Dr. rer. nat. Gerhard Przemeck
Group Leader, Institute of Experimental Genetics, Research Group ‘Functional Genetics’“Insulin is a treatment, but not a cure”, said Nobel laureate Frederick Banting. Today, diabetics usually need daily medication for life. And tomorrow? Cure diabetes with a single treatment – that’s what we work for!
“Insulin is a treatment, but not a cure”, said Nobel laureate Frederick Banting. Today, diabetics usually need daily medication for life. And tomorrow? Cure diabetes with a single treatment – that’s what we work for!
Together with Martin Hrabě de Angelis, Gerhard heads the Functional Genetics group. The group has many years of experience in genetic engineering of mouse models and thorough phenotyping. Their focus in on molecular signaling pathways and pathophysiological events leading to metabolic disorders and diabetes. Recently, they examined the contributions of developmental control genes to metabolic processes and maintenance of the adult pancreas. By transferring their results from basic research, the group is developing novel therapy strategies. In this context, they are piloting gene therapy approaches for various forms for hereditary diabetes.
Fields of Work and Expertise
Mouse models for metabolic diseasesMonogenic diabetesGene therapyENU mutagenesisEmbryogenesisDevelopmental Biology
Professional Background
Gerhard, a developmental geneticist by training, joined Helmholtz Munich in 1998 at what was then the Institute of Mammalian Genetics, where he investigated the influence of the Delta/Notch signaling pathway on the formation of the left-right body axis. Gerhard received his PhD in genetics form the Ludwig-Maximilians University in Munich, where he studied cell expansion in the plant embryo in the group of Prof. Thomas Berleth. He studied biology at the Ludwig-Maximilians University and received his diploma for his work on the plant transcription factor Monopteros. In 2000, Gerhard moved to the newly founded Institute of Experimental Genetics, where he was involved in setting up the institute’s infrastructure and the German Mouse Clinic I.
Honors and Awards
PhD Scholarship, Konrad-Adenauer-Foundation
1994-1997Paula-and-Richard-von Hertwig-Award for Interdisciplinary Research
2003
Selected Publications
See all Publications of Gerhard PrzemeckMol. Metab. 54:101334 (2021)
Comm. Biol. 3:628 (2020)
Diabetes 69, 915-926 (2020)
DLL1- and DLL4-mediated Notch signaling is essential for adult pancreatic islet homeostasis.
Diabetes 65, 2540-2552 (2016)
Bezafibrate improves insulin sensitivity and metabolic flexibility in STZ-treated diabetic mice.
J. Theor. Biol. 430, 32-44 (2017)
