Research interests
Our main research interest is on the regulation of human energy balance with a special focus of glucose homoeostasis as well as metabolic consequences of brown adipose tissue activity. We also aim to understand underlying mechanisms of homeostatic versus hedonic control of hunger and satiety and consequently food intake. Further, chronobiological rhythms in the context of human energy balance play a major role in our research efforts.
We use a broad spectrum of techniques comprising gold-standard glucose clamp techniques, comprehensive hormone analyses, neurocognitive and behavioral testing, indirect calorimetry for the assessment of energy expenditure, air displacement plethysmography and MRI for precise body composition measurement, and accelerometry for the assessment of physical activity and sleep under free-living conditions.
We finally seek to identify homeostatic, behavioral and endogenous mechanism impacting on humans´ metabolic health and energy expenditure. As the prevalence of metabolic disorders such as obesity and related metabolic disorders is constantly rising, our findings provide deeper insights into mechanisms promoting obesity and may help to develop novel therapeutic strategies.
Aktuelle klinische und experimentelle Studien
Diabetes
DDS
Title of study Deutsche Diabetes Studie (German Diabetes Study)
Study design Observational cohort study
Sponsor Federal Ministry of Education and Research of Germany
Substance/ Outcome A registry of possible prognostic factors and predictors of long-term
complications of diabetes in the course of 10 years
DPV-Register
Title of study Diabetes-Patienten-Verlaufsdokumentation (Diabetes Prospective Follow-up Registry)
Study design Prospective Follow-up Registry
Sponsor University of Ulm
Substance/ Outcome Follow-up observational study of patients with diabetes mellitus
ESSENCE 3 (in preparation)
Title of study The effect of semaglutide in subjects with non-cirrhotic non-
alcoholic steatohepatitis
Study design Phase IIIa, randomized, multicentre, double-blind, parallel-group
Sponsor Novo Nordisk
Substance/ Outcome Semaglutide vs. Placebo
ONWARDS 6 (in preparation)
Title of study Efficacy and safety of once weekly insulin icodec compared to
once daily insulin degludec 100 units/ml, both in comparison with insulin aspart,
in adults with type 1 diabetes
Study design Phase IIIa, multicentre, open-label, active-controlled, double-blind, randomized
Sponsor Novo Nordisk
Substance/ Outcome Insulin icodec vs. Insulin degludec
SURPASS-CVOT
Title of study The Effect of Tirzepatide versus Dulaglutide on Major Cardiovascular Events in
Patients with type 2 diabetes
Study design Phase III, event-driven, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, parallel-group study
Sponsor Eli Lilly and Company
Substance/ Outcome Tirzepatide vs. Dulaglutide
STRIDE
Title of study Effects of semaglutide on functional capacity in patients with type 2 diabetes and
peripheral arterial disease
Study design Phase IIIb, double-blind, randomized
Sponsor Novo Nordisk
Substance/ Outcome Semaglutide vs. Placebo
TRIAGE
Title of study A Randomised, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Dose Finding
Phase IIb Study to Assess the Efficacy and Safety of Orally
Administered Epeleuton in Patients with Hypertriglyceridemia and Type 2 Diabetes
Study design Phase IIb, double-blind, randomized
Sponsor Afimmune
Substance/ Outcome Epeleuton vs. Placebo
Obesity
SELECT
Title of study Semaglutide effects on cardiovascular outcomes in people
with overweight or obesity
Study design Phase IIIb, randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, multicentre, placebo-controlled
Sponsor Novo Nordisk
Substance/ Outcome Semaglutide vs. Placebo
DOPAMINE GENETICS01
Title of study Dopamine actions on metabolism depending on genetic heterogenety,
a randomized, placebo controlled, double blind study
Study design Phase IIa, randomized, double-blind, multicentre, placebo-controlled
Sponsor Federal Ministry of Education and Research of Germany
Substance/ Outcome Bromocriptine
eCooling
Title of study The effect of mild skin surface cooling in everday life on body
weight development and glucose metabolism
Study design Interventional Study
Sponsor Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
Substance/ Outcome Effect of mild skin surface cooling in daily life on body weight and glucose metabolism
Circadian Rhythm
METYRAPONE
Title of study Effect of metyrapone on circadian rhythm
Study design Interventional Study
Sponsor Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
Substance/ Outcome Metyrapone vs. Placebo
Adrenal Glands
PARADIGHM
Title of study Physicians advancing disease knowledge in hypoparathyreoidism – A registry for patients
with chronic hypoparathyreoidism
Study design Prospective Follow-up Registry
Sponsor Shire
Substance/ Outcome A registry for patients with chronic hypoparathyreoidism
CONN-TRACT-TRIAL
Title of study Primary Hyperaldosteronism and the cardiovascular system
Study design Prospective Follow-up Study
Sponsor Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
Substance/ Outcome Hormonal effects of aldosterone on the cardiovascular system
Akromegalie
DEUTSCHES AKROMEGALIE-REGISTER
Title of study Deutsches Akromegalie-Register (Acromegaly Prospective Follow-up Registry)
Study design Prospective Follow-up Registry
Sponsor German Society of Endocrionology
Substance/ Outcome A registry of disease-relevant clinical data of patients with acromegaly

- Forschung
- Klinische Endokrinologie & Diabetologie
- Molekulare Endokrinologie