Peter Valent has a long-standing interest in mast cells and mastocytosis as well as in translational research in hematology, with a strong focus on the development of new targets and targeted drugs. He is senior investigator since 1990 and runs a translational research group in his department. In the past 10 years, he developed WHO mastocytosis criteria with an expert panel which he coordinated, and the WHO classification. He is initiator and coordinator of the European Compentence Network on Mastocytosis ( ECNM, www.ecnm.net ) and runs a center of excellence in the ECNM in Vienna.