IRTG3019:MEDIS - New International Research Training Group between TU Dresden and Zürich Universities gets funded by DFG

As the German Research Foundation (DFG) announced on May 10th, 2024, the establishment of a new International Research Training Group (IRTG) titled "Metabolic and Endocrine Drivers of Infection Susceptibility" (MEDIS), under the leadership of the Dresden University of Technology (TUD), in collaboration with ETH Zurich and the University of Zurich has been approved. MEDIS spokesman is Prof. Stefan Bornstein, Director of the Medical Clinic and Polyclinic III, the Carl Gustav Carus Center for Internal Medicine at TUD and transCampus Dean. The DFG is funding MEDIS with around six million euros; the IRTG is being set up at the TUD Medical Faculty. The Dresden-Zurich IRTG, which is part of an expansion of the successful transCampus initiative, focuses on highly current research topics regarding the metabolic and endocrine influences on infectious diseases. This collaborative effort aims to provide crucial insights into how metabolic diseases and infections interact, potentially leading to innovative prevention and treatment strategies for metabolic disorders like diabetes.This lays the foundation for the construction of another TUD transCampus - in this case with UZH and ETH.

Prof. Ursula Staudinger, Rector of the TUD: “This International Research Training Group, newly acquired by the DFG with the participation of the two extremely strong and renowned partners from Zurich, is an important step on the way to launching another transCampus. transCampus is a very successful and unique instrument for TUD to strategically bring international partnerships to life. The transCampus with the University of Zurich and ETH strengthens our cooperation with these outstanding partners and will bring essential new insights into the interaction between infectious medicine and research into metabolic processes.”

The aim of the IRTG is to provide comprehensive international and interdisciplinary training for doctoral students in the highly relevant area of ​​research into metabolic diseases and infectiology.

Prof. Esther Troost, Dean of the Medical Faculty at TU Dresden: “The collaboration between TU Dresden and renowned institutions such as the University of Zurich and ETH Zurich is a significant step for medical research. Through the interdisciplinary work within the IRTG Dresden-Zurich, we will lay the foundation for future medical innovations that could have a positive impact on healthcare worldwide." This unique connection will help deepen our understanding of the connection between metabolic and infectious diseases and produce a new generation of talented physicians and scientists who will shape the future of medical research and care

Prof. Stefan Bornstein, spokesman for the IRTG “MEDIS”: “The IRTG Dresden-Zurich represents a unique opportunity to bring together medical and scientific expertise. It offers the opportunity to gain new insights into the interaction between metabolic and infectious diseases, which will lead to improved healthcare.” In particular, research will aim to understand the interaction between metabolic and infectious diseases in order to improve healthcare and increase the quality of life of those affected.

About the transCampus

The transCampus is a strong research partnership that now goes far beyond its origins in the life sciences. The successful interdisciplinary collaboration is to be further deepened and expanded across disciplines, for example with the University of Zurich and the ETH. The existing transCampus zwischen der TU Dresden und dem King’s College London is a transnational strategic partnership. The aim is to develop innovative and particularly outstanding scientific projects through complementary international portfolios and infrastructures.

Further information: https://transcampus.eu/