“We are laying the foundation for innovative therapies in diabetes.”

Maria Luisa Balmer has been an assistant professor at the University of Bern and University Hospital of Bern and at the DCB (Diabetes Center Berne) since 2021. Together with her team, she researches the complex pathologically altered bodily functions (pathophysiology) and connections between the intestinal flora, metabolism and inflammation. 

Prof. Dr. Balmer, what is your research about? 

We want to understand in more detail how the gut microbiota contributes to people becoming obese, or not. The gut microbiota refers to a group of tiny organisms, mainly bacteria, that live in our gut and play an important role in digestion and health. We are interested in the following questions: Which bacteria are beneficial? Which ones are more likely to contribute to the development of obesity (severe overweight, from body mass index 30) and the associated complications such as diabetes or liver disease? And why is this so? Are there certain metabolic products with which the intestinal bacteria influence our metabolism? These are all questions that occupy us in the team and which we approach in very different ways.

What motivates you to work in the field of obesity and diabetes?  

Obesity and type 2 diabetes have become a pandemic that is spreading ever faster. Whereas in the past it was mainly the industrialised nations that were affected, today it is also affecting countries that previously had to struggle with the opposite, namely malnutrition and underweight. I am also concerned that more and more children and adolescents are affected by obesity. Despite many efforts in the area of prevention and therapy, there are more and more overweight people, with the corresponding health consequences. 

What is your biggest challenge as a professor?

As a researcher, doctor and mother of two children, my everyday life is incredibly varied, diverse and occasionally a little chaotic. I find the balancing act between all my different activities very challenging, but at the same time enriching. The biggest challenge is probably not to miss out myself.  

Prof. Dr. Maria Luisa Balmer. Photo: Sina Lou Ravasio

What goals do you want to achieve with your team and your laboratory, the TrIm-Lab (Translational Immunometabolism Lab)? 

My goal with my research is to contribute to a better understanding of the mechanistic connections between the gut microbiota and the development of obesity and metabolic complications, and thus to gain new approaches to prevention and therapy. At the same time, it is important to me to be a role model for the next generation of young scientists and to show that becoming a professor is a realistic goal, even for people who have other priorities in life, such as a family.  

What projects are you currently researching and how can they make life easier for people with diabetes? 

Our research is incredibly broad – from mouse experiments to clinical trials. For example, we work with mice in which we can precisely control the composition of the intestinal bacteria and thus find out which bacteria contribute to the development of obesity. On the other hand, we are currently running a clinical trial called FibreGum with obese children and adolescents, in which we are testing a special chewing gum that contains dietary fibres. We hope that this will have a favourable influence on the composition of the intestinal microbiota and that we will be able to support the children in losing weight in a low-threshold way.

How do you work with the DCB? 

My research laboratory and my office are located at the DCB and I very much appreciate the fruitful collaboration. In addition to the infrastructure, the DCB also actively supports us in conducting clinical trials. The familiar and friendly environment is inspiring and a prerequisite for successful research.  

Where do you hope your field of research will be in 5-10 years? What is your vision? 

I hope that we will understand more precisely how bacterial metabolism integrates with human metabolism and that this knowledge will benefit our patients in a personalised form. My vision is to fight diseases like obesity and diabetes, not only in the rich industrialised nations, but worldwide.  
 

You recently received the Marie Heim-Vöglin Prize, awarded by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF). What pleased you most about this award? 

For me, this prize is primarily a huge recognition, which of course makes me incredibly happy. It is wonderful that my research has met with such broad interest and that it has now found its way into the public eye through this prize. The response has been incredible and has touched me very much. I hope that this will motivate many young researchers to continue on their path.  I will also continue my efforts to contribute to the fight against diseases such as obesity and diabetes. 

About Maria Balmer 

Maria Luisa Balmer is SNSF professor and research group leader at the University and Inselspital Bern. With her team at the DCB, she researches the connection between the microbiota, metabolism and the immune system in the context of obesity and diabetes. She is a specialist in general internal medicine and works in the osteometabolic consultation at the University Clinic for Endocrinology and Diabetology in Bern. Her goal is to fundamentally research the mechanisms and consequences of obesity and diabetes and thereby lay the foundation for innovative therapies.  In addition, Maria Luisa Balmer is the winner of the Marie Heim-Vögtlin Prize 2023, awarded by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) for her research on intestinal bacteria and their role in the development of diabetes and morbid obesity. 

Thanks so much for reading and we’ll provide you with the next episode of this series soon!

This edition was authored by Sunjoy Mathieu, Communication Manager at DCB.

From sunny mornings to windy afternoons and rainy nights – our DCB activities at EASD were just as versatile as Northern German weather in early October. However, unlike the ever-changing German weather, our activities and services all boil down to one goal: To bridge the gap between research, industry and those living with diabetes. Scroll below to get a glimpse into what that looked like at EASD! 

DCB in the Innovation Zone 

We were proud to introduce our very first DCB Innovation Booth at EASD. Located right under the sign for the “Innovation Zone” of the Industry Exhibition, we hosted a space for our start-ups and anyone who was interested in our activities and services. We were very happy to see many of our supported start-ups on-site and be able to provide them with a meeting point for discussions, potential deals and coffee breaks. 

DCB Dinner @ Hensslers Küche 

We have been hosting dinners at the major EASD and ATTD conferences for two years now. Our objective for these dinners reflects our vision and mission: To make life better for people with diabetes, by bridging the gap between industry, research, start-ups and people living with diabetes. We all know that sometimes, the best deals are made over good food and drinks!  

This year, we were honored to host it at Hensslers Küche in the heart of Hamburg – with live cooking and lots of delicious sushi, many important conversations were had which may or may not have led to new ideas and business deals. 

#NothingAboutUsWithoutUs: DCB Patient Leaders at EASD 

At DCB, we are happy to have established an international and ever-growing community of people living with diabetes all over the world. Two of our patient leaders – Laura Burlando from Switzerland and Lea Raak from Germany – also attended EASD and stopped by our innovation booth. In the end, we can only fuel knowledge and truly make an impact if we give all parties a seat at the table. Or in this case: at the innovation booth. 

EASD Topics: New Technologies, Mental Health & Lived Experience 

Among the many important topics discussed at EASD – from islet cell transplants to new insulin pump technologies and the impact of mental health – we were excited to be involved in one topic specifically: the importance of including perspectives of lived experience in research and product development. Dr. Katarina Braune, member of our DCB Open Innovation Challenge jury and long-time DCB affiliate, presented results of the DIWHY study conducted within the OPEN project of which we were a consortium member – providing insights into the motivations of people living with diabetes to start on Automated Insulin Delivery systems and their feedback on such. Even though research and product development are moving more and more towards participatory processes, the outcome often still disappoints those living with diabetes and using the technologies. 

We were delighted to see lived experience and the topics of unmet needs, stigmatisation and the different perspectives of all moving parts of the healthcare system represented in many sessions – among others those of #dedoc°, International Diabetes Federation Europe and diaTribe.  

We at DCB thank all researchers, industry professionals, entrepreneurs and people living with diabetes who continue to speak on these intersectional topics vital for technology innovation. We had a great time with all of you and we are looking forward to the next conference already! 

Thanks so much for reading and we’ll provide you with the next episode of this series soon!  

This edition was authored by Svea Krutisch, Digital Communications Specialist at DCB.