Institut für Gesundheitswissenschaften
Population-Based Medicine

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Adresse: Röntgenweg 9
72076 Tübingen

Research

Research on Population-Based Medicine

Our research program explores the complex interplay between chronic conditions (such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer), behavioral factors (including physical activity, smoking, diet, alcohol consumption, and sleep), social determinants (such as socioeconomic status and social networks), and mental health (focusing on depression, anxiety, and stress). We emphasize key areas such as the role of digital technologies, intergenerational studies, population health research, and the synthesis and translation of knowledge to inform public health interventions.

Research Topics

Research Topics

Design, implementation, management, and analysis of 

  • Prospective community studies 
  • Population-based intervention studies
  • Prevention studies

Digital technologies for the assessment of mood and behavioral factors

Development and application of methods for the assessment of health status

Statistical and epidemiological methods for the evaluation of 

  • health outcomes in people with chronic conditions, and
  • risk factors for the development of chronic conditions

Knowledge synthesis and knowledge translation

Doctoral Training/PhD:

In accordance with the doctoral regulations of the Medical Faculty of Tübingen, doctorates to Dr. med., Dr. med. dent. and Dr. sc. hum. are possible at the Institute.
A PhD program in Experimental Medicine is also offered; further information can be found here:

PhD Program in Experimental Medicine

Research Projects

Digital Technologies

  • Generation 60Plus

    Gesundes Altern in Stuttgart – eine Pilotstudie zum digitalen, dynamischen Gesundheits-Monitoring (DDGM)

    Recruitment complete, Data collection ongoing through September 2025

    ✉️ generation60plus-pbm@med.uni-tuebingen.de

    Studienseite

  • Fatigue/Long COVID Study

    Eine Studie zum Einsatz digitaler Technologien (MA und digitale Phänotypisierung mit Smartphones) zur Bewertung der physisch-psychischen Wechselwirkung – Fatigue bei verschiedenen Erkrankungen.

    Recruitment complete, Data analysis ongoing

  • Fast Track Recovery

    Enhanced Recovery After Colorectal Surgery with Smartphone-Based Patients Physical Activity Tracking

    Recruitment complete, Data analysis ongoing

    ✉️ s.rau@med.uni-tuebingen.de

    Flyer zur Studie

  • Smart bewegt

    Evaluating the Temporal Relationship Between Physical Activity and Mood Using a Digital Phenotyping Approach. PhD Project Dilshad Afrin

    Recruitment complete, Data analysis ongoing

    ✉️ smart-pbm@med.uni-tuebingen.de

    Studienseite

  • Beiwe Studie

    Die Anwendung digitaler Technologien zum Monitoring körperlicher Aktivität und Wohlbefinden während der Schwangerschaft bei Frauen mit und ohne Diabetes: Eine Pilotstudie

    Recruitment complete, Data analysis ongoing

    ✉️ s.rau@med.uni-tuebingen.de

    Flyer zur Studie

Intergenerational Studies

  • Fit-Life: Gesundheit für Generationen

    Intergenerationale Übertragung von chronischen Erkrankungen und Gesundheitsverhalten: eine Pilotstudie

    Recruitment complete, Data analysis ongoing

    ✉️ info-pbm@medizin.uni-tuebingen.de

    Studienseite

Nutrition

  • Time-Restricted Eating

    Cross-sectional and Longitudinal Associations Between Time-Restricted Eating, Modifiable Lifestyle Factors, and Cardiometabolic Health. PhD Project Viktoria Feit

    in progress

    ✉️ viktoria.feit@med.uni-tuebingen.de

    pdf Abstract

Population-Based

  • EMS-Training

    The effect of whole-body Electromyostimulation (WB-EMS) Training using a digital activity tracker on glycemic control in participants with pre-diabetes: A pilot-study

    Recruiting, please contact: ✉️ ems-pbm@med.uni-tuebingen.de

    Studienseite

  • Diabetes and depression comorbidity in Ireland and Internationally

    An investigation of longitudinal associations and multilevel predictors of comorbidity in Europe. Funded by Irish Health Research Board 2023-2025

    Ongoing study, collaboration with Sonya Deschenes (Dublin)

    ✉️ Prof. Dr. Norbert Schmitz

  • Cardiometabolic dysregulation, depression subtypes, and cognitive functioning

    Longitudinal associations in the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging. CIHR funded 2020-2023

    Collaborator: Sonja Deschenes (Dublin), Eva Graham (Ottawa), et al.

    ✉️ Prof. Dr. Norbert Schmitz

  • Zepsom

    An intergenerational transmission of parental socio-economic status changes on offspring’s mental and cognitive outcomes: A large-scale, longitudinal community-based study & Genetic and psychosocial predictors of epigenetic age acceleration: clinical significance for stress-related mental disorders. CIHR funded 2020-2024

    Collaborator: Xiangfei Meng (Montreal)

    ✉️ Prof. Dr. Norbert Schmitz

  • ACCESS

    Canada Developing, Implementing and Evaluating a Model for Youth Mental Health Service Transformation. CIHR funded 2020-2026

    Collaborator: Vidya Iyer (Montreal), Ashok Malla (Montreal) et al.

    ✉️ Prof. Dr. Norbert Schmitz

  • Early Psychosis in India and Canada

    Investigating outcomes and family factors. NIH funded 2019-2023

    Collaborator: Vidya Iyer (Montreal), Ashok Malla (Montreal) et al.

    ✉️ Prof. Dr. Norbert Schmitz

Randomized controlled trials

  • Efficacy of cognitive behavioural and skills training therapy for adolescents with ADHD

    RCT. CIHR funded 2021-2026

    Collaborator: Lily Hechtman (Montreal), et al.

    ✉️ Prof. Dr. Norbert Schmitz

Publications

Journals

  • Effect of Whole-Body Electromyostimulation Training on Glycemic Control in People With Prediabetes: Protocol for a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial Study

    Shojaa M, Knaub K, Schmitz N, Nieß AM, Munz B, Rau S, Feit V, Mphepo W, Dingler R, Kemmler W. JMIR Res Protoc. 2025 Jun 24:14:e68761

    Zu Pubmed

  • Digital Health Interventions and Patient Safety in Abdominal Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

    Grygorian A, Montano D, Shojaa M, Ferencak M, Schmitz N. JAMA Netw Open. 2024;7(4):e248555.

    Zu Pubmed

  • "Anything that would help is a positive development": feasibility, tolerability, and user experience of smartphone based digital phenotyping for people with and without type 2 diabetes.

    McInerney AM, Schmitz N, Matthews M, Deschênes SS. BMC Digit Health. 2024;2(1):55

    Zu Pubmed

  • Diabetes Distress, Depressive Symptoms, and Anxiety Symptoms in People With Type 2 Diabetes: A Network Analysis Approach to Understanding Comorbidity.

    McInerney AM, Lindekilde N, Nouwen A, Schmitz N, Deschênes SS. Diabetes Care. 2022;45(8):1715-23.

    Zu Pubmed

  • Pubmed search results for departmental publications

    Zu Pubmed

Academic Supervision - Doctoral/PhD Projects

Laufende Promotionen

  • Depression, metabolic factors and the risk of cancer

    Lea Marie Bek

  • Intergenerational Transmission of Ultra-Processed Food

    Anne-Kathrin Oppermann

  • Association of menarcheal and menopausal age with bone mineral density in postmenopausal women

    Jonas Muenzer

  • The association between oral health and susceptibility to respiratory tract infections in the German National Cohort (NAKO)

    Heike Geiger

  • Cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between time-restricted eating, modifiable lifestyle factors, and cardiometabolic health

    Viktoria Feit

  • Depression, metabolic factors and the risk of cancerEvaluating the temporal relationship between physical activity and mood using a digital phenotyping approach

    Dilshad Afrin

Promotionen Abgeschlossen

  • 2023

    Ultra-processed foods consumption, depression, and the risk of diabetes and its complications in a populationbased sample

    Akankasha Sen

    Zu Pubmed
  • 2023

    Oral health-related quality of life and depressive symptoms in older adults

    Luisa Zwick

    Zu Pubmed

Zertifikate und Verbände

Focus: Top Nationales Krankenhaus 2025

Die deutschen Universitätsklinika

Kooperation für Transparenz und Qualität im Gesundheitswesen

Blauer Sterne Betrieb

Stern: Deutschlands Ausgezeichnete Arbeitgeber Pflege 24/25

Deutscher Nachhaltigkeitspreis

Qualitätspartnerschaft mit der PKV

Erfolgsfaktor Familie

Die Altersvorsorge für den Öffentlichen Dienst

Fördermittel aus dem Krankenhauszukunftsfond unter Finanzierung durch die Europäische Union