Dirk Haller

Prof. Dirk Haller is a leading academic at the Technical University of Munich (TUM), serving as Chair of Nutrition and Immunology and Director of the Central Institute for Food & Health (ZIEL). His research focuses on the interplay between gut microbiota, chronic inflammatory diseases (e.g., Crohn's disease), and cancer. He holds leadership roles in major research initiatives, including the DFG Collaborative Research Center SFB1371 ('Microbiome Signatures'), and has pioneered gnotobiotic mouse models to study microbiome-host interactions.

Education:

• Double degree from the University of Hohenheim
• Doctorate in Food Microbiology and Nutritional Science
• Postdoctoral research at ETH Zurich and the University of Alberta

Research Interests:

Haller's work explores microbiome-driven mechanisms in disease pathogenesis, including:

• Microbial dysbiosis and inflammatory responses
• Bile acid metabolism and cancer progression
• Circadian rhythm regulation of microbiota
• Clinical applications of microbiome modulation (e.g., exclusive enteral nutrition in pediatric Crohn's)

Awards & Recognition:

• Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Medal (2020)
• Main Prize of the German Society for Hygiene and Microbiology (2015)
• ERC Review Panel Head for Consolidator Program (2015, 2017)

Grants & Leadership:

Haller oversees national and international programs, including DFG Priority Program SPP1656 and SFB1371. His lab collaborates globally on translational research initiatives linking microbiome science to clinical outcomes in immunology and oncology.

Labs/Teams:

Haller's research groups at TUM's ZIEL integrate microbiology, immunology, and systems biology to address complex diseases like IBD and colorectal cancer.