Prof. Cora Weigert
Head of Division ”Molecular Diabetology”Exercise activates a fascinating network of thousands of molecules in our body. Understanding this not only provides fascinating insights into biochemical processes, but is also the basis for "exercise as medicine".
Exercise activates a fascinating network of thousands of molecules in our body. Understanding this not only provides fascinating insights into biochemical processes, but is also the basis for "exercise as medicine".
Academic Pathway & Research Area
As a pharmacist, Cora first began her career looking after the needs and wants of patients in a public pharmacy, before her fascination with human biochemistry brought her back to the research laboratory, first at the Biochemical Institute in Erlangen (PhD), then at the University Hospital in Tübingen (Habilitation). She now leads the Division "Molecular Diabetology" at the Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Pathobiochemistry at the UK Tübingen and at the IDM in Tübingen, and was a visiting scientist at the IEG in Munich for many years.
Cora first contributed to the understanding of the fine regulation of insulin signal transduction by identifying and characterizing serine/threonine phosphorylation sites of the multi-adaptor protein IRS.
The discovery that human muscle cells produce large amounts of the cytokine interleukin-6 during exercise then sparked her research interest in understanding the communication of active muscle with other organs and investigating molecular adaptations to athletic activity.
Long-term and still active collaborations with the Centre for Physical Activity Research in Copenhagen and the DICP in Dalian, an institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and research stays in Copenhagen and Dalian followed. Based on this work is the concept of myometabokines, i.e. metabolites induced by exercise that may contribute to diabetes prevention, for example, through long-term effects.
Fields of Work and Expertise
exercise metabolism insulin signaling mitochondrial respiration myometabokine metabolomics
diabetes prevention
Professional Background
Head of Basic Research at the Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Pathobiochemistry
Professorship for Molecular Diabetology
Head of Division "Metabolic Diabetology"
Honors and Awards
Visiting Professorship at the Danish Diabetes Academy
2016Ferdinand Bertram Award
2006