Research Meets the Clinic
Translation: Where Medical Research Reaches People
How can we bring new scientific insights to patients more quickly? At Helmholtz Munich, we work hand in hand with leading clinics across Germany to translate research findings directly and purposefully into new therapeutic approaches — and, conversely, to bring clinical observations back into the lab for deeper investigation. This close collaboration is opening new pathways in medicine and delivering tangible benefits for patients..
How can we bring new scientific insights to patients more quickly? At Helmholtz Munich, we work hand in hand with leading clinics across Germany to translate research findings directly and purposefully into new therapeutic approaches — and, conversely, to bring clinical observations back into the lab for deeper investigation. This close collaboration is opening new pathways in medicine and delivering tangible benefits for patients.
"Translation is a core mission: bringing research and clinical practice so closely together that scientific insights reach patients quickly and precisely."
Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. mult. Martin Hrabě de Angelis, Member and Spokesperson of the Executive Board at Helmholtz Munich (acting)
What Does Translation Mean?
“Translation” describes the process of turning insights from basic research into medical applications – and the reverse. It involves many steps and is guided by strict scientific and regulatory standards. By fostering close partnerships between research and clinical practice, translation can be accelerated, allowing new discoveries to reach patients faster.
Translation Is Not an Abstract Process
Prof. Matthias Blüher moves between two worlds: the laboratory at the Helmholtz Institute for Metabolic, Obesity, and Vascular Research (HI-MAG) of Helmholtz Munich and the Obesity Outpatient Clinic at the University of Leipzig Medical Center – just a few steps apart yet tightly connected on a scientific level. The physician and professor for clinical obesity research sees patients in his clinic every Thursday and conducts various clinical studies with patients daily. For him, translation is not an abstract concept, but part of everyday life.
What Blüher observes in the clinic flows directly into his research, while new insights from his lab are quickly applied in medical practice. This close integration is no coincidence: as a research center, Helmholtz Munich cannot run clinical studies on its own and therefore depends on strong partnerships with university hospitals.
"I see firsthand how much obesity impacts my patients’ quality of life. We can develop better therapies only by continuing to explore and understand the molecular basis of this disease."
Prof. Dr. med. Matthias Blüher, Director of the Helmholtz Institute for Metabolic, Obesity and Vascular Research (HI-MAG)
The connection between research and clinical practice in Leipzig also shows that obesity is not the same for everyone. There are metabolically healthy people with severe overweight, and there are individuals of normal weight whose risk for diabetes and other related conditions is significantly increased. The goal of translational research is therefore to better understand these differences and to tailor treatments more individually.
From Individual Case to Scientific Discovery
Prof. Antje Körner, Head of the Childhood Obesity & Metabolic Research Group at HI-MAG, constantly moves between the lab and the clinic. As a pediatrician who identifies as a Pediatrician Scientist, she is particularly committed to investigating the causes of childhood obesity. Her goal is to generate new insights and develop innovative therapeutic options for obesity that are specifically accessible for children and adolescents, thereby closing the existing treatment gap.
The interplay between research and clinical practice often leads to discoveries that would not be possible in the lab or clinic alone. In one notable case, a young girl with severe obesity, red hair, and an unusual growth pattern presented many questions for the physician. What initially seemed like a unique medical case evolved, through careful observation and intensive laboratory research, into a significant discovery: a rare mutation in the ASIP gene.
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The association between the gene mutation and the phenotype was initially demonstrated in laboratory experiments. However, the decisive step was the translation of the mechanistic knowledge back into clinical practice and the systematic identification of additional affected children and adolescents. Today, Antje Körner and her team conduct clinical investigations across Germany involving children and adults with similar phenotypes to better understand the underlying mechanisms and, in the long term, to develop innovative and more targeted treatment options for these patients. Initial therapeutic approaches are already being tested.
"Discoveries like this are only possible because of our close connection to the clinic. Without integrating these two worlds and being open to new and sometimes unconventional research approaches, we might never have identified the gene mutation."
Prof. Dr. med. Antje Körner, Head of the Childhood Obesity & Metabolic Research Group at HI-MAG
Faster From Idea to Patient Care
Translational research also means bringing new therapies to patients more quickly. Leipzig plays a central role in this effort: at HI-MAG, so-called dual agonists, including the drug tirzepatide, are being tested as innovative treatments for obesity. The underlying mechanism, which targets gut hormones, was partly discovered by researchers at Helmholtz Munich. There, work on multi-receptor drugs continues to advance, aiming to broaden therapeutic options. In Leipzig, a particular focus is on children and adolescents. For many of them, tirzepatide could provide a genuine alternative to existing treatments and a real chance of a healthier life.
Clinical trials are the ultimate benchmark for any new therapy. They demonstrate whether a scientific concept works in real-world practice and truly benefits patients. Only when new treatments are proven effective and safe in clinical trials do they make their way into patient care. Trials offer even more: they help pinpoint the patients who are most likely to benefit from a treatment. In this way, translational research is a crucial step toward personalized medicine.
Translational Research at Helmholtz Munich in Numbers
Between 2021 and 2025, Helmholtz Munich participated in more than 200 studies: about two-thirds observational studies and one-third interventional studies, including drug trials.
Between Lab, Clinic, and Data Centers
Alongside the lab and clinic, computational health has become a key driver of translational research. Artificial intelligence (AI) and data analytics are already being used to process vast amounts of laboratory and clinical data, uncover disease mechanisms, generate risk profiles, and design clinical trials more efficiently. Looking ahead, researchers are developing concepts like the “digital twin”: a virtual model of a person that integrates clinical data, lab results, and disease progression patterns, potentially allowing therapies to be simulated before being applied in real life.
"AI is already enabling us to harness data from the lab and clinic more intelligently. Virtual patient or organ models, built on AI-trained foundational models that far surpass traditional approaches, will be able to predict which therapies are most effective for each patient, accelerating both translational research and personalized medicine."
Prof. Dr. Dr. Fabian Theis, Director of the Computational Health Center at Helmholtz Munich
From Augsburg to Tübingen – Strong Networks for Better Health
To bring scientific discoveries into medical practice more rapidly, Helmholtz Munich relies on close partnerships with leading university hospitals across Germany: including Leipzig, Tübingen, Ulm, Augsburg, Heidelberg, and the two Munich university hospitals, LMU Klinikum and TUM Klinikum.
A flagship example of this regional collaboration is the M1 Munich Medicine Alliance. It combines the expertise of Helmholtz Munich with the medical faculties and university hospitals of the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München and the Technical University of Munich, positioning Munich as an internationally recognized center for cutting-edge medical research and care, while accelerating the development of personalized medicine.
This network is further reinforced through close collaboration with the German Centers for Health Research (DZG), which link research, clinical care, and public health nationwide. As a founding member of the German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD) and an active partner in other DZG initiatives – such as those focused on lung research (DZL), child and adolescent health (DZKJ), and mental health – Helmholtz Munich is committed to long-term, structured programs.
Conclusion: Translation Thrives on Closeness – to Clinics and People
Translation succeeds when researchers and clinicians collaborate closely: sharing goals, maintaining direct communication, and keeping patients at the center. A strong link between basic research and clinical practice accelerates the introduction of new therapies and gives patients early access to innovative treatments. After all, medical progress only truly matters when it reaches the people it is meant to help.
"Our goal is to further strengthen the bridge between the lab and the clinic. This is the only way to turn personalized medicine into a reality – and deliver meaningful improvements for patients."
Prof. Martin Hrabě de Angelis, Member and Spokesperson of the Executive Board at Helmholtz Munich (acting)
Latest update: February 2026