Professorship Nutritional Toxicology
The Nutritional Toxicology group investigates how certain food components affect cells and genetic material, and which biological stress responses they may trigger.
Using modern, 3R-compliant model systems - particularly C. elegans and human cell cultures - we study fundamental mechanisms of action and their relevance for aging processes and disease development.
Our goal is to understand these effects and their underlying mechanisms at the molecular and cellular levels, thereby providing a scientific basis for improved risk assessment, prevention strategies, and evidence-based dietary recommendations.
Research
Our research program is embedded within the institute’s research focus on “Molecular Mechanisms of Nutrition-Dependent Homeostasis and Dysfunction.”
Nutritional toxicology focuses on the characterization of potential adverse effects of food-related substances on biological systems. Our work aims to identify and mechanistically elucidate genotoxic effects and analyze cellular stress responses, and determine their contribution to pathophysiological processes. Particular emphasis is placed on combination effects of multiple toxicants as well as on life cycle-dependent responses to toxic exposures. These studies provide mechanistic insight relevant to the assessment of health risks in the context of complex dietary exposures.
In addition, we develop and implement 3R-based experimental approaches that enable advanced mechanistic toxicology in human cell models and the non-vertebrate system C. elegans. These platforms provide the foundation for sustainable, molecularly oriented experimental research and support the generation of robust mechanistic data for the evaluation of biological effects and their relevance to human health.
Teaching
The Professorship for Nutritional Toxicology is deeply involved in teaching within the international Master’s program in Toxicology as well as the Bachelor’s and Master’s programs in Nutritional Science at the University of Potsdam. Our students benefit from a research-driven, interdisciplinary education with strong scientific relevance.
Moreover, we offer the course "3Rs in Toxicology" in collaboration with Prof. M. Leist (University of Konstanz) and other renowned guest speakers – as part of the continuing education program of the Society of Toxicology for obtaining the "Board-Certified Toxicologist (GT)" certificate.