معرفی
Prof. Dr. Annette Schürmann serves as Head of the Department of Experimental Diabetology at the German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbrücke (DIfE) and holds a W3 professorship in Experimental Diabetology at the University of Potsdam. Since 2014, she has been the spokesperson for the German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), a major scientific network focused on diabetes prevention and treatment strategies.
Her research program investigates the pathophysiology of metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes, with particular focus on genetic and epigenetic changes contributing to obesity development and beta cell death. Schürmann's team examines influence of different diets and analyzes possible protective effects of food components, along with studying vesicular transport processes in insulin secretion from beta cells. Her laboratory has made significant discoveries including identifying novel genes related to white fat cell formation and liver fat metabolism.
Her recent publications reveal important insights into obesity and diabetes mechanisms, particularly her work on genes that promote white adipocyte formation (2018) and protect against hepatic steatosis through lipophagy activation (2020). These studies contribute significantly to understanding the genetic basis of metabolic disorders and potential therapeutic targets.
Honors include:
- DAG Medal of the German Obesity Society (2021) for outstanding lifetime achievements in obesity research
- Hellmut-Otto-Medaille of the German Diabetes Society (2021)
- Werner-Creutzfeld-Preis of the German Diabetes Society (2016)
Schürmann actively contributes to the scientific community through leadership roles including membership in the Senate and Approval Committee of the German Research Foundation (DFG) since 2022, previous board membership in the German Diabetes Society (2014-2018), and the German Obesity Society (2013-2015). Her department serves as a hub for diabetes and obesity research, collaborating with multiple institutions within the DZD network to advance understanding of metabolic diseases.
