Helmholtz Munich

How do environmental factors, genetic background and lifestyle impact people's health, and how do these factors interact? Research at Helmholtz Center München (HMGU) aims to find answers to these questions. It focuses on the interaction of health and environment in common diseases such as diabetes, allergies, lung diseases, and viral and neurological diseases and investigates the biological mechanisms that determine health and disease. Advances in basic interdisciplinary research thus rapidly benefit the patient. Taking new approaches to the diagnostics, treatment and prevention of common diseases is the Center's guiding principle.

Shedding New Light on the Diagnostics, Therapy and Prevention of Common Diseases

With approximately 2300 employees of 70 different nationalities, Helmholtz Zentrum München is embedded in a strong network of regional, national and international partners from universities and the pharmaceutical industry, as well as from research institutions within and beyond the Helmholtz Association. Our internationally renowned scientific expertise and cutting-edge infrastructures make Helmholtz Zentrum München a sought-after partner and employer on a national and international level.

The Center continuously invests in the education and training of the next generation of scientists. The Helmholtz Graduate School Environmental Health (HELENA), which was established jointly with the Munich universities in 2010, qualifies internationally competitive graduate students. The Postdoctoral Fellowship Program trains highly talented early-career scientists for leadership positions in health and environmental research. Within the program for junior research groups, young scientists have the opportunity to establish their own competitive research profile with their own budget and responsibility for personnel.

Research in three translational centers and various clinical cooperation units makes scientific results available for clinical advancement and implementation. Helmholtz Zentrum München is the only center of the Helmholtz Association to participate in all six German Centers for Health Research and is the site of the head offices of the German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD).

To promote the dialog between research groups, patients, self-help groups and the general public three internet platforms in the areas of diabetes, allergies and lung diseases have been set up at the Center and offer scientifically sound health information.

Helmholtz Zentrum München - German Research Center for Environmental Health (HMGU)