Around 7,000 experts from research, practice, industry and science are expected to attend the expert congress in Berlin. They can exchange ideas in symposia, workshops, poster presentations and free lectures and receive further training on specific topics.
DZD Symposia: News on diabetes research
The congress offers a good opportunity to learn about new developments in diabetes research – for example at the four DZD symposia. One focus is on epigenetics. Obesity, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes, like many other diseases, are caused by a complex interplay of environmental factors, genetics and epigenetics. Epigenetics is regarded as a kind of link between environmental influences and genes. In contrast to mutations, epigenetic mechanisms do not change the DNA sequence. However, certain genes are turned on or off by chemical modifications such as methylation. Epigenetic factors are special in that they can be changed through a healthy diet and exercise.
Transmission of parental epigenetic changes to offspring
Current studies show that epigenetic modifications are even passed on to the next generation: We inherit not only a large number of health-related genes from our parents, but also their epigenetic programming. The DZD symposium “Transmission of Parental Epigenetic Changes to Offspring” (29 May 2025, 8:30 am to 10:00 am) deals with this new topic. DZD researchers will be presenting studies that show how an unhealthy lifestyle of fathers increases the health risks of their offspring and what influence maternal nutrition during pregnancy has on the children’s metabolism. Chairmen are DZD Executive Board member Prof. Dr. Martin Hrabě de Angelis (Helmholtz Munich) and Dr. Meriem Ouni (German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbrücke, DIfE)
© DDG
Further DZD Symposia are:
Epigenetic Markers for Risk Assessment and Identification of Pathophysiology
Date: 28 May 2025, 3:15 pm to 4:45 pm
Chair: Prof. Dr. Annette Schürmann, German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbrücke (DIfE)
Prof. Dr. Henriette Kirchner, University of Lübeck
New Findings from Single-Cell Analyses of the Islets Cells
Date: 30 May 2025, 10:30 am to 12:00 am
Chair: Prof. Dr. Simone Baltrusch, University of Rostock
Dr. Thilo Speckmann, German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbrücke (DIfE)
Potential of Non-Invasive Interventions in Diabetes Therapy in Times of Semaglutide and Tirzepatide
Date: 31 May 2025, 9:00 am to 10:30 am
Chair: Dr. rer. nat. Simon Dreher, Institute for Diabetes Research and Metabolic Diseases of Helmholtz Munich at the Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen.
Prof. Dr. Olga Ramich, Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbrücke (DIfE)
People with Diabetes and Migration Background
Intercultural treatment in the care of people with diabetes and migration background must be further improved. Digital systems can provide valuable support in this case. One symposium will discuss the opportunities, gaps and challenges related to the use of digital treatment systems for people from different linguistic and cultural backgrounds. Dr. Astrid Glaser, Managing Director of the DZD, will present the diabetes information portal diabinfo.de. This portal supports professionals with information and fact sheets on diabetes in six different languages (28 May 2025, 3:15 pm to 4:45 pm).
Joint booth of DZD and diabinfo.de
Visitors to the congress can find out more about the work of the German Center for Diabetes Research at the DZD booth. There they can obtain information about the DZD partners, clinical studies, the young scientists program and translational diabetes research. The diabetes information portal diabinfo.de will also be represented at the stand. The portal offers scientifically proven information on all forms of diabetes mellitus as well as on the prevention of type 2 diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular diseases. diabinfo.de is a joint service of Helmholtz Munich, the German Diabetes Center (DDZ) in Düsseldorf and the German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD).
