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Fighting a double threat - IRTG3019:MEDIS tackles the link between Infectious and Metabolic Diseases
Infectious and metabolic diseases remain among the leading global causes of death—two seemingly distinct health challenges that are, in reality, deeply intertwined. Mounting scientific evidence highlights a bidirectional relationship between the two: infections can disrupt metabolic and endocrine processes, while metabolic disorders such as diabetes and obesity can significantly worsen the course and outcome of infectious diseases. The COVID-19 pandemic brought this dangerous interplay into sharp focus, demonstrating how the collision of a communicable and a non-communicable pandemic can dramatically increase global morbidity and mortality.
To confront this urgent challenge, the IRTG3019: MEDIS "Metabolic and Endocrine Drivers of Infection Susceptibility" has been launched. Drawing on a longstanding history of collaboration in endocrinology, metabolism, immunology, and infectious disease research, the three partner institutions Technical University of Dresden,University of Zurich and ETH Zurich are uniquely positioned to lead this initiative. The IRTG brings together an exceptional group of experts—including diabetologists, endocrinologists, virologists, immunologists, pathologists, epidemiologists, and cell biologists—who will offer state-of-the-art training and mentoring in a highly collaborative environment.
The research program of IRTG 3019 centers around two main pillars. The first, “Pathogens targeting the endocrine system,” investigates how viral and bacterial infections impact hormonal and metabolic regulation at the systemic and organ-specific levels. The second, “Endocrine and metabolic regulation of infection” explores how disruptions in metabolic and endocrine pathways can increase vulnerability to infection and whether targeted interventions could help restore immune function. The program is designed to equip a new generation of scientists and physician-researchers (both MD and PhD students) with the skills and interdisciplinary knowledge needed to tackle the complex interface of infectious and metabolic diseases.
The program also benefits from the transCampus partnership between TU Dresden and King’s College London—an internationally recognized model for binational academic cooperation. Previous IRTG programs as the IRTG2251: ICMSD coordinated through this platform have received strong praise from DFG review panels, setting a benchmark for excellence in international graduate education.
The new IRTG-MEDIS consortium will become an important part in bringing together new resources, increasing critical mass and individual strengths of different academic institutions now building a solid united and complementary academic and clinical campus at an international level.
For more information, please contact our IRTG3019: MEDIS coordination office:
© Matthias Popp
IRTG3019 : MEDIS academic coordinator
NameDr. rer. medic. Sindy Giebe
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