Anika Böttcher

Anika Böttcher serves as Group Leader of the Intestinal Stem Cell Research group at the Institute of Diabetes and Regeneration Research (IDR), Helmholtz Munich, Germany, a position she has held since 2016. Her work bridges cell biology, developmental mechanisms, and metabolic disease research with a focus on therapeutic applications for diabetes and obesity.

Her academic foundation includes a Diploma in Biology from the University of Jena (Germany) and University of Lund (Sweden), followed by a PhD at the Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry under Reinhard Fässler investigating integrin signaling in kidney development. She completed postdoctoral training at Helmholtz Munich with Heiko Lickert, studying Wnt/Planar Cell Polarity signaling in gut development.

Böttcher's research centers on deciphering how biomechanical signals govern intestinal stem cell fate decisions, particularly in enteroendocrine lineage formation. Her team employs single-cell genomics, mouse models of diet-induced obesity, and molecular techniques to uncover mechanisms linking gut dysfunction to metabolic disorders. Key interests include stem cell plasticity, cellular polarity, and the role of specific enteroendocrine cell subsets in obesity pathogenesis.

Analysis of her publication record reveals consistent focus on intestinal stem cell regulation in metabolic disease contexts, with increasing emphasis on single-cell resolution of cellular heterogeneity and diet-induced molecular reprogramming since 2017. Her work demonstrates how obesogenic diets alter stem cell identity through PPAR signaling and insulin pathways, directly linking gut maladaptation to systemic metabolic syndrome.

Her scientific recognition includes:

• Transregional Collaborative Research Centre 127 (2020-2024)
• German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD) funding (2018-2019)
• Max Planck Junior Research Award (2010)
• Rupert Timpl Award from the International Society for Matrix Biology (2010)

As group leader, Böttcher directs research supported by major grants from the DFG and DZD, with collaborative projects spanning diabetes mechanism elucidation to therapeutic development. Her team maintains active partnerships with the German Center for Diabetes Research and participates in transregional consortia focused on regenerative approaches.

The Intestinal Stem Cell Research group operates within Helmholtz Munich's IDR facility, utilizing advanced genomic, imaging, and mouse phenotyping platforms. Their work connects fundamental stem cell biology with translational applications, particularly in developing gut-based interventions for metabolic disorders through manipulation of enteroendocrine cell differentiation.