Prevention and Health Promotion at Helmholtz Munich

Imagine a world where diseases are detected before they even emerge – a world where individual health risks are detected early, enabling precise interventions to maintain health. This is exactly what we are working on at Helmholtz Munich. Our research is unlocking new dimensions in prevention: we decode genetic predispositions, analyze the impact of lifestyle and environment, and harness artifical intelligence to predict diseases and their progression. We are developing cutting-edge technologies to visualize hidden risks at the deepest molecular level. Our goal? To prevent diseases before they arise and, with the power of AI and bioengineering, shape a healthier future for all.

Preventive Check-Ups with AI

"In the future, doctor visits will offer unprecedented certainty. AI-powered preventive screenings will detect even the smallest anomalies that might go unnoticed otherwise. A single comprehensive check-up will identify potential health risks before they can develop into serious conditions. Additionally, much of the prevention will occur at home, with sensors and handheld devices continuously monitoring health and allowing for early intervention."

Visit Julia's page

Prof. Julia Schnabel

Director at the Institute of Machine Learning in Biomedical Imaging

Overcome Reseach Gap

"Metabolic diseases such as obesity or diabetes often have their origin in childhood. However, children do not adequately benefit from research programs and clinical advance. We need to overcome this research gap to prevent obesity early on."

Visit Antje's page

Prof. Antje Körner

Head of Research Group Childhood Obesity and Metabolic Research at HI-MAG

Early Detection of Type 1 Diabetes in Children

“We aim to democratize access to early-detection tests for type 1 diabetes, thereby protecting affected children from serious metabolic complications. This goal can only be achieved through the inclusion of autoantibody tests into standard medical care."

Visist Anette's page

Prof. Anette-Gabriele Ziegler

Director at the Institute of Diabetes Research

Shot of corridor in working data center filled with rack servers and supercomputers AI background

Whole-body map of the mouse nervous system

Classmates cheering up each other before game.

Covid-19 vaccination with vaccine bottle and syringe injection tool for coronavirus immunization treatment.

kind-spielt-institut-fotoshooting-nozy-andreas pfohl-220727_0587 mit Logofr1da

The Helmholtz Munich Institute for Diabetes Research has been awarded a grant of over 1 Mio. Dollar from Breakthrough T1D, a global organization focused on type 1 diabetes research and advocacy, to intensify the longstanding Fr1da-Cohort-Study. The…

A new expert opinion piece in the medical journal The Lancet highlights a growing alignment between scientific frameworks that examine how changes in the Earth system - such as biodiversity loss, pollution, and climate change – are influencing human…

The Copenhagen Declaration developed by the Global Diabetes Forum outlines a new vision for combating the global type 2 diabetes epidemic. More than 50 experts from industrialized and emerging countries are calling for far-reaching changes in…

More and more women are affected by diabetes during pregnancy. Whether type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes or gestational diabetes diagnosed during pregnancy - the diagnosis brings with it many questions and challenges. The new special podcast series…

The Helmholtz Association is pooling its commitment to prevention research with the launch of the Helmholtz Health Prevention Task Force. In a strategy paper published in Nature Medicine, the expert committee outlines initial concepts for more…

Prof. Annette Peters appointed as Chair of NAKO

Annette Peters, Director of the Institute of Epidemiology at Helmholtz Munich, has been elected Chair of NAKO e. V. She began her second term as Chairwoman of the Board of Directors on 1 April 2025.

floor scales and tape measure on a colored background top view. Healthy lifestyle concept, healthy eating. Body weight control.

In line with World Obesity Day, the Helmholtz Munich information portal diabinfo.de now provides comprehensive new information on obesity. In addition to content on the prevalence, risk factors, causes, and diagnosis of obesity, the portal also…

The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology Commission on Clinical Obesity

A new report of the Commission on Clinical Obesity, published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology and endorsed by over 75 medical organizations, has introduced a transformative framework that addresses the limitations of traditional BMI-based…

The clinical onset of type 1 diabetes is preceded by presymptomatic stages, that are marked by the presence of two or more islet autoantibodies. Stage 1 is characterized by normal blood glucose levels, while stage 2 is marked by dysglycemia. However,…

Dr. med. habil. Katharina Lechner, Medical Lead of the KORA Digital-Fit Intervention Study, Helmholtz Munich

Katharina Lechner's goal is to help people age healthily. That's why she focuses on personalized prevention strategies. Find here how she plans to implement these and make them accessible to everyone.

Interview with Prof. Matthias Tschöp about health research and prevention with cutting-edge tools.

In its new report “Water in a Heated World”, the German Advisory Council on Global Change (WBGU) warns of an increasing worsening of global water emergencies. The experts, including Helmholtz Munich researcher Prof. Claudia Traidl-Hoffmann, presented…

An international study led by Helmholtz Munich investigates the health consequences of heavy rainfall events. Researchers analyzed the relationship between precipitation patterns and mortality rates at 645 locations across 34 countries from 1980 to…

The largest repository of human biosamples in Germany is located at the Helmholtz Munich campus. It features cutting-edge robotics and stores a valuable scientific collection at extremely low temperatures of up to -180°C. Researchers use these…

Large city with visible air pollution and smog or fog

Even when air pollutant concentrations decrease, the health risks posed by these pollutants can remain consistently high. This is the conclusion of an international study recently conducted under the leadership of researchers from Helmholtz Munich. A…

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Experts from the Helmholtz Munich-led Fr1daPlex initiative, the Bavarian Professional Association of Pediatricians (BVKJ), and PaedNetz Bayern e.V. have published a new position paper providing a detailed evaluation of an islet autoantibody screening…

Knowledge bites about the impact of high-salt diet on allergic asthma and the driving force of these new insights on personalized medicin. Learn about the latest findings in an interview with Prof. Francesca Alessandrini.

The research results…

Environmental scientists in Augsburg from IEM / Helmholtz Munich and the University Hospital Augsburg are now using a cutting-edge measuring device capable of detecting complex aerosols, among them for example very small pollen, or other particles.…

Helmholtz Munich is researching how heat and cold affect people with chronic diseases as part of the Augsburg KORA Study.

Artwork features an allegorical representation of a fertilization event

A recent study conducted by Helmholtz Munich and the German Center for Diabetes Research provides new insights into how fathers' diets and overweight can affect their children's health even before conception. The findings of the study can help…

Interview with Prof. Claudia Traidl-Hoffmann about healthcare and resilience to heat and other effects of climate change.

Fruits and vegetables arranged in the shape of a heart, representing healthy food and nutrition,

The national diabetes information portal diabinfo.de is expanding its range of information on prevention and now also provides information on diabetes-associated non-communicable diseases.

In a recent study, researchers from Helmholtz Munich and the Augsburg University Hospital show that nocturnal heat significantly increases the risk of stroke. The findings can contribute to the development of preventive measures: With them, the…

Prof. Anette-Gabriele Ziegler about her contribution to novel therapies for type 1 diabetes.

A new research initiative, spearheaded by Prof. Michael Schloter in collaboration with Dr. Laura Wengenroth from the LMU Hospital Munich, is dedicated to exploring how the rural environment provides long-term protection against asthma and allergies.…

Interview with Prof. Önder Yildirim about nutrition and COPD.

Prof. Claudia Traidl-Hoffmann explains how climate change affects our health. The environmental medicine specialist focuses on the prevention of allergic diseases such as hay fever and neurodermatitis.

Prof. Stephan Herzig explains why intermittent fasting with conscious breaks of eating helps to bring the metabolism into harmony with the body's internal rhythm and thus improve health and prevent diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases,…

Close-up medical syringe with a vaccine.

Several research groups at Helmholtz Munich are working on innovative vaccines. Two of them are about to clear a crucial hurdle before approval - fighting the Epstein-Barr virus and Hepatitis B. But how do researchers develop a vaccine?

EU Project PerForM-REACT Strengthens Pandemic Preparedness Efforts

On March 11, 2024, the inauguration of the expanded safety laboratory in Augsburg marked a milestone within the EU-funded "PerForM-REACT" project, aimed at enhancing pandemic…

Transportation of racks through the cryo bio storage

At Helmholtz Munich, eight core facilities with cutting-edge technologies and outstanding expertise support more than 1,500 scientists in developing new solutions for disease prevention and personalized medicine.

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On This Page

Preventive Check-Ups with AI

Overcome Reseach Gap

Early Detection of Type 1 Diabetes in Children

Fr1da-Cohort-Study Receives Grant to Facilitate the Integration of Early-Stage Type 1 Diabetes Screening Into Standard Care

Planetary Health and Planetary Boundaries: A Unified Scientific Perspective

Copenhagen Declaration: A New Start in Diabetes Prevention

New Special Podcast Series “Diabetes and Pregnancy” on diabinfo.de

Helmholtz Launches Task Force to Strengthen Prevention Research

Annette Peters Appointed as NAKO Chair

diabinfo.de Expands Its Information Offerings on Obesity

Re-Defining Obesity as a Disease

Definition of Dysglycemia in Pre-symptomatic Type 1 Diabetes: A Guide to the Timing of Interventional Therapies

Genes and Lifestyle Are Both Crucial for Personalized Prevention

Modern Prevention of Health with AI and Bioengineering

Global Water Shortage: WBGU Calls for Climate-Resilient Water Management

Extreme Rainfall Poses Health Risks

Germany’s Largest Biorepository

Air Pollution and Mortality: Global Study Reveals Persistent Health Risks Despite Declining Pollutant Levels

Early Detection of Type 1 Diabetes: New Position Paper Published

A High-Salt Diet Can Trigger Asthma

With the Help of AI: Additional Pollen Measuring Device Provides Details in Real-Time

New Study on the Impact of Extreme Temperatures on Health

Father's Diet Before Conception Influences Children's Health

Did you know? What makes you Resilient to Heat and Climate Change?

diabinfo.de: New information on prevention

Night-time heat significantly increases the risk of stroke

Prediction and Prevention are Key for Counteracting Type 1 Diabetes

New Study: Rural Environment and Long-Term Asthma Prevention

What you eat is what you breathe

Resilient to Climate Change and Preventing Allergies

Fasting for Health: When Metabolism and Internal Clock are aligned

On the Trail of New Vaccines

Pandemic Preparedness: New High-Tech Laboratory in Augsburg

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