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Our team played a key role in the development of Shiny-Calorie, with our PhD student Tabea Elschner as second author and a major contributor to the implementation and scientific design of the application. The tool provides an open-source, user-friendly solution for integrating, analyzing, and visualizing metabolic phenotyping data from platforms such as TSE and Sable Systems. It supports standardized workflows, robust statistical analysis, and intuitive exploration of complex datasets – streamlining research in preclinical energy metabolism. This work was supported by the Collaborative Research Center (CRC) TRR 333 Brown and Beige Fat – Organ Crosstalk, Signaling and Energetics (BATenergy), funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation). https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.04.24.648116v1
Medical student Johanna Steinke has been awarded the prestigious SciMed Doctoral Scholarship from the BONFOR program. This funding enables her to dedicate an entire year to her experimental doctoral research in the research group of Prof. Kerstin Wilhelm Jüngling at the University of Bonn. The SciMed program aims to encourage medical students to pursue research-oriented doctoral theses and provides them with the opportunity to immerse themselves in scientific work. A key requirement for recipients is to take a leave semester to fully commit to their research. In her doctoral project, Johanna Steinke is investigating the role of taurine and the taurine transporter TauT in the context of obesity. Obesity is a global health issue that significantly contributes to metabolic disorders such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Taurine, a sulfur-containing amino acid, plays a crucial role in energy metabolism and may have therapeutic potential in obesity treatment. She aims to determine how the taurine transporter influences fat tissue function, inflammatory processes, and overall metabolism. The SciMed doctoral scholarship allows Johanna Steinke to apply state-of-the-art scientific methods to explore these questions. This funding highlights the importance of experimental dissertations in medicine and underscores the growing relevance of translational research. The scholarship provides an excellent opportunity to engage deeply in biomedical research and explore new therapeutic approaches for obesity. Through the SciMed program, BONFOR seeks to inspire more medical students to engage in experimental research, thereby strengthening the link between clinical practice and basic science.
On February 20, 2025, the Danish Diabetes and Endocrine Academy presented an interdisciplinary symposium that brings together leading scientists in the fields of vascular biology, obesity research, and metabolic diseases. This meeting took place in Aarhus, Denmark. Prof. Dr. Kerstin Wilhelm-Jüngling from the University of Bonn was invited as a speaker and presented her latest research findings on the role of endothelial cells in thermogenic adipose tissue. In her talk, "Modification of FOXO1 levels in endothelial cells - a tool to study the role of endothelial cells in thermogenic adipose tissue," she introduced innovative insights into signaling pathways that influence energy metabolism and may pave the way for new therapeutic approaches to obesity and metabolic disorders. Beyond her lecture, Prof. Wilhelm-Jüngling took the opportunity to network intensively with leading researchers from across Europe. Particularly exciting were discussions on new methodological approaches in endothelial research and their application to metabolic diseases. Exchanges with international colleagues such as Prof. Jörg Heeren (UKE Hamburg) and Prof. Kirsty Spalding (Karolinska Institutet) provided valuable inspiration for future research collaborations. The Vascular-Adipose Link Meeting 2025 was organized by the Danish Diabetes and Endocrinology Academy (DDEA) and the Danish Cardiovascular Academy (DCA) and was held in the inspiring setting of the ARoS Art Museum in Aarhus. With high-profile presentations and dynamic discussions, the event made a significant contribution to advancing the understanding of the interplay between vascular and adipose tissue in health and disease.
Prof. Kerstin Wilhelm-Jüngling, a distinguished member of the TRR333 (BATenergy) research consortium, has successfully completed the Female Leadership Training. The workshop, conducted by the renowned company hfp consulting (https://hfp-consulting.com), is part of a broader effort funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) to prepare and empower women in scientific leadership roles. The workshop was organized by the TRR333 (https://www.trr333.uni-bonn.de) and is part of TRR333’s broader agenda to promote diversity and foster inclusive leadership within the scientific community. Both days of the workshop were aimed at enhancing the leadership capabilities of female professionals in science and academia. Through hands-on training, participants develop critical management, communication, and team-building skills necessary to navigate and excel in their careers. Further, participants – including Prof. Wilhelm-Jüngling - were equipped with tools and strategies to thrive in leadership roles and contribute more effectively to their organizations. Prof. Wilhelm-Jüngling’s participation in this workshop underscores her commitment to both her academic field and to advancing the role of women in leadership positions. Her involvement not only contributes to the success of the TRR333 (BATenergy) project but also serves as a testament to the growing emphasis on cultivating female leadership in STEM fields.
