1st Annual Retreat of the IRTG 3019:MEDIS in Dresden - Shaping the Future of Biomedical Research -

As part of the newly established International Research Training Group IRTG 3019:MEDIS titled “Metabolic and Endocrine Drivers of Infection Susceptibility”, 23 graduate students and 14 PI´s gathered in Dresden from May 6th – 8th, 2025 at the MITS (Centre for Metabolic-Immunological Diseases and Therapy Technologies Saxony) in Dresden to participate in a dynamic, cross-border retreat exploring how metabolism, endocrinology, and infectious disease research intersect.

This event, headed by designated TUD-spokespeople Prof. Dr. med. Stefan R. Bornstein and  Prof. Dr. med. Nikolaos Perakakis and UZH spokesperson Prof. Dr. med. Felix Beuschlein, marked a milestone in the close cooperation between the Technische Universität Dresden (TUD), the University of Zurich (UZH), and ETH Zurich. The IRTG-MEDIS program aims to train a new generation of interdisciplinary researchers—medical and life science PhD candidates - equipped to tackle the dual global challenge of infectious and metabolic diseases.

© Matthias Popp

The seminar focused on the IRTG’s nine core research projects, which address two major themes:
1. How do infections affect the endocrine and metabolic systems?
2. How do metabolic and endocrine disorders increase susceptibility to infections?

Participants engaged with leading international scientists in a series of lectures, workshops, and mentoring sessions, reflecting the IRTG’s dual-site supervision model. This model pairs Dresden and Zurich investigators to ensure rich interdisciplinary training and enhance academic mobility.

The seminar highlighted the importance of international scientific collaboration in addressing the complex interrelations between infectious agents and metabolic health. The program ultimately seeks to translate research into improved patient care and public health outcomes.

The next seminar will take place in Zurich—stay tuned for updates!