ITMR | Helmholtz Munich

The Institute for Translational Metabolism Research (ITMR) investigates obesity, diabetes, and eating disorders through translational approaches that bridge preclinical and clinical research, focusing on gut–brain signaling, epigenetic programming of neuromodulatory systems, and volatile organic compounds as modulators of metabolic and brain function as well as diagnostic tools.

Microscopy of olfactory sensory mice neurons

We investigate how signals between the gut and the brain regulate eating behavior and energy balance. We focus on neuroendocrine pathways that influence appetite, metabolism, and body weight. Our goal is to better understand mechanisms underlying obesity and metabolic disorders.

We explore how epigenetic mechanisms shape neuromodulatory systems in the brain.
Our research examines how these changes influence individual susceptibility to metabolic and eating disorders. Through this work, we aim to identify biological factors driving disease vulnerability.

Luminous neurons and epigenetic regulation

We study plant- and mammal-derived volatile organic compounds and their biological effects. We investigate their role in modulating brain activity and metabolic processes.
In addition, we develop VOC-based approaches as innovative diagnostic tools.

AI generated: Analysis of VOCs in plants and animals

Prof. Dr. med. Katharina Timper

Director; Specialist in Endocrinology, Diabetology & Metabolism

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Dr. Tim Gruber

Project leader

Dr. Andrea Ghirardo

Project leader

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Vlera Fonda

PostDoc

Luisa Sachs

M.Sc, Scientific Writer

Scarlett Dornauer

Lab Manager and Webmaster

Baris Weber

Lab technician, Safety Manager

Employees

Nationalities

Cups of Coffee

Percentage of women

Gruber T*, Chesters RA, Fagnocchi L, Yu X, Fu Z, Gallik K, Backes H, Vaughan R, Huber M, De Angelis M, Gullmets J, Dykstra H, Apostle S, Cook T, Kulchycki J, DeCamp L, Mueller TD, Timper K, Desrivières S, Lippert RN, Pospisilik JA.

Midbrain Tet1 dosage defines inter-individual binge-eating susceptibility Tet1 haploinsufficiency creates pronounced inter-individual variation in binge-eating susceptibility by controlling prefrontal-to-VTA connectivity in mice and humans.

Valentin Hankofer, Andrea Ghirardo, Lisa Obermaier, Gernot Poschet, Jisha Suresh Kumar, Inonge Gross, Jörg Durner, Michael Rychlik, Markus Wirtz, Rüdiger Hell, Jörg-Peter Schnitzler & Martin Groth

Photorespiration is linked to DNA methylation by formate as a one-carbon source

Gruber T*, Lechner F, Krieger JP, Garcia-Caceres C.

Neuroendocrine gut-brain signaling in obesity Review of how peripheral metabolic signals are relayed via neuroendocrine pathways to hypothalamic and brainstem circuits governing energy balance and obesity.

Matiashova L, Hoogkamer AL, Timper K.

The Role of the Olfactory System in Obesity and Metabolism in Humans: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Gruber T*, Lechner F, Murat C, Contreras RE, Sanchez-Quant E, Miok V, Makris K, Le Thuc O, González-García I, Garcia-Clave E, Althammer F, Krabichler Q, DeCamp LM, Jones RG, Lutter D, Williams RH, Pfluger PT, Müller TD, Woods SC, Pospisilik JA, Martinez-Jimenez CP, Tschöp MH, Grinevich V, García-Cáceres C.

High-calorie diets uncouple hypothalamic oxytocin neurons from a gut-to-brain satiation pathway via κ-opioid signaling High-fat feeding engages κ-opioid signaling to silence gut-derived satiation input onto hypothalamic oxytocin neurons, disrupting a conserved gut-to-brain satiety circuit.

Gruber T*, Pan C, Contreras RE, Wiedemann T, Morgan DA, Skowronski AA, Lefort S, Murat C, Le Thuc O, Legutko B, Ruiz-Ojeda FJ, de la Fuente-Fernández M, García-Villalón AL, Gonzáles-Hedström D, Huber M, Szigeti-Buck K, Müller TD, Ussar S, Pfluger PT, Woods SC, Ertürk A, LeDuc C, Rahmouni K, Grandado M, Horvath TL, Tschöp MH, García-Cáceres C.

Obesity-associated hyperleptinemia alters the gliovascular interface of the hypothalamus to promote hypertension Chronic leptin excess remodels the hypothalamic gliovascular unit via HIF1α–VEGF signaling in astrocytes, driving neurovascular dysfunction and systemic hypertension in obesity.

Bertic M, Schroeder H, Kersten B, Fladung M, Orgel F, Buegger F, Schnitzler JP, Ghirardo A.

European oak chemical diversity - from ecotypes to herbivore resistance

Timper K, Del Río-Martín A, Cremer AL, Bremser S, Alber J, Giavalisco P, Varela L, Heilinger C, Nolte H, Trifunovic A, Horvath TL, Kloppenburg P, Backes H, Brüning JC.

GLP-1 Receptor Signaling in Astrocytes Regulates Fatty Acid Oxidation, Mitochondrial Integrity, and Function

Ghirardo A, Lindstein F, Koch K, Buegger F, Schloter M, Albert A, Michelsen A, Winkler JB, Schnitzler JP, Rinnan R.

Origin of volatile organic compound emissions from subarctic tundra under global warming

Marion Wenig, Andrea Ghirardo, Jennifer H. Sales, Elisabeth S. Pabst, Heiko H. Breitenbach, Felix Antritter, Baris Weber, Birgit Lange, Miriam Lenk, Robin K. Cameron, Joerg-Peter Schnitzler & A. Corina Vlot

Systemic acquired resistance networks amplify airborne defense cues

Timper K, Paeger L, Sánchez-Lasheras C, Varela L, Jais A, Nolte H, Vogt MC, Hausen AC, Heilinger C, Evers N, Patke A, Trifunovic A, Horvath TL, Kloppenburg P, Brüning JC

Mild Impairment of Mitochondrial OXPHOS Promotes Fatty Acid Utilization in POMC Neurons and Improves Glucose Homeostasis in Obesity

Timper K, Denson JL, Steculorum SM, Heilinger C, Engström-Ruud L, Wunderlich CM, Rose-John S, Wunderlich FT, Brüning JC

IL-6 Improves Energy and Glucose Homeostasis in Obesity via Enhanced Central IL-6 trans-Signaling

Ghirardo A, Xie JF, Zheng XH, Wang YS, Grote R, Block K, Wildt J, Mentel T, Kiendler-Scharr A, Hallquist M, et al.

Urban stress-induced biogenic VOC emissions and SOA-forming potentials in Beijing

Institute for Translational Metabolism Research

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Overeating & Energy Imbalance

Disease Susceptibility

Diagnostics & Modulation

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Institute for Food and Health

TUM Klinikum Rechts der Isar

Else Kröner Fresenius Zentrum für Ernährungsmedizin

Technische Universität München

Deutsches Zentrum für Diabetesforschung

Munich Medicine Alliance

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