Julia Sbierski-Kind ist Teil des DZD NEXT Young Talent Program 2025/26
Das DZD NEXT Young Talent Program fördert gezielt junge DZD-Forschende auf dem Weg zu wissenschaftlicher Unabhängigkeit. Leitende von Nachwuchsgruppen können sich jährlich mit einem wissenschaftlichen Projekt für finanzielle Mittel bewerben. Diese Förderung finanziert eine Postdoc-Stelle für zwei Jahre, bei der das Projekt unter Anleitung des oder der Gruppenleitenden bearbeitet wird.
Wir freuen uns sehr, Julia Sbierski-Kind, Gruppenleiterin und ärztliche Wissenschaftlerin am IDM in Tübingen, zu ihrer Aufnahme in das DZD-Nachwuchsprogramm 2025/26 zu gratulieren.
Julia, tell us..
..what is the main aim of the project?
We hypothesize that the cross-talk between lymphocytes with liver stromal cells as well as lymphocyte topography in MASLD and hepatic insulin resistance is driven by commensal bacteria. To study the role of the gut microbiota for immune zonation, we will use germ free and gnotobiotic mouse models, stool transplantation from human MASLD donors and metagenomic shot-gun sequencing and study the development of MASLD-like pathology in distinct murine models of insulin resistance and liver fibrosis. We will then use quantitative volumetric imaging, genetically modified mice and spatial transcriptomics to explore spatial topography in the hepatic immune niche.
..how is it relevant to the public?
The worldwide epidemic of obesity has led to an increasing prevalence of T2D and MASLD promoting the development of irreversible liver fibrosis. Our research should deepen our understanding of lymphocyte topography and immune-microbiome interactions in MASLD and liver fibrosis and may lead to disease-relevant personalized therapeutic strategies.
For me, the DZD means …
... the opportunity to meet and (potentially) to collaborate with talented scientists across Germany to combat diabetes and its associated complications.
More information to the DZD Young Talent Program is available at the DZD webpage.