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.

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

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

METYRAPONE

Title of study                          Effect of metyrapone on circadian rhythm

Study design                           Interventional Study

Sponsor                                  Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft

Substance/ Outcome               Metyrapone vs. Placebo

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

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