Research
We investigate how the interplay between genetic predisposition and environmental factors shapes the onset and progression of complex diseases. Our work focuses on renal, metabolic, and cardiovascular disease, along with risk factors for common, complex conditions. Using large-scale population-based and clinical datasets, we apply modern analytical and statistical methods to better understand disease trajectories and to develop innovative approaches for prevention and therapy.
We analyze standardized data from population and patient cohorts with long-term follow-ups and biological samples. Our institute is actively involved in conducting cohort studies, as a study center for the nationwide NAKO Health Study and the GCKD Study. Furthermore, the institute coordinates the CKDGen Consortium, an international network dedicated to the study of complex kidney diseases, ensuring the production of robust, generalizable results relevant to basic research, clinical practice, and public health.
We regularly publish our externally funded research in peer-reviewed journals and provide open access to our data analysis methodologies. A flagship project is the DFG-funded Collaborative Research Center 1453 (Nephrogenetics) which is coordinated by our institute.
