Welcome Jun.-Prof. Tongtong Wang
Since June 2025 we have welcomed Prof. Tongtong Wang to our institute and wish her a good start and much success with the upcoming tasks and challenges.
Prof. Yongguo Li receives ERC Grant!
He was granted this funding for this cutting edge research in the field of lipid metabolism and how it can be influenced to increase calorie consumption.
Publication in Nature Cell Biology
EPAC1 enhances brown fat growth and beige adipogenesis
Reverte-Salisa, L., Siddig, S., Hildebrand, S. et al. EPAC1 enhances brown fat growth and beige adipogenesis. Nat Cell Biol 26, 113–123 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41556-023-01311-9
New Collaborative Research Center (CRC)
The German Research Foundation (DFG) funds "BATenergy" CRC/TRR333
The CRC investigates metabolism/diabetes and focuses on brown adipose tissue. Adipose tissues are organized in two functionally distinct types, brown adipose tissue (BAT) and white adipose tissue (WAT). In contrast to white adipocytes, brown fat cells are specialized to dissipate energy in the form of heat (thermogenesis). Importantly, human BAT activity correlates with leanness and a beneficial cardiometabolic profile. This consortium focuses on the regulation of thermogenesis: 1) the organ crosstalk between gut, liver, muscle and thermogenic adipose tissues, 2) the cell-cell communication within brown and beige fat, and 3) the interaction of cell organelles and intracellular signalling pathways in brown/beige adipocytes. For this purpose, advanced omics technologies, cell culture systems of murine and human adipocytes, and novel transgenic mouse models will be used to provide comprehensive molecular mechanistic insight into the regulation of thermogenic energy metabolism. The mid- and long-term goal is to establish new therapeutic approaches for the treatment of metabolic disorders.
Publication in ACS Nano
Quantification of Lipoprotein Uptake in vivo Using Magnetic Particle Imaging and Spectroscopy
Hildebrand S, Löwa N, Paysen H, Fratila RM, Reverte-Salisa L, Trakoolwilaiwan T, Niu Z, Kasparis G, Preuss SF, Kosch O, M de la Fuente J, Thanh NTK, Wiekhorst F, Pfeifer A.
ACS Nano. 2021 Jan 26;15(1):434-446. doi: 10.2021/acsnano.0c03229