Das Klinikum

PD Dr. rer. nat. Felicia Gerst

Telefonnummer: 07071 29-86002

E-Mail-Adresse: felicia.gerst@med.uni-tuebingen.de

Coordinator of the Human Pankreas Biobank of the Institute for Diabetes Research and Metabolic Diseases of the Helmholtz Center Munich at the University of Tübingen

The Human Pankreas Biobank is part of the German Center of Diabetes Research (DZD e.V.). Our scientific goal is to understand the functional and structural changes in the human pancreas, particularly in the islets of Langerhans, that lead to a relative insulin deficiency and the development of obesity-dependent type 2 diabetes.

The human pancreas biobank at IDM comprises a unique collection of pancreatic adipose tissue specimens from metabolically profiled living donors, both non-diabetic and with type 2 diabetes. Utilizing this valuable resource, we characterize the functional properties of pancreatic adipocytes, and investigate how pancreatic adipocytes influence beta cell function, particularly insulin secretion.
To explore the crosstalk between pancreatic islets and adipocytes, we developed an innovative in vitro model of human primary pancreatic adipose organoids that retain donor-specific metabolic traits. In collaboration with the University Hospital Tübingen’s Department of Surgery, we are expanding the biobank to include matched subcutaneous and visceral fat samples from the same donors, enabling controlled intra-individual comparisons.
Leveraging our “fatty pancreas-on-a-chip” platform, we aim to uncover cellular and molecular pathways through which adipocytes from distinct fat depots affect beta cell physiology and identify key mediators driving these inter-tissue interactions.
Our overarching goal is to elucidate fat depot-specific mechanisms that impact islet function and drive diabetes pathogenesis, ultimately informing new therapeutic strategies for diabetes prevention and treatment.

2020-Senior scientist at the Institute for Diabetes Research and Metabolic Diseases of the Helmholtz Center Munich at the Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen (IDM) University Hospital Tübingen
2019Habilitation at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Tübingen
2014 -2019Postdoctoral fellow at the Institute for Diabetes Research and Metabolic Diseases of the Helmholtz Center Munich at the Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen (IDM) University Hospital Tübingen
2008-2013Postdoctoral Fellow at Internal Medicine IV, University Hospital Tübingen
2006-2007Doctoral fellow of the Graduate School Tübingen / Dundee (GRK1302/2) „PI3Kinase in Diabetes and Tumor Growth“ at the Institute of Physiology, University of Tübingen