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Immunsystem
Helmholtz Munich | Stefanie Winkler

Type 1 Diabetes Immunology

Our main research interest focusses on understanding the role of regulatory T cells in the development and progression of autoimmune diseases such as Type 1 Diabetes. To do so, we combine the analysis of human immune cells from different disease stages with mechanistic studies in murine and humanized in vivo models. We focus on the following research topics: We dissect key molecular mechanisms underlying regulatory T cell impairments in autoimmunity and investigate the heterogeneity, plasticity and functional specialization of regulatory T cells in metabolic tissues of diabetes. Our studies have the overarching goal to facilitate the future context-specific manipulation of regulatory T cells in (autoimmune) diabetes.

Our main research interest focusses on understanding the role of regulatory T cells in the development and progression of autoimmune diseases such as Type 1 Diabetes. To do so, we combine the analysis of human immune cells from different disease stages with mechanistic studies in murine and humanized in vivo models. We focus on the following research topics: We dissect key molecular mechanisms underlying regulatory T cell impairments in autoimmunity and investigate the heterogeneity, plasticity and functional specialization of regulatory T cells in metabolic tissues of diabetes. Our studies have the overarching goal to facilitate the future context-specific manipulation of regulatory T cells in (autoimmune) diabetes.

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About our Research

Type 1 Diabetes is an autoimmune disease with a dramatically increasing incidence, particularly in childhood. It results from a breakdown in immune tolerance that causes the autoimmune-mediated destruction of the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas and a subsequent loss of glycemic control. We aim to advance our understanding of the immune mechanisms underlying Type 1 Diabetes development. Our overall vision is to contribute to the development of immune therapies that can decelerate or even halt autoimmune progression and prevent diabetes complications.

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Our Main Research Topics

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Autoantigen-specific T cell and Treg responses
Helmholtz Munich | ©BioRender

Autoantigen-specific T cell and Treg responses

Personalized immunological models of human disease
Helmholtz Munich | ©BioRender

Personalized immunological models of human disease

Treg impairments during islet autoimmunity
Helmholtz Munich | ©BioRender

Treg impairments during islet autoimmunity

Next-generation miRNA targeting strategies
Helmholtz Munich | ©BioRender

Next-generation miRNA targeting strategies

Novel drug candidates to control T1D autoimmunity
Helmholtz Munich | ©BioRender

Novel drug candidates to control T1D autoimmunity

Immune-metabolic crosstalk in target tissues of diabetes
Helmholtz Munich | ©BioRender

Immune-metabolic crosstalk in target tissues of diabetes

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Metabolic Diseases: How Immune Cells Regulate Tissue Function

Metabolic disorders are increasingly threatening global health, demanding urgent exploration of innovative strategies for prevention and treatment. Recently, the intricate interplay between immune cells and metabolic tissues (e.g., adipose tissue or…

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Exercise and Muscle Regulation: Implications for Diabetes and Obesity

How do our muscles respond at the molecular level to exercise? Researchers at Helmholtz Munich and the German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbrücke (DIfE) have unraveled the cellular basis and signaling pathways responsible for the positive…

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6 well plate - cellcuture with medium

Advancing Stem Cell-Based Therapy for Type 1 Diabetes

With a 2.25 million US dollar grant provided by the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), Prof. Matthias Hebrok, Prof. Heiko Lickert, and Prof. Carolin Daniel from the Helmholtz Munich Diabetes Center, and Prof. Eckhard Wolf from Ludwig…

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Four Helmholtz Munich scientists participate in new DFG CRC/TRR

The German Research Foundation funds a new Collaborative Research Centre (CRC)/Transregio (TRR) which aims at employing regulatory T cells to create the basis for tailor-made immunotherapies. This initiative is an alliance of the University Mainz and…

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Carolin Daniel New Head of Research Unit ‘Type 1 Diabetes Immunology’

Since October 2022, Carolin Daniel heads the new, independent Helmholtz Munich Research Unit ‘Type 1 Diabetes Immunology’ (TDI). Her research, for which she already received numerous awards, focuses on the immunology of diabetes. We talked to her…

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Who We Are

Porträt Isabelle Serr

Dr. Isabelle Serr

Deputy Department Head

Dr. Maike Becker

Postdoc
Porträt Martin Scherm

Dr. Martin Scherm

Postdoc
Porträt Alexey Surnov

Dr. Alexey Surnov

Postdoc

Dr. Daria Opaleva

Postdoc

Dr. Hannah Hipp

Postdoc
Porträt Xiaocheng Yan

Xiaocheng Yan

postdoc
Camilla Tondello portrait

Dr. Camilla Tondello

postdoc
Laura_Harrison Porträtfoto

Laura Harrison

Scientific Coordinator
Porträt Franziska Schadl

Franziska Schadl

Biology Lab Technician
Porträt Anne Neubig

Anne Helena Neubig

Doctoral Researcher
Porträt Till Johannsmann

Till Johannsmann

Doctoral Researcher
Porträt Gianmarco Spata

Gianmarco Spata

Doctoral Researcher
Porträt Sandra Dirschl

Sandra Maria Dirschl

Doctoral Researcher
Porträt Emily Schardey

Emily Schardey

Doctoral Researcher
Porträt Anne-Marie Buehrer

Anne-Marie Bührer

Doctoral Researcher

Michael Lauber

Scientist
Aina Bonet Portrait

Dr. Aina Bonet

Scientific Coordinator
TDI_Organization chartHelmholtz Munich | ©Dr. Martin Scherm
TDI_Organization chart

Leadership team

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TDI Publications | Key Publications

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2017 Cell Metabolism

Kälin S, Becker M, Ott VB, Serr I, Hosp F, Mollah MMH, Keipert S, Lamp D, Rohner-Jeanrenaud F, Flynn VK, Scherm MG, Nascimento LFR, Gerlach K, Popp V, Dietzen S, Bopp T, Krishnamurthy P, Kaplan MH, Serrano M, Woods SC, Tripal P, Palmisano R, Jastroch M, Bluher M, Wolfrum C, Weigmann B, Ziegler AG, Mann M, Tschöp MH, Daniel C.

A Stat6/Pten Axis Links Regulatory T Cells with Adipose Tissue Function

TDI Publications | Reviews

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Networks and Affiliations

Logo LMU - Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München

Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München

Logo Technische Universität München

Technische Universität München

Immunology Logo

Helmholtz Munich Immunology

Logo LMU - Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München

LMU - Clinical Pharmacology

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SFB 1054

Logo TRR 355

TRR 355

Logo Deutsches Zentrum für Diabetesforschung e.V.

DZD

Contact Us

Laura_Harrison Porträtfoto

Laura Harrison

Scientific Coordinator

Type 1 Diabetes Immunology (TDI) Helmholtz Diabetes Center (HDC) Heidemannstraße 1 80939 Munich