Diabetes

Our research at the Helmholtz Diabetes Center (HDC) aims to understand the molecular bases underlying all forms of diabetes, its heterogeneity, and risk factors, including obesity, as well as its complications and comorbidities. We combine world-leading basic research with clinical intervention and cohort studies to develop tomorrow’s diabetes precision medicine.

Our research at the Helmholtz Diabetes Center (HDC) aims to understand the molecular bases underlying all forms of diabetes, its heterogeneity and risk factors, including obesity, as well as its complications and comorbidities. We combine world-leading basic research with clinical intervention and cohort studies to develop tomorrow’s diabetes precision medicine.

Molecular model of insulin molecule, 3D illustration

We identify risk factors for diabetes in children and adults and its complications. Our world-class basic research enables us to define new biomarker for its development and progression and therapeutic targets.

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We are leading in early detection and prevention of type 1 and type 2 diabetes as well as development of innovative personalized therapies to combat diabetes and obesity.

3d rendering of Human cell or Embryonic stem cell microscope background.

We develop new venues for cell-based therapies, to reestablish a health metabolic function. We jointly work to identify the molecular basis of diabetes complications and means for their remission.

Diabetes in Children

Early detection tests for a world without type 1 diabetes

At Helmholtz Munich, scientists are working to ensure that no child will have to suffer from the autoimmune disease type 1 diabetes in the future.

Networks

Our partnerships for a world without diabetes

Researchers at Helmholtz Munich are working toward a world without diabetes. They are not doing so alone, but with a network of organizations, hospitals, and pharmaceutical companies. Their goal is to use experts’ knowledge to create something new: innovative prevention and treatment of diabetes.

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Metabolism and Longevity

Longevity Treatments Do Not Slow Aging

Three approaches with a reputation for slowing aging processes have proven largely ineffective. For their study, researchers developed a new method to measure aging, which accounts for the complexity of aging in organisms.

Martin Hrabe de Angelis _ Portrait NEU_freigestellt

Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Martin Hrabě De Angelis

Member and Spokesperson of the Executive Board (acting), Research Director Helmholtz Munich, Full Professor and Chair of Experimental Genetics Technical University Munich, Director of the Institute of Experimental Genetics Helmholtz Munich

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Prof. Dr. Stephan Herzig

Research Director Helmholtz Munich and Head of Diabetes Department

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Prof. Dr. Heiko Lickert

Institute Director

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Univ.-Prof. Dr. med. Anette-Gabriele Ziegler

Institute Director, Chair of Diabetes and Gestational Diabetes, Klinikum rechts der Isar and Technical University of Munich, Director of the Global Platform for the Prevention of Autoimmune Diabetes (GPPAD)

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Prof. Dr. Timo Müller

Institute Director

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Prof. Dr. Michele Solimena

Institute Director

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Prof. Dr. Tor Henrik Semb

Director

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PI-/MA-Bilder Matthias Blüher_EH6A7638_Hintergrund freigestellt

Prof. Dr. Matthias Blüher

Director of the Helmholtz Institute for Metabolic, Obesity and Vascular Research and Head of Research Group Clinical Obesity Research

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Henriette Uhlenhaut Porträt freigestellt

Prof. Dr. Nina Henriette Uhlenhaut

Institute Director

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Paul Pfluger Portrait Hochformat_freigestellt

Prof. Dr. Paul Pfluger

Head of Research Unit

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Profilbild Andreas BIrkenfeld_freigestellt

Prof. Dr. Andreas Birkenfeld

Director

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Prof. Dr. Matthias Hebrok

Director, IDOT

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Prof. Carolin Daniel

TDI Department Head

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Dr. Siegfried Ussar

Director of Research Unit Adipocytes and Metabolism

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Thanks to basic research, groundbreaking innovations against obesity as well as in the field of diabetes prevention and therapy are emerging at Helmholtz Munich.

Visit Campaign

Dr. Raffaele Teperino, Principal Investigator of the Environmental Epigenetics Group at Helmholtz Munich, has been honored with the PRO-SCIENTIA Award 2025 of the Eckhart-Buddecke Foundation. The award, endowed with 10,000 euros, recognizes…

A new tool developed by Helmholtz Munich and the German Center for Diabetes Research and the University of Bonn makes spatial proteomics and lipidomics easier to use – no coding required. C-COMPASS allows scientists to profile where proteins and…

Eric Wenzel Übergabe Jürgen Biercher-Preis_1

Dr. Eric Wenzel, Clinician Scientist at the Leipzig University and the Helmholtz Institute for Metabolism, Obesity, and Vascular Research (HI-MAG) of Helmholtz Munich and the Medical Faculty of Leipzig University, has been awarded the Jürgen-Bierich…

Diabetes affects millions worldwide, but research is opening new paths for better prevention, treatment, and ultimately, a cure. Helmholtz Munich is at the forefront of these efforts, advancing science to combat diabetes and related metabolic…

Woman's hands checking diabetes and hyperglycemia with digital blood sugar meter.

An elevated blood glucose level one hour after the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) signals a critical metabolic state – even before prediabetes. Affected individuals respond particularly well to lifestyle interventions. This value could become a…

First results of the Primary Oral Insulin Trial (POInT) mark an important step towards the prevention of type 1 diabetes, pointing future efforts to personalized strategies. The group led by researchers from Helmholtz Munich and the Technical…

Loft A, Schmidt SF, Caratti G, Stifel U, Havelund J, Sekar R, Kwon Y, Sulaj A, Chow KK, Alfaro AJ, Schwarzmayr T, Rittig N, Svart M, Tsokanos FF, Maida A, Blutke A, Feuchtinger A, Møller N, Blüher M, Nawroth P, Szendrödi J, Færgeman NJ, Zeigerer A, Tuckermann J, Herzig S.

A macrophage-hepatocyte glucocorticoid receptor axis coordinates fasting ketogenesis.

Karlina R, Flexeder C, Stephanie M, Bhattacharyya M, Schneider E, Altun I, Gschwendtner S, Neumann AU, Nano J, Schloter M, Peters A, Schulz H, Schmidt-Weber CB, Standl M, Traidl-Hoffmann C, Alessandrini F, Ussar S.

Differential effects of lung inflammation on insulin resistance in humans and mice.

Karl FM, Winkler C, Ziegler A-G, Laxy M, Achenbach P

Costs of Public Health Screening of Children for Presymptomatic Type 1 Diabetes in Bavaria, Germany.

Xu CS, Pang S, Shtengel G, Müller A, Ritter AT, Hoffman HK, Takemura SY, Lu Z, Pasolli HA, Iyer N, Chung J, Bennett D, Weigel AV, Freeman M, van Engelenburg SB, Walther TC, Farese RV Jr, Lippincott-Schwartz J, Mellman I, Solimena M, Hess HF.

An open-access volume electron microscopy atlas of whole cells and tissues.