Our research

Metabolic and endocrine disorders predispose and/or promote bacterial and viral infections and influence the course of the disease. Conversely, infectious agents are capable of triggering and/or aggravating metabolic and endocrine disorders. Although this close interrelationship has been acknowledged for many years, we are currently beginning to understand the enormous impact of this crosstalk on human health.

There is currently a significant lack of knowledge regarding the mechanisms governing the bidirectional relationship between metabolic/endocrine diseases and infectious diseases. This is in big part due to the limited amount of joint research efforts from scientists with complementary expertise, but most importantly due to the lack of experts with combined expertise in the field of metabolism/endocrinology and infectiology. 

© IRTG3019

We strongly believe that only an international and interdisciplinary team of endocrinologists, diabetologists, virologists, bacteriologists, immunologists and cell biologists with a proven track record in their field will be able to train the new generation of PhD- and MD-students to meet this challenge of modern society.

This new established IRTG3019 provides innovative research projects for highly talented students who will be working among the best European research and clinical university structures  in TUD, at the UZH and ETH tot tackle this topic. 

• The IRTG offers PhD and MD positions at TU Dresden, University of zurich and ETH Zurich.
• The students are being recruited via the Dresden International Graduate School for Interdisciplinary Life Sciences. The first cohort has started just in 2025. 
• At UZH and ETH, the PIs of the IRTG offer their positions individually. Please contact us for further inquiries.
• Following approval from the Steering Committee, students from all thre universities may be associated to the IRTG, thus being able to benefit from the joint curriculum and interdisciplinary exchange.