Bauer (Herbal Medicine Research - KFU) |
| 2005 | Head of the Research Unit of Biomedical Engineering in Anesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Austria |
| 2002 -2004 | M.D.sc. Doctor of Medical Sciences (A), Medical University of Graz |
| 1997 | a.o. Universitätsprofessor |
| 1997 | Development of a high-tech helmet construction for noninvasive neuromonitoring |
| 1997 | Development and evaluation of methods concerning Computer-Controlled Acupuncture® |
| 1996 | Organization of three international conferences Clinical Engineering New Trends: Computer-Controlled Acupuncture®; Transcranial Cerebral Oximetry; Laser Doppler Flowmetry |
| 1995 | Organization of 14 international workshops in Graz and Munich for postpromotional education in neuromonitoring with specific Educational Software (NEURALIS®) |
| 1993 | Habilitation at the Medical Faculty of the Karl-Franzens-University Graz (Medical informatics in anesthesiology and intensive care medicine) |
| 1991 -2002 | Head of the Research Group of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, University of Graz, Austria |
| 1991 -2001 | Lecturer at the Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Graz, University of Technology |
| 1987 | Ph.D. Doctor of Technical Sciences, Graz University of Technology |
| 1984 -1990 | Research Assistant at the Department of Medical Informatics and Neuroinformatics, Graz University of Technology |
| 1984 -1990 | Collaborator at the Ludwig-Boltzmann Institute for Medical Informatics, Graz |
| 1976 -1984 | Master's degree (M.Sc.) on Biomedical Engineering at the Graz University of Technology |
Awards
| 2013 | Laser Therapy Best/Good Paper Award 2012 from Japan Medical Laser Laboratory for "Laser acupuncture - innovative basic research: visual and laser-induced evoked potentials", March 31st, 2013, Tokyo, Japan |
| 2010 | Congress Award Graz für 'Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine' 14.-16. Mai 2009 -Stadt Graz |
| 2010 | AMS-Award des Korean Pharmacopuncture Institute für die Arbeit 'Transcontinental and translational high-tech acupuncture research using computer-based heart rate and 'Fire of Life' heart rate variability analysis' in Busan, Südkorea |
| 2010 | Editor Award - South Korea (for the most citing author) - JAMS; 1. Okt. 2010 Busan, Südkorea |
| 2010 | Wissenschaftspreis der Österreichischen Gesellschaft für Kontrollierte Akupunktur (OGKA) im Bereich Akupunktur-Grundlagenforschung - Erstautor |
| 2010 | Wissenschaftspreis der Österreichischen Gesellschaft für Kontrollierte Akupunktur (OGKA) im Bereich der klinischen Forschung - Koautorenschaft |
| 2004 | First Place Research Award of the American Academy of Medical Acupuncture (AAMA) and the Medical Acupuncture Research Foundation (MARF), Chicago, USA |
| 2004 | Forschungspreis des Landes Steiermark (Hauptpreis) für die Arbeit High-Tech Akupunktur® Computergestützte Objektivierungstechniken der Akupunktur; Graz |
| 2004 | International Award - Stiftung Akupunktur (Seirin) anlässlich der Eröffnungsfeier der MEDICA 2004; Düsseldorf |
| 2002 | Akademiepreis der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Akupunktur und Aurikulomedizin e.V. zum Gedenken an Dr. Paul Nogier; Köln |
| 1998 | Internationaler Prof. Dr. A. Pischinger-Preis für Akupunktur; Wien |
| 1995 | Hoechst Preis für Multivariable nicht-invasive Intensivüberwachung; Graz |
| 1991 | Förderungspreis für Wissenschaft und Forschung des Landes Steiermark; Graz |
| 1987 | Theodor Körner Preis für die Thematik Überwachung der Hirnfunktion; Wien |
Appointments/Memberships in Professional Societies
| 2014 -2018 | Deutsch-Chinesische Forschungsgemeinschaft für TCM German Vice-President |
| 2012 -2015 | International Medical Laser Association (IMedLA) Vice President responsible for Europe |
| 2012 -2018 | International Society for Medical Laser Applications (ISLA transcontinental) President - Science&Research |
| 2012 -2016 | World Federation of Chinese Medicine Societies - Specialty Committee of Collateral Disease Council Member |
| 2012 -2015 | European Medical Laser Association (EMLA) President of EMLA-Austria |
| 2011 -2012 | GP-TCM (Good Practice in TCM Research in the Post-genomic Era), European Coordination Action, 7th Framework Programme of the EU Member - WP8 (Functional genomics in studies of acupuncture-moxibustion and meridians); http://www.gp-tcm.org |
| 2010 -2012 | Parliament of the European Medical Laser Association Member and Representative of Austria |
| 2010 -2012 | European Medical Laser Association (EMLA) Member |
| 2010 -2012 | EMLA (European Medical Laser Association) - auf deutsch Member of the Local Committee |
| 2009 -2012 | Forum China Mitglied des Wissenschaftsbeirates |
| 2009 -2018 | Consortium for the Globalization of Chinese Medicine Secondary Institute Representative of the TCM Research Center Graz, University of Graz and Medical University of Graz to the Consortium for the Globalization of Chinese Medicine |
| 2007 -2018 | Sino-Austrian Collaborating Centre for Chinese Medical Sciences Vertreter der Medizinischen Universität Graz im wissenschaftlichen administrativen Board |
| 1998 -2012 | New York Academy of Sciences Member |
| 1995 -2012 | International Society for the Study and Prevention of Infant Death Member |
| 1992 -2012 | European Society for Engineering and Medicine Member |
| 1990 -2012 | International Brain Research Organization (IBRO) Member |
| 1990 -2012 | Deutsche Gesellschaft für Biomedizinische Technik Member |
| 1990 -2018 | Österreichische Gesellschaft für Anästhesiologie, Reanimation und Intensivtherapie Member |
| 1990 -2018 | Deutsche Gesellschaft für Klinische Neurophysiologie und Funktionelle Bildgebung Member |
| 1985 -2018 | Österreichische Gesellschaft für Biomedizinische Technik Member |
Editorial board appointments for scientific journals
| 2016 -2020 | INTEGRATIVE AND COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE: Editor in Chief |
| 2014 -2018 | INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE INTERNATIONAL: Editor in Chief |
| 2014 -2018 | BMC COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE: Associate Editor |
| 2014 -2018 | MEDICINES: Editor in Chief |
| 2013 -2015 | INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHOTOENERGY: Lead Guest Editor |
| 2012 -2018 | CHINESE ACUPUNCTURE & MOXIBUSTION: 1st European Editorial Board Member |
| 2012 -2018 | AKUPUNKTUR & AURIKULOMEDIZIN: Herausgeber,Member des Editorial Board |
| 2012 -2015 | LASER IN MEDICINE: Co-Editor |
| 2012 -2018 | JOURNAL OF CHINESE INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE: Member of the Editorial Board |
| 2012 -2018 | JOURNAL OF TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE = CHUNG I TSA CHIH YING WEN PAN: Member of the Editorial board |
| 2012 -2018 | JOURNAL OF PHARMACOPUNCTURE: Senior Editor |
| 2012 -2018 | LASER THERAPY: Editorial Board Member |
| 2012 -2018 | WORLD JOURNAL OF ACUPUNCTURE-MOXIBUSTION: Editorial Board Member |
| 2011 -2019 | WORLD JOURNAL OF ANESTHESIOLOGY: Editorial Board Member |
| 2011 -2019 | WORLD JOURNAL OF METHODOLOGY: Strategy Associate Editor in Chief |
| 2011 -2018 | JOURNAL OF ACUPUNCTURE AND MERIDIAN STUDIES: Associate Editor |
| 2011 -2018 | MEDICAL ACUPUNCTURE: Associate Editor for Europe |
| 2010 -2018 | JOURNAL OF US-CHINA MEDICAL SCIENCE: Editorial Board Member |
| 2010 -2018 | EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE: Editor, Lead Guest Editor, Guest Editor |
| 2010 -2018 | CHINESE MEDICINE: Member of the Editorial Board |
| 2010 -2018 | MEDICAL CASE REPORTS: Member of the Editorial Board |
| 2009 -2012 | SCHMERZ UND AKUPUNKTUR: Internationaler Wissenschaftl Beirat |
| 2009 -2017 | NORTH AMERICAN JOURNAL OF MEDICAL SCIENCES (NAJMS): Member of the Editorial Board |
| 2008 -2016 | THE INTERNET JOURNAL OF ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE: Editor in Chief |
| 2008 -2018 | THE OPEN MEDICAL DEVICES JOURNAL: Member of the Editorial Advisory Board |
| 2008 -2018 | DEUTSCHE ZEITSCHRIFT FÜR AKUPUNKTUR: Mitglied des Wissenschaftlichen Beirats |
| 2007 -2012 | MEDICAL ACUPUNCTURE: Member of the Editorial Board |
| 2007 -2015 | INTERNET JOURNAL OF LASERNEEDLE MEDICINE: Editor in Chief |
| 2007 -2011 | CHINESE MEDICINE: Member of the Editorial Board |
| 2005 -2011 | FORSCHENDE KOMPLEMENTARMEDIZIN UND KLASSISCHE NATURHEILKUNDE: Member of the Editorial Board |
| 2005 -2017 | NEUROLOGICAL RESEARCH: Member of the Editorial Board |
| 2004 -2017 | SCHWEIZERISCHEN ZEITSCHRIFT FUER GANZHEITSMEDIZIN: Member of the Internat. Advisory Board |
| 2003 -2017 | MEDICAL SCIENCE MONITOR: Member of the Internat. Reviewers Panel |
| 2000 -2015 | THE INTERNET JOURNAL OF EMERGENY AND INTENSIVE CARE: Section Editor Bioengineering |
| 2000 -2018 | JOURNAL FÜR ANÄSTHESIE UND INTENSIVBEHANDLUNG: Member of the Editorial Board |
| 2000 -2015 | THE INTERNET JOURNAL OF ANAESTHESIOLOGY: Editorial Board Member |
| 2000 -2008 | THE INTERNET JOURNAL OF ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE: Member of the Editorial Board |
| 2000 -2015 | INTERNET JOURNAL NEUROMONITORING: Editor in Chief |
Reviewer for scientific journals
Expert for external appointment/habilitation procedures
| 2013 | Externe Berufung: Gutachter: The University of Texas Medical School at Houston, USA Professor of Neurosurgery |
Reviewer/Expert funding organizations
| 2015 -2018 | Health and Medical Research Fund (HMRF) Hong Kong - China |
| 2015 -2015 | Krebsliga Schweiz - Switzerland |
| 2014 -2014 | Hong Kong Research Grants Council - General Research Fund for 2014/2015 - China |
| 2013 -2014 | The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Health and Medical Research Fund - China |
| 2013 -2014 | NFB - NÖ Forschungs- und Bildungsgese.m.b.H; life science calls - Austria |
| 2012 -2013 | Hong Kong Research Grants Council - Early Career Scheme for 2012/13 - China |
| 2012 -2012 | Hong Kong Research Grants Council - General Research Fund for 2012/13 - China |
| 2011 -2011 | Hong Kong University Grants Committee - China |
| 2010 -2010 | Innovation and Technology Commission Hong Kong - China |
| 2007 -2008 | Medical Research Council - United Kingdom |
| 2000 -2008 | FWF-Fonds zur Förderung der wissenschaftlichen Forschung - Austria |
| 2004 -2008 | Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der wissenschaftlichen Forschung - Switzerland |
| 2000 -2008 | Jubiläumsfonds der Österreichischen Nationalbank (ÖNB) - Austria |
Reviewer/Expert organization
| 2018 | World Health Organization (WHO), G. Litscher, member of the reviewing committee of the WHO Benchmark for Practice in Acupuncture |
| 2012 | Gutachten für Steiermärkische Landesregierung im Auftrag des Bundesministeriums für Wissenschaft und Forschung (Verleihung für Verdienste um die Republik Österreich) |
| 2012 | Ethikkommission der Medizinischen Universität Wien |
| 2011 | European IFMBE MBEC 2011 |
Organizer of scientific conferences, Chairs
| 2016 | 11th International Congress for Medical Laser Applications Chair |
| 2015 | International Conference on Health, Healthcare and Eco-civilisation, Moderator Session 3 Chair |
| 2015 | 2nd Annual World Congress of High-tech Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine-2015 Organisator |
| 2015 | 10th International Congress for Medical Laser Applications Chair |
| 2014 | Beijing International Acupuncture and Neurology Seminar Wissenschaftlicher Beirat/Beirätin |
| 2014 | 1st World Congress of High-Tech Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine Organisator |
| 2014 | 9th International Congress for Medical Laser Applications Chair |
| 2014 | 13th Meeting of the Consortium for Globalization of Chinese Medicine (CGCM), Acupuncture Session Chair |
| 2014 | 2nd International Conference and Exhibition on Traditional & Alternative Medicine Chair |
| 2014 | Interdisciplinary Acupuncture Symposium II, Session Chair Chair |
| 2014 | 8th International Workshop on TCM, Session 6: Scientific Methodology Chair |
| 2013 | 2nd Annual Meeting of The Good Practice in TCM (GP-TCM) Research Association Organisator |
| 2013 | 8th International ISLA Congress for Medical Laser Applications Chair |
| 2013 | 12th Meeting of the Consortium for Globalization of Chinese Medicine (CGCM) Organisator |
| 2012 | Laser Helsinki 2012 International Congress, First Plenary Session: Lasers in Surgery Chair |
| 2012 | International Conference of Physiological Sciences. Symposium 12 Chair |
| 2012 | 6th DCFG Workshop on Scientific Approaches to Chinese Medicine Chair |
| 2012 | The Second Beijing International Symposium on Integrative Medicine Chair |
| 2012 | 2nd Sino-Austrian High-Tech Acupuncture Research Forum Organisator |
| 2012 | Symposium "Complementary and Integrative Laser Medicine" at the Laser International Medical Congress with celebration of the EMLA 30th anniversary Organisator |
| 2012 | Präkongress zum 31. Kongress der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Akupunktur und Neuraltherapie, Spezialseminar; Vortragsveranstaltung zur Laserneedle-Therapie Chair |
| 2011 | The HanseMerkur Symposium & 5th DCFG Workshop on Scientific Approaches to Chinese Medicine Chair |
| 2011 | 2011 International Symposium on Acupuncture in Beijing/China, Session 1; Capital Medical University, Beijing Hospital of TCM, Beijing TCM International Exchange and Cooperation Center, Beijing Association of Acupuncture-Moxibustion Chair |
| 2011 | Transcontinental Symposium "Basic Research Meets High-Tech Acupuncture and Moxibustion" in Beijing, China Chair |
| 2011 | Transcontinental Symposium "Basic Research Meets High-Tech Acupuncture and Moxibustion" in Beijing, China Organisator |
| 2011 | Wissenschaftliches ISLA-Seminar an der Medizinischen Universität Graz Mitglied Organisationskomitee |
| 2010 | Laserakupunktur-Seminar Chair |
| 2009 | II. Internationales Seminar "Transkranielle cerebrale Oxymetrie in Anästhesie und Intensivmedizin", Session 2 Chair |
| 2009 | International Symposium Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine Research. Organisator |
| 2008 | 52. Österreichischer HNO-Kongress, Podiumsdiskussion "Medikamentöse Therapie und komplementäre Medizin" Chair |
| 2008 | Lasertherapie - die Therapie der Zukunft Chair |
| 2008 | Workshop "High-Tech und TCM - ein erfolgreicher integrativer Ansatz" im Rahmen des 39. Internationalen TCM-Kongresses Chair |
| 2007 | Sino-Austrian Expert Forum for Chinese Medicine, Session 1 Chair |
| 2007 | Laser Prague - The 12th International Congress of the European Medical Laser Association (EMLA) in conjunction with the World Association of Laser Therapy (WALT) Chair |
| 2005 | 14. Internationaler Workshop "Neuromonitoring in Anästhesie und Intensivmedizin" (seit 1995 abwechselnd in Graz und München) Organisator |
| 1999 | Clinical Engineering New Trends: Computer-Controlled Acupuncture® Mitglied Organisationskomitee |
| 1997 | Clinical Engineering New Trends: Transcranial Cerebral Oximetry Organisator |
| 1996 | Clinical Engineering New Trends: Laser Doppler Flowmetry Organisator |