Profile
Abstract
Matthias Blüher is a professor of clinical obesity research at the University of Leipzig, as well as a senior physician at the Department of Endocrinology and Nephrology at Leipzig University Hospital. He heads the Obesity Outpatient Clinic for Adults and serves as Director of the Helmholtz Institute for Metabolism, Obesity, and Vascular Research (HI-MAG), which he co-founded in 2018. Additionally, he is the spokesperson for the Collaborative Research Center (CRC) 1052 “Obesity mechanisms” at the University of Leipzig, and he played a key role in its establishment in 2013. Furthermore, he initiated and developed the world’s largest adipose tissue bank, an invaluable resource for fundamental research into obesity-related diseases.
His research focuses on investigating the molecular mechanisms of obesity, including genetic factors that contribute to the dysfunction of fat tissue, thereby promoting type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and other conditions.
Professional career
- since 12/2019
Director of the Helmholtz Institute for Metabolic, Obesity and Vascular Research - since 12/2019
W3 Professor of Clinical Obesity Research at Leipzig University - since 12/2005
Senior physician at the Department of Endocrinology and Nephrology at Leipzig University Medical Center - 12/2005 - 11/2019
W2 Full Professor for the Molecular Pathogenesis of Metabolic Diseases at the Medical Faculty at Leipzig University - 01/2006 - 12/2012
Leader of the clinical research group KFO 152 "Atherobesity" - 06/2006
Diabetologist at the German Diabetes Society (DAG) - 11/2004 - 11/2005
C3 Professor of Molecular Endocrinology at the University of Cologne - 01/2003 - 12/2004
Leader of the Junior Endocrine Research Group at the Interdisciplinary Center for Clinical Research (IZKF) at the Leipzig University - 10/2000 - 03/2003
Postdoctoral Fellowship at the Joslin Diabetes Center (C. R. Kahn) at Harvard Medical School, Boston/USA
Education
- 01/1997 - 12/2004
Internship and Fellowship in Internal Medicine and Endocrinology at the Medical Department III at Leipzig University Medical Center - 01/1995 - 11/1996
PhD under Prof. V. Richter and Research Assistant at the Institute of Clinical Chemistry, Pathobiochemistry, and Laboratory Medicine at Leipzig University - 09/1990 - 08/1996
Medical Studies at Leipzig University
Panel Memberships
- since 01/2023
Member of the ESC Task Force for Obesity and Vascular Diseases - since 08/2023
Member of the scientific advisory board of the EU AI-POD Consortium, Austria - 01/2023 - 12/2024
Member of the IFSO Consensus Committee for Obesity Management - 01/2022 - 12/2024
Board member of the Lancet Commission on Clinical Obesity - since 01/2022
Member of the review panel of the Novo Novo Nordisk Foundation - 01/2021 - 12/2023
Board member of the German Diabetes Society (DDG) - since 05/2020
Member of the scientific advisory board of the ADIPOSEIGN Consortium, Denmark - since 01/2020
Board Member of the German Obesity Society (DAG) - 01/2020 - 12/2023
Elected panel member of the German Research Foundation 205 Section 205-17: Endocrinology, Diabetology, Metaolism - since 01/2019
Member of the scientific advisory board of IPHYS at the Czech Academy of Science in Prague - 01/2018 - 12/2019
Vice-President of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) - 01/2017 - 12/2019
Board member of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) - 01/2016 - 12/2019
President of the German Obesity Society (DAG) - since 01/2013
Speaker of the Collaborative Research Center (SFB) 1052 “Mechanisms of Obesity”, Leipzig University - 05/2009 - 04/2015
Coordinator of the focus area “Adipose Target” in the Competence Network Obesity - 01/2006 - 12/2012
Coordinator of the priority program “Adverse Effects of Weight Loss” in the NGFNplus Program (National Genome Research Network)
Matthias Blüher specializes in clinical obesity research. The aim of his work is to understand the complex mechanisms that lead to unhealthy weight gain, the progression of the disease, and frequent relapses after successful weight loss. Together with his research group, he seeks to answer questions such as:
Why do many people consume more food than they need? How is it determined where excess energy is stored? What signals from fat tissue and other organs regulate eating behavior in the brain?
His focus is on molecular and genetic factors and how they contribute to the dysfunction of fat tissue, thereby triggering type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and other health problems. Through his work at HI-MAG, which combines clinical and basic scientific research, he follows a translational approach to decipher these mechanisms.
Matthias Blüher’s long-term goal is to sustainably improve the quality of life for people with obesity and its associated conditions through safer and more effective treatment methods.
- show detailsLOBB – Leipzig Obesity BiobankBlüher, MatthiasDuration: 01/2019 – ongoingFunded by: Haushaltsmittel (TG51, Overhead)Involved organisational units of Leipzig University: Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik - Endokrinologie, Nephrologie, Rheumatologie (III); Institut für Medizinische Informatik, Statistik und Epidemiologie (IMISE); Helmholtz-Institut für Metabolismus, Adipositas und Gefäßforschung
- show detailsSFB 1052: Obesity MechanismsBlüher, MatthiasDuration: 01/2013 – ongoingFunded by: DFG Deutsche ForschungsgemeinschaftInvolved organisational units of Leipzig University: Biochemie/Bioorganische Chemie; Medizinische Fakultät und Universitätsklinikum AöR; SFB 1052: Mechanismen der Adipositas
- show detailsHow do xenobiotics affect adipose tissue function and distribution? (B01)Blüher, MatthiasDuration: 01/2013 – ongoingFunded by: DFG Deutsche ForschungsgemeinschaftInvolved organisational units of Leipzig University: Klinik für Endokrinologie und Nephrologie; Integriertes Forschungs- und Behandlungszentrum (IFB) AdipositasErkrankungen; Helmholtz-Institut für Metabolismus, Adipositas und Gefäßforschung
- show detailsGenetic and Metabolic Dysregulations Associated with LipedemaBlüher, MatthiasDuration: 01/2022 – ongoingFunded by: Stiftungen InlandInvolved organisational units of Leipzig University: Helmholtz-Institut für Metabolismus, Adipositas und Gefäßforschung; Medizinische Fakultät; Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik - Endokrinologie, Nephrologie, Rheumatologie (III)
- show detailsLifestyle EpigeneticsBlüher, MatthiasDuration: 12/2019 – ongoingInvolved organisational units of Leipzig University: Helmholtz-Institut für Metabolismus, Adipositas und Gefäßforschung; Medizinische Fakultät; Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik - Endokrinologie, Nephrologie, Rheumatologie (III)
- show detailsBlüher, M.Metabolically Healthy ObesityEndocrine reviews. 2020. 41 (3). pp. 405–420.
- show detailsBlüher, M.ObesityNature Reviews Endocrinology. 2019. 15 (5). pp. 288–298.
- show detailsRistow, M.; Zarse, K.; Oberbach, A.; Klöting-Blüher, N.; Birringer, M.; Kiehntopf, M.; Stumvoll, M.; Kahn, C. R.; Blüher, M.Antioxidants prevent health-promoting effects of physical exercise in humansProceedings of The National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 2009. 106 (21). pp. 8665–8670.
- show detailsBlüher, M.; Kahn, B. B.; Kahn, C. R.Extended longevity in mice lacking the insulin receptor in adipose tissueScience. 2003. 299 (5606). pp. 572–574.
- show detailsBlüher, M.; Michael, M. D.; Peroni, O. D.; Ueki, K.; Carter, N.; Kahn, B. B.; Kahn, C. R.Adipose tissue selective insulin receptor knockout protects against obesity and obesity-related glucose intoleranceDevelopmental Cell. 2002. 3 (1). pp. 25–38.
- Andere Ehrungen: Albert Renold Lecture of the Swiss Society for Endocrinology and Diabetologyshow detailsBlüher, Matthias (Helmholtz-Institut für Metabolismus, Adipositas und Gefäßforschung)awarded in 2020.
- Andere herausragende Auszeichnungen: Minkowski-Preis der Europäischen Gesellschaft für Diabetes-Forschung (EASD)show detailsBlüher, Matthias (Helmholtz-Institut für Metabolismus, Adipositas und Gefäßforschung)awarded in 2015.
- Andere Stipendien/Forschungspreise: Hagedorn-Projektförderung der Deutschen Diabetes Gesellschaft DDGshow detailsBlüher, Matthias (Helmholtz-Institut für Metabolismus, Adipositas und Gefäßforschung)awarded in 2011.
- Andere Stipendien/Forschungspreise: Forschungspreis der Dr. Heinz Bürger-Büsing-Stiftungshow detailsBlüher, Matthias (Helmholtz-Institut für Metabolismus, Adipositas und Gefäßforschung)awarded in 2009.
- Andere Stipendien/Forschungspreise: Ferdinand-Bertram-Preis der Deutschen Diabetes Gesellschaft (DDG)show detailsBlüher, Matthias (Helmholtz-Institut für Metabolismus, Adipositas und Gefäßforschung)awarded in 2008.
Research fields
Obesity, Metabolic diseases
Contact for media inquiries
Fax: +49 341 97-22929
Phone: +49 341 97-13829