Dorothea Siegel-Axel

Prof. Dorothea Siegel-Axel serves as Research Group Leader for "Adipose tissue and complications of diabetes" at the Department of Internal Medicine IV, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetology, and Nephrology, University Hospital Tübingen, and holds a Professor by special appointment position at Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen since 2012. Her career spans leadership roles in cardiology research (1993-2008) and foundational work in physiology and pharmacy.

Her educational trajectory includes:

• Pharmacy studies at Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen (1985-1990)
• PhD research at Physiology Institute I, Eberhard Karls University (1990-1993)
• Habilitation at Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Tübingen (2003)

Prof. Siegel-Axel's research centers on adipose tissue crosstalk mechanisms in diabetes pathogenesis, with emphasis on ectopic fat depots (pancreatic, renal sinus) and their interactions with metabolic organs. Her work integrates human tissue characterization, precursor cell isolation, and biobanking to elucidate how adipose tissue dysfunction drives complications in diabetes, employing advanced molecular and cellular methodologies to identify therapeutic targets.

Recent publications (2020-2023) demonstrate interdisciplinary convergence across diabetes research, molecular biology, and immunology, with consistent focus on adipose tissue microenvironments. Key themes include extracellular matrix alterations in diabetic pancreatic fat, immune responses to biomedical interventions, and surgical material impacts on hemostasis – all reflecting her core mission to decode organ-adipose tissue communication networks in metabolic disease.

Her scientific recognition includes:

• International Research Award 'Le Prix de Mérite' (1995)
• 'Bundes-Tierschutz-Forschungspreis' (1999)
• BMBF GO-Bio entrepreneurial award (2006)

Prof. Siegel-Axel maintains active translational engagement through co-founding Corlmmun/AdvanceCOR (2006) and leading a human adipose tissue biobank. Her research group conducts experimental work on ectopic fat depots while investigating pancreatic-renal sinus fat crosstalk with liver, kidney, and pancreas – positioning her at the forefront of diabetes complication research through integrated laboratory and clinical approaches.