Horm Metab Res 2021; 53(03): 204-206
DOI: 10.1055/a-1377-6583
Commentary

The transCampus Metabolic Training Programme Explores the Link of SARS-CoV-2 Virus to Metabolic Disease

S. R. Bornstein
1    Department of Medicine III, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden, Technische Universität Dresden, Germany
2   Division of Diabetes & Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, King’s College London, London, UK
3   University Hospital Zurich, Department of Endocrinology and Diabetology, Zurich, Switzerland
4   Paul Langerhans Institute Dresden (PLID) of the Helmholtz Center Munich at the University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus and Medical Faculty, Dresden, Germany
,
K. Guan
5   Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
,
C. Brunßen
6   Division of Vascular Endothelium and Microcirculation, Department of Medicine III, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden, Technische Universität Dresden, Germany
,
G. Mueller
1    Department of Medicine III, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden, Technische Universität Dresden, Germany
,
V. Kamvissi-Lorenz
2   Division of Diabetes & Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, King’s College London, London, UK
,
R. Lechler
7   King’s College London, London, UK
,
R. Trembath
8   Department of Medical & Molecular Genetics, King’s College London, London, UK
,
M. Mayr
9   School of Cardiovascular Medicine and Science, Faculty of Life Science & Medicine, KCL, London, UK
,
L. Poston
10   Department of Women and Children’s Health, School of Life Course Sciences, King’s College London, London, UK
,
R. Sancho
1    Department of Medicine III, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden, Technische Universität Dresden, Germany
11   Centre for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, King’s College London, London, UK
,
IRTG Study Group: ,
S. Ahmed
12   Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
,
E. Alfar
5   Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
,
B. Aljani
12   Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
,
T. C. Alves
13   Institute for Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
,
S. Amiel
14   Department of Diabetes Research, School of Life Course Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, King’s College London, London, UK
,
C. L. Andoniadou
1    Department of Medicine III, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden, Technische Universität Dresden, Germany
15   Craniofacial Development and Stem Cell Biology, KCL, London, UK
,
M. Bandral
4   Paul Langerhans Institute Dresden (PLID) of the Helmholtz Center Munich at the University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus and Medical Faculty, Dresden, Germany
,
A. Belavgeni
1    Department of Medicine III, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden, Technische Universität Dresden, Germany
,
I. Berger
1    Department of Medicine III, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden, Technische Universität Dresden, Germany
,
A. Birkenfeld
1    Department of Medicine III, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden, Technische Universität Dresden, Germany
2   Division of Diabetes & Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, King’s College London, London, UK
16   Institute for Diabetes Research and Metabolic Diseases of the Helmholtz Center Munich at the University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
,
E. Bonifacio
12   Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
4   Paul Langerhans Institute Dresden (PLID) of the Helmholtz Center Munich at the University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus and Medical Faculty, Dresden, Germany
,
T. Chavakis
13   Institute for Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
,
P. Chawla
4   Paul Langerhans Institute Dresden (PLID) of the Helmholtz Center Munich at the University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus and Medical Faculty, Dresden, Germany
,
P. Choudhary
2   Division of Diabetes & Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, King’s College London, London, UK
,
A. M. Cujba
1    Department of Medicine III, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden, Technische Universität Dresden, Germany
,
L. F. Delgadillo Silva
4   Paul Langerhans Institute Dresden (PLID) of the Helmholtz Center Munich at the University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus and Medical Faculty, Dresden, Germany
,
T. Demcollari
11   Centre for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, King’s College London, London, UK
,
D. M. Drotar
4   Paul Langerhans Institute Dresden (PLID) of the Helmholtz Center Munich at the University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus and Medical Faculty, Dresden, Germany
,
S. Duin
1    Department of Medicine III, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden, Technische Universität Dresden, Germany
17   Centre for Translational Bone, Joint and Soft Tissue Research, Medical Faculty and University Hospital, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
,
N. N. El-Agroudy
1    Department of Medicine III, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden, Technische Universität Dresden, Germany
,
A. El-Armouche
5   Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
,
A. Eugster
12   Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
,
M. Gado
1    Department of Medicine III, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden, Technische Universität Dresden, Germany
,
A. Gavalas
4   Paul Langerhans Institute Dresden (PLID) of the Helmholtz Center Munich at the University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus and Medical Faculty, Dresden, Germany
,
M. Gelinsky
17   Centre for Translational Bone, Joint and Soft Tissue Research, Medical Faculty and University Hospital, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
,
M. Guirgus
4   Paul Langerhans Institute Dresden (PLID) of the Helmholtz Center Munich at the University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus and Medical Faculty, Dresden, Germany
,
S. Hansen
5   Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
,
E. Hanton
18   Peter Gorer Department of Immunobiology, Guy’s Hospital, London, UK
,
M. Hasse
5   Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
,
H. Henneicke
1    Department of Medicine III, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden, Technische Universität Dresden, Germany
,
C. Heller
1    Department of Medicine III, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden, Technische Universität Dresden, Germany
,
H. Hempel
6   Division of Vascular Endothelium and Microcirculation, Department of Medicine III, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden, Technische Universität Dresden, Germany
,
C. Hogstrand
19   Department of Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, KCL, London, UK
,
D. Hopkins
20   Department of Diabetic Medicine, King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and KCL, London, UK
,
L. Jarc
4   Paul Langerhans Institute Dresden (PLID) of the Helmholtz Center Munich at the University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus and Medical Faculty, Dresden, Germany
,
P. M. Jones
14   Department of Diabetes Research, School of Life Course Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, King’s College London, London, UK
,
M. Kamel
4   Paul Langerhans Institute Dresden (PLID) of the Helmholtz Center Munich at the University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus and Medical Faculty, Dresden, Germany
,
S. Kämmerer
5   Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
,
A. J. F. King
14   Department of Diabetes Research, School of Life Course Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, King’s College London, London, UK
,
A. Kurzbach
1    Department of Medicine III, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden, Technische Universität Dresden, Germany
,
C. Lambert
11   Centre for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, King’s College London, London, UK
,
Y. Latunde-Dada
7   King’s College London, London, UK
,
I. Lieberam
11   Centre for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, King’s College London, London, UK
,
J. Liers
21   Department of Radiopharmaceutical and Chemical Biology, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Dresden, Germany
,
J. W. Li
12   Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
,
A. Linkermann
1    Department of Medicine III, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden, Technische Universität Dresden, Germany
,
S. Locke
1    Department of Medicine III, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden, Technische Universität Dresden, Germany
,
B. Ludwig
1    Department of Medicine III, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden, Technische Universität Dresden, Germany
3   University Hospital Zurich, Department of Endocrinology and Diabetology, Zurich, Switzerland
4   Paul Langerhans Institute Dresden (PLID) of the Helmholtz Center Munich at the University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus and Medical Faculty, Dresden, Germany
12   Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
,
T. Manea
11   Centre for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, King’s College London, London, UK
,
F. Maremonti
1    Department of Medicine III, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden, Technische Universität Dresden, Germany
,
Z. Marinicova
4   Paul Langerhans Institute Dresden (PLID) of the Helmholtz Center Munich at the University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus and Medical Faculty, Dresden, Germany
,
B. M. McGowan
22   Department of Diabetes and Endocrinology, London, UK
,
M. Mickunas
18   Peter Gorer Department of Immunobiology, Guy’s Hospital, London, UK
,
G. Mingrone
14   Department of Diabetes Research, School of Life Course Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, King’s College London, London, UK
23   Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
24   Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
,
K. Mohanraj
13   Institute for Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
,
H. Morawietz
6   Division of Vascular Endothelium and Microcirculation, Department of Medicine III, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden, Technische Universität Dresden, Germany
,
N. Ninov
4   Paul Langerhans Institute Dresden (PLID) of the Helmholtz Center Munich at the University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus and Medical Faculty, Dresden, Germany
,
M. Peakman
18   Peter Gorer Department of Immunobiology, Guy’s Hospital, London, UK
,
S. J. Persaud
14   Department of Diabetes Research, School of Life Course Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, King’s College London, London, UK
,
J. Pietzsch
21   Department of Radiopharmaceutical and Chemical Biology, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Dresden, Germany
,
E. Cachorro
5   Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
,
T. J. Pullen
25   School of Life Course Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, KCL, London, UK
,
I. Pyrina
13   Institute for Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
,
F. Rubino
14   Department of Diabetes Research, School of Life Course Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, King’s College London, London, UK
,
A. Santambrogio
1    Department of Medicine III, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden, Technische Universität Dresden, Germany
,
F. Schepp
1    Department of Medicine III, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden, Technische Universität Dresden, Germany
,
P. Schlinkert
5   Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
,
L. D. Scriba
1    Department of Medicine III, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden, Technische Universität Dresden, Germany
,
R. Siow
26   Vascular Biology & Inflammation Section, School of Cardiovascular Medicine & Sciences, British Heart Foundation of Research Excellence, King’s College London, London, UK
,
M. Solimena
4   Paul Langerhans Institute Dresden (PLID) of the Helmholtz Center Munich at the University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus and Medical Faculty, Dresden, Germany
27   Molecular Diabetology, University Hospital and Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
,
F. M. Spagnoli
11   Centre for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, King’s College London, London, UK
,
S. Speier
4   Paul Langerhans Institute Dresden (PLID) of the Helmholtz Center Munich at the University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus and Medical Faculty, Dresden, Germany
,
A. Stavridou
12   Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
,
C. Steenblock
1    Department of Medicine III, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden, Technische Universität Dresden, Germany
,
A. Strano
5   Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
,
P. Taylor
10   Department of Women and Children’s Health, School of Life Course Sciences, King’s College London, London, UK
,
A. Tiepner
5   Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
,
W. Tonnus
1    Department of Medicine III, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden, Technische Universität Dresden, Germany
,
T. Tree
18   Peter Gorer Department of Immunobiology, Guy’s Hospital, London, UK
,
F. Watt
11   Centre for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, King’s College London, London, UK
,
M. Werdermann
1    Department of Medicine III, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden, Technische Universität Dresden, Germany
,
M. Wilson
25   School of Life Course Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, KCL, London, UK
,
N. Yusuf
18   Peter Gorer Department of Immunobiology, Guy’s Hospital, London, UK
,
C. G. Ziegler
1    Department of Medicine III, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden, Technische Universität Dresden, Germany
› Author Affiliations
Funding Funding was provided by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) – Project Number 288034826 – IRTG: 2251 (SRB).

Abstract

Currently, we are experiencing a true pandemic of a communicable disease by the virus SARS-CoV-2 holding the whole world firmly in its grasp. Amazingly and unfortunately, this virus uses a metabolic and endocrine pathway via ACE2 to enter our cells causing damage and disease. Our international research training programme funded by the German Research Foundation has a clear mission to train the best students wherever they may come from to learn to tackle the enormous challenges of diabetes and its complications for our society. A modern training programme in diabetes and metabolism does not only involve a thorough understanding of classical physiology, biology and clinical diabetology but has to bring together an interdisciplinary team. With the arrival of the coronavirus pandemic, this prestigious and unique metabolic training programme is facing new challenges but also new opportunities. The consortium of the training programme has recognized early on the need for a guidance and for practical recommendations to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic for the community of patients with metabolic disease, obesity and diabetes. This involves the optimal management from surgical obesity programmes to medications and insulin replacement. We also established a global registry analyzing the dimension and role of metabolic disease including new onset diabetes potentially triggered by the virus. We have involved experts of infectious disease and virology to our faculty with this metabolic training programme to offer the full breadth and scope of expertise needed to meet these scientific challenges. We have all learned that this pandemic does not respect or heed any national borders and that we have to work together as a global community. We believe that this transCampus metabolic training programme provides a prime example how an international team of established experts in the field of metabolism can work together with students from all over the world to address a new pandemic.



Publication History

Received: 22 January 2021

Accepted after revision: 23 January 2021

Article published online:
02 March 2021

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