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Molecular Diabetology and Exercise

Weigert Lab

About our research

Our goal is to identify and characterize molecular determinants and regulators of a successful prevention of diabetes and related diseases by exercise. In the context of exercise, we are also interested in organ crosstalk and in the regulation and function of secreted proteins and metabolites.

Regularly physical activity can prevent type 2 diabetes and the metabolic syndrome and is often superior to pharmaceutical treatment. Its numerous beneficial effects cannot only be attributed to an increase in energy expenditure and do not only take place in the working skeletal muscle, but affect the organism as a whole. We work on characterizing the molecular pathways underlying the exercise response in individual cells and organs and on identifying soluble mediators that orchestrate the beneficial effects of exercise.

Our Topics

Molecular Determinants of Exercise Responses

We investigate whole-genome, microRNA and protein expression signatures in skeletal muscle to identify novel molecular mechanisms responsible for the prevention or remission of prediabetes and metabolic disorders.

Simon Dreher

Exercise-on-a-Chip

We use tissue engineering to generate functional 3D myobundles from primary human myoblasts isolated from skeletal muscle biopsies. The myobundles are the basis for our exercise-on-a-chip model that enables the investigation of the crosstalk between myofibers and other muscular cells. Via interconnection with other organ-on-a-chip models for, e.g., liver, pancreas, and adipose tissue, the crosstalk between myofibers and other organs can be studied.

Simon Dreher

Myometabokines

Myometabokines are metabolites released from skeletal muscle in response to acute exercise that regulate molecular processes underlying the adaptation to physical exercise in an auto-, para- or endocrine manner. In a translational approach, we combine human intervention studies and novel metabolomics techniques with cell culture and in vivo experiments to identify and characterize myometabokines and potential biomarkers of exercise adaptation.

Weigert_Lab_Myometabokines
Helmholtz Munich | ©Jennifer Maurer (IDM)

Central Effects of Exercise

Central insulin action is tightly linked to and essential for the proper regulation of peripheral energy metabolism. Together with researcher in the Metabolic Neuroimaging Group , we investigate how exercise affects brain insulin responsiveness in humans and how these changes are connected to peripheral energy metabolism.

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Scientists at molecular diabetology and exercise

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PD Dr. Miriam Hoene

Scientist
Simon_Dreher_Med_Mitarbeiter_ 256

Dr. Simon Dreher

Scientist
Jennifer_Maurer_Med_Mitarbeiter_ 246

Jennifer Maurer

PhD student
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Thomas Goj

Scientist
Bruno_Taschke

Bruno Taschke

PhD student

Kolja Leffek

TA

Practice what you preach

Helmholtz Munich Campus - Sculpture in front of sunrise
Helmholtz Munich | Stefanie Winkler
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Helmholtz Munich | ©Jennifer Maurer

As a research lab with focus on molecular diabetology and exercise, members from our team presented on the role of exercise in diabetes prevention at the 2022 DDG congress in Berlin and also took part in the 5 km Diabetes Run.

Highlight Publications

Contact

Cora_Weigert

Prof. Dr. Cora Weigert

Head of Section, Scientist