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Helmholtz Munich | ©Sevgican Demir

Division - Diabetic Complications

Herzig Lab

Herzig Lab

About our research

Our metabolism is a complex system which is carefully regulated in order to keep our body's energy supply and demand in balance. In diabetes, the balance of glucose and lipids is lost, which can ultimately lead to long-term diabetic complications, including micro- and macro-vascular damage.

Today’s challenges in diabetes research are focused on identifying novel molecular metabolic targets which can prevent and also treat the long-term consequences of the disease.

When we lose the capability of properly regulating our metabolism, we often refer to this disease state as “the metabolic syndrome”. Insulin resistance is not only a core component of the metabolic syndrome and an early feature of pre-diabetic conditions, but also triggers the development and progression of the disease to end-stage type 2 diabetes. The diabetic complications division explores transcriptional, epigenetic and signaling components controlling systemic and tissue-specific insulin sensitivity, and tests their potential to serve as novel therapeutic platforms in diabetes prevention approaches.

Recent experimental and clinical studies show that whilst high blood sugar levels are fundamental to diabetes, the abnormal production or defective clearance of reactive metabolite species critically contribute to long-term complications in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. To support in defining and functionally characterizing pathways in abnormal diabetic metabolite generation and their impact on the development of diabetic long-term complications, the IDC has established a joint Translational Diabetes Program with the University Hospital Heidelberg, and the Collaborative Research Center 1118.

We anticipate that reactive metabolites will provide promising new targets in type 1 and type 2 diabetes therapies.

Our Team

Prof. Dr. Stephan Herzig New

Prof. Dr. Stephan Herzig

Director & Head of Division Diabetic Complications View profile
Portrait von Bilgen Ekim

Dr. Bilgen Ekim

Junior Group Leader Heidelberg

Dr. Ana Alfaro

Coordinator Drug Develompent & Industrial Collaborations
Porträt Köker Sahika

Dr. Sahika Cingir Köker

Postdoc

Sevgican Demir

Postdoc
Porträt Gil Lozano Manuel

Dr. Manuel Gil Lozano

Postdoc
Porträt Guerra Joel

Dr. Joel Guerra

Postdoc
Porträt Harrison Luke

Dr. Luke Harrison

Science Manager
Porträt Hass Daniela

Daniela Haß

Senior Technician
Porträt Ji Honglei

Dr. Honglei Ji

Postdoc

Dr. Adriano Maida

Scientific Laboratory Director
Porträt Magalhaes Thaina

Dr. Thainá Magalhães

Postdoc
Porträt Matta Leonardo

Dr. Leonardo Matta

Postdoc
Porträt Mhamane Amit

Dr. Amit Mhamane

Postdoc
Porträt Simoes Fernandez Estefania

Dr. Estefania Simoes Fernandez

Postdoc
Wolff Gretchen Porträt IDC

Dr. Gretchen Wolff

Postdoc

Our Most Recent Publications

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2024 Scientific Article in Cardiovascular Research

Wang, Y. ; Li, G. ; Chen, B. ; Shakir, G. ; Volz, M. ; van der Vorst, E.P.C. ; Maas, S.L. ; Geiger, M. ; Jethwa, C. ; Bartelt, A. ; Li, Z. ; Wettich, J. ; Sachs, N. ; Maegdefessel, L. ; Nazari Jahantigh, M. ; Hristov, M. ; Lacy, M. ; Lutz, B. ; Weber, C. ; Herzig, S. ; Guillamat Prats, R. ; Steffens, S.

Myeloid cannabinoid CB1 receptor deletion confers atheroprotection in male mice by reducing macrophage proliferation in a sex-dependent manner.

Contact Us

Portrait Miriam Guhl

Miriam Guhl

Coordination and Administration

3620 / 309d