Helmholtz Institute for Metabolic, Obesity and Vascular Research

Obesity is affecting an increasing number of people and is often associated with serious metabolic and vascular diseases such as type 2 diabetes, fatty liver disease, hypertension, peripheral arterial disease and many others. As well as reducing quality of life, it also significantly reduces life expectancy. At present, treatments for obesity are either not effective enough or inaccessible to the majority of those affected.

The Helmholtz Institute for Metabolic, Obesity and Vascular Research (HI-MAG) at the University of Leipzig and Leipzig University Hospital is investigating the molecular causes of adipose tissue dysfunction and aims to use a clinical-translational research approach to develop new, precise therapies for the treatment of obesity and associated comorbidities and to make them available to patients more quickly. The institute combines the clinical expertise of Leipzig University Medicine with innovative approaches from preclinical research at Helmholtz Munich.

Within the three research areas of obesity, metabolism and vascular research, HI-MAG has the following main research objectives:

1. To elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms that lead to altered adipose tissue biology and function, to explore the interplay between genetic predisposition and environmental factors, and to identify risk factors that may lead to obesity.
2. Identification and validation of targets for future obesity pharmacotherapy
3. Development of novel vascular drug delivery systems for personalised prevention of peripheral arterial restenosis

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