Matthias Hebrok

Prof. Dr. Matthias Hebrok is a Professor and Chair for Applied Stem Cell and Organoid Systems at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and Director of the Institute for Diabetes and Organoid Technology (IDOT) at Helmholtz Munich. He holds a Bavarian Distinguished Professorship (2023) and previously served as the Hurlbut-Johnson Distinguished Professor in Diabetes Research at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), where he directed the Diabetes Center from 2010 to 2020. His research focuses on pancreatic organoid systems, stem cell differentiation, and cell replacement therapies for diabetes. He has pioneered the generation of functional β-like cells from human pluripotent stem cells and explores organoid models for pancreatic cancer. His work integrates bioengineering, bioinformatics, and genetic tools to advance therapeutic strategies.

Hebrok earned his PhD at the Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology (Freiburg) and conducted postdoctoral research at Harvard University. Key awards include the JDRF Innovation Award (2020), Gerold & Kayla Grodsky Award (2015), and Sandler Awards (1999–2000). His labs at TUM and Helmholtz Munich focus on diabetes and pancreatic cancer, emphasizing translational research to bridge basic science and clinical applications.

His scientific contributions span pancreatic development mechanisms, β-cell function, and regenerative medicine. Current initiatives include optimizing stem cell-derived islet clusters for transplantation and modeling pancreatic cancer via organoid technology. He advocates for interdisciplinary collaboration to address complex challenges in diabetes and cancer research.

• Affiliations: TUM School of Medicine and Health, Helmholtz Munich, TUM Center for Organoid Systems
• Research Themes: Stem cell differentiation, organoid systems, diabetes therapy, pancreatic cancer modeling
• Notable Awards: Bavarian Distinguished Professorship (2023), Hurlbut-Johnson Distinguished Professorship (2009–2022)