Barbara Prainsack

Barbara Prainsack is a Professor at the Department of Political Science at the University Vienna, and a Co-Director of the University of Vienna’s Center for Advanced Studies (ViCAS). Her work explores the social, ethical, and regulatory dimensions of data-driven practices in biomedicine and the biosciences, as well as practices and institutions of solidarity in medicine and beyond. Her new monograph, States of Solidarity: How to build a society was published in March 2026 (Oxford University Press).

Barbara is also involved in policy-related work, e.g., as Chair of the European Group on Ethics in Science and New Technologies which advises the European Commission.  

Resilience and independence in European research come from strong and well-funded public institutions, academic freedom, and a clear commitment to the public good.