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Porträt Barbara Thorand
Helmholtz Munich | Matthias Tunger Photodesign

Prof. Dr. oec. troph. Barbara Thorand, MPH

Head of Research Group 'Diabetes Epidemiology'
+49 89 3187 4480Email meBuilding/Room: 56/245

“The aim of my research is the discovery of novel risk factors for type 2 diabetes and cardio-metabolic diseases in order to improve our understanding of the pathophysiology and the prediction of these important chronic diseases.”

“The aim of my research is the discovery of novel risk factors for type 2 diabetes and cardio-metabolic diseases in order to improve our understanding of the pathophysiology and the prediction of these important chronic diseases.”

Academic career and research areas

Barbara Thorand is an epidemiologist and a nutritionist. She was trained at the University of Bonn, Germany (Nutrition), the University of Indonesia (SEAMEO Tropmed Field Research Programme Public Health Nutrition) and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC, US (Master of Public Health). Since 2010, she is heading the research group “Diabetes Epidemiology” at the Institute of Epidemiology at Helmholtz Munich and since 2017 she holds an adjunct professorship at the Ludwig-Maximilians-University München in the area of epidemiology.

In the last  more than 20 years, as a member of the KORA (Cooperative Health Research in the Region of Augsburg)-team, Barbara Thorand gained extensive experience in the conduct and analysis of large epidemiological studies in the area of chronic disease epidemiology with a focus on novel risk factors for type 2 diabetes and cardio-metabolic diseases. She is/was a co-investigator in several large EU-funded projects in the area of cardio-metabolic diseases (SUMMIT, DIRECT, BiomarCaRE, MORGAM) and a member of several large international consortia examining genetic risk factors for type 2 diabetes and related traits (DIAGRAM, MAGIC), anthropometric parameters (GIANT), metabolic traits (CARE) and the proteome (SCALLOP). During recent years she contributes to the German National Cohort (NAKO) as a co-investigator and member of the “Expert Group Diabetes”. Besides her interest in the epidemiology of cardio-metabolic diseases, she is interested in in the determinants of healthy aging with a focus on diet and anthropometric parameters.

Fields of Work and Expertise

EpidemiologyNutritionDiabetesCardiovascular DiseasesHealthy AgeingBiomarkersCohort Studies

Professional Background

Since 2017

Adjunct Professor of Epidemiology (apl. Prof.), Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU), Munich

2012 - 2015

Deputy Head, Institute of Epidemiology II, Helmholtz Munich

Since 2010

Head of Research Group 'Diabetes Epidemiology', Institute of Epidemiology, Helmholtz Munich

1997

Master of Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC, USA

1996

PhD Nutritional Sciences (Dr. oec. troph), Rheinische-Friedrich-Wilhelms-University, Bonn

Honors and Awards

  • Selection for Advanced & Essentials European Nutrition Leadership Programme
    2017 & 1996

  • Junior Scientist Award from the German Association of Epidemiology (now DGEpi)
    2002

  • TROPHICA-Award for PhD-thesis (now OECOTROPHICA award)
    1997

Gold Star Awards Luxury Background
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Highlight Publications

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