Matthias H. Tschöp

Prof. Dr. Matthias H. Tschöp is the CEO and Scientific Director at Helmholtz Munich since 2018, and holds the Alexander von Humboldt Professorship at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) since 2012. He has served as Vice President of the Helmholtz Association for the Research Field Health (2023–2025) and was elected President of LMU Munich in February 2025. His leadership focuses on advancing biomedical research and accelerating its translation into clinical applications, positioning Munich as a global hub for health research.

Education: He obtained his medical degree from Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich. His career includes research in the U.S., where he held a professorship at the University of Cincinnati and led the Helmholtz Diabetes Center upon his return to Germany in 2011.

Research interests: His work centers on diabetes, obesity, and metabolic medicine, with groundbreaking discoveries including the hunger hormone ghrelin and the development of polyagonists (dual/triple receptor drugs like Tirzepatide). These innovations have transformed obesity and diabetes treatment, offering pharmacological control of body weight and improved metabolic health.

Awards: He has received numerous awards, including the

• 2025 Hector Science Award
• 2025 Lichtenberg Medal
• 2023 Banting Medal for Scientific Achievement
• 2021 Ernst Jung Prize for Medicine
• 2021 Berthold Medal
• 2019 Paul Langerhans Medal
• 2017 Carus Medal
• 2016 European Medal of the Society for Endocrinology
• 2014 Erwin Schrödinger Prize

Advising & Grants: As a leader, he founded the Helmholtz Pioneer Campus to foster interdisciplinary research and startups. His vision includes personalized metabolic medicine and accelerating drug development through collaboration between academia and industry.

Labs/Teams: Key initiatives include the Helmholtz Diabetes Center and the Helmholtz Pioneer Campus, established to drive innovation in metabolic research and translational medicine.