The new HyperMet research unit is focused on investigating how skeletal muscle hypertrophy (growth) and atrophy (wasting) affect metabolic health. The team aims to uncover the underlying metabolic mechanisms at various levels, including intracellular processes, metabolite exchange within muscles, and the interaction between organs and overall metabolic function. To achieve this, HyperMet will employ advanced techniques such as isotope-labeled tracer-based flux analysis, metabolic imaging, and arteriovenous metabolomics. The research unit is coordinated by Prof. Henning Wackerhage from TUM (speaker) and co-led by Prof. Hanna Taipaleenmäki from LMU (vice-speaker). It comprises nine projects led by researchers from Helmholtz Munich, LMU, TUM, and the Technical University of Braunschweig.
Helmholtz Munich Leads Four Key HyperMet Projects
Four of the nine HyperMet sub-projects will be largely conducted at Helmholtz Munich, with each project contributing to HyperMet's overarching goal through collaborative efforts. The Helmholtz Munich-based projects will focus on the following:
- Dr. Janina Tokarz and Dr. Ken Dyar’s project will explore the effects of steroid hormone-induced muscle hypertrophy and atrophy on systemic glucose homeostasis.
- Dr. Nathalia Dragano, Prof. Franz Schilling, and Prof. Martin Hrabě de Angelis will investigate the metabolic mechanisms behind muscle loss induced by semaglutide versus muscle hypertrophy, using mouse models and advanced imaging techniques.
- Dr. Maria Rohm’s project will examine the metabolic consequences of the interaction between muscles and tumors in the context of cancer-induced muscle atrophy.
- Dr. Gabi Kastenmüller and Dr. Dominik Lutter’s project focuses on computationally integrating molecular interactions using the large datasets generated within the consortium to uncover the metabolic mechanisms underlying muscle hypertrophy and atrophy.
