Prof. Dr. Thomas Illig
+49.511.5350.8451 - 8450
Illig.Thomas@mh-hannover.de
Background
Since January first Prof. Thomas Illig is heading the Hannover Unified Biobank, including all biomaterials from Hannover Medical School (MHH). Prof. Illig is establishing a modern, unified high-throughput biobanking centre in a new building (Clinical Research Center = CRC) being finished mid of 2013. The last 15 years he worked at Helmholtz Zentrum Muenchen (HMGU) at the end as director of the Independent Research Unit of Molecular Epidemiology. He has a longstanding experience in environmental, molecular and genetic epidemiology. He co-organized large population based and disease related epidemiological studies (e.g. KORA, Augsburg Diabetes Family Study). One main focus is the molecular analysis of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases mainly of type 2 diabetes and CVD but also on other complex diseases like asthma, atopic eczema and lung cancer. Prof. Illig pioneered work on the combination of different systematic molecular data eg. the combination of genome wide association (GWAs) and metabolomics, transcriptomics or epigenomics, leading to better understanding of complex diseases. Thomas Illig established the Genome Analysis Center (GAC) of HMGU and was one of the four founding members of the metabolomics platform MetaP of the Helmholtz Zentrum München. Prof. Illig is member in several international genetics consortia, many of them focussing on cardio-metabolic diseases (DIAGRAM ands MAGIC for type 2 diabetes; IBC 50K CAD consortium, Global BPgen Consortium, CARDIoGRAM Consortium for cardiovascular diseases). In Munich Thomas Illig was head of the biobank of the department of epidemiology with more than 50 000 genomic DNA samples consisting of population-based and case-specific cohorts. Prof. Illig is leading the biobank group of the German National Cohort including 200 000 participants.
Prof. Illig has organized the MBA programme “Genetic and Molecular Epidemiology” at LMU Pettenkofer School of Public Health. In the last 5 years he authored or co-authored more than 300 peer-reviewed publications also in leading journals such as Science, Nature, Nature Genetics, Plos Genetics, Lancet and the American Journal of Human Genetics.
Education
- 2010 Adjunct professor at Ludwig Maximilians-University Munich
- 2006 Postdoctoral lecture qualification (“Habilitation”) and conferral of associate professorship (“Priv.-Doz.”) at the Ludwig-Maximilians-University München, „Concepts of genomic association studies to decipher complex diseases“
- 1995 Doctor in biology by thesis „O-Glycosilation in Saccharomyces cerevisae“, Department of Cell Biology, University of Regensburg
- 1992 - 1995 PhD in Cell Biology, O-Glycosilation in yeast, University of Regensburg
- 1986 - 1991 Study of biology, University of Regensburg
Professional Experience
- Since 01/2012 CEO and scientific head of Hannover Unified Biobank (HUB), Hannover Medical School
- 01/2011 - 12/2011 Head of Research Unit of Molecular Epidemiology, Helmholtz Zentrum Muenchen, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg,
- Since 2009 Head of Biomaterials group of the German National Cohort (200 000 participants)
- 2001 - 2010 Group leader of working group “Epidemiology-Biobanking-Genomics” in the Institute of Epidemiology Helmholtz Zentrum Muenchen, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg,
- 1998 - 2001 PostDoc, Institute of Epidemiology, Helmholtz Zentrum Muenchen, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg
- 1996 - 1998 PostDoc, Institute of Mammalian Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum Muenchen, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg
- 1995 - 1996 PostDoc, Department of Cell Biology, University of Regensburg Teaching experience
- Since 2001 Organisation of the MBA programme „Molecular and genetic epidemiology“ at Ludwig-Maximilians-University München, Pettenkofer School of Public Health, Different lectures in this programme
- Since 2003 Molecular Epidemiology at the University of Mainz
- 2005 - 2009 Molecular Epidemiology at the Technical University of Munich
Awards
- 2010 “Paula and Richard von Hertwig” price for interdisciplinary work at Helmholtz Zentrum München
- 2006 Herbert-Herxheimer-Förderpreis of the German Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology (DGAKI)
- 2005 “Paula and Richard von Hertwig” price for interdisciplinary work at Helmholtz Zentrum München
Reviewer (selected journals)
- Nature Genetics, American Journal of Human Genetics, Circulation, PLOS Genetics,
- Experimental Dermatology, Allergy, Clinical and Experimental Allergy, Journal of Investigative Dermatology,
- Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Human Molecular Genetics, Diabetologia,
- Diabetes, Molecular Gerontology, International Journal of Obesity,
- Molecular Nutrition and Food Research, PLOS Biology
Grant Reviewer
- European Union
- Netherland Research Foundation
- University of Verona
- German Research Community (DFG)
- University of Vienna
- Research Ministry of Norway
- Ministry of Finland
- Welcome Trust UK
Membership in national and international consortia
- IL6R Genetics Consortium Emerging Risk Factors Collaboration
- MTHFR Studies Collaborative Group
- DIAGRAM Consortium
- CARDIoGRAM Consortium
- Cardiogenics Consortium
- MONICA/KORA Investigators
- KORA Study Group
- Cooperative Health Research in the Region of Augsburg (KORA) Study Group
- Global BPgen Consortium, Diabetes Genetics Replication and Meta-analyses (DIAGRAM+) Study
- International Consortium for Blood Pressure (ICBP-GWAS)
- Meta-analyses of Glucose and Insulin-Related Traits Consortium (MAGIC)
- IBC 50K CAD Consortium, MAGIC Investigators
- International Parkinson's Disease Genomics Consortium (IPDGC)
- Triglyceride Coronary Disease Genetics Consortium and Emerging Risk Factors
- Collaboration, ENGAGE Consortium
- AIRGENE Study Group, Coronary Artery Disease Consortiumm

Mercedes Clavero
+49 511 5350 8450 - 8451
Clavero.Mercedes@mh-hannover.de
Dr. Norman Klopp
+49 (511) 5350-8452
Klopp.Norman@mh-hannover.de
Curriculum Vitae
- Since 2012 Deputy Chief of HUB and Head of Lab
- 2011-2012 Head of the group Molecular Epidemiology – Complex Diseases, Unit of Molecular Epidemiology, Helmholtz Zentrum München
- 2001-2010 Scientist at the Institute of Epidemiology, Helmholtz Zentrum München
- 2000 Dr. rer. nat. (Doctoral Degree), Technical University, Munich (Germany).
- 1997-2001 PhD student and Post-Doc at the Institute of Mammalian Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum München
- 1996 Diplom Biologie (Master of Science in Biology), University of Bielefeld (Germany)
- 1990-1996 Study of Biology at the University, Bielefeld (Germany)
Dr. rer. biol. hum. Markus Kersting
+49-511-5350-8353
kersting.markus@mh-hannover.de
Curriculum Vitae
- 1990 Abitur am Gymnasium Adolfinum in Bückeburg
- 1990-1998 Studium der Betriebswirtschaft Studienrichtung Wirtschaftsinformatik in Osnabrück.
- 1998-2004 IT-Leiter in einem Adressverlag in Hannover
- 2003 Oracle Certified Professional Database Administrator
- 2004-2005 IT-Leiter einer Werbeagentur mit Sitz in Hamburg und Hannover
- 2005-2010 Projektleiter & Wissenschaftlicher Mitarbeiter im Zentrum für Informationsmanagement der MHH
- 2005-2012 Wissenschaftlicher Mitarbeiter der Abteilung Allgmeinmedizin der MHH
- 2008-2011 Promotion zum Dr. rer. biol. hum. an der MHH mit dem Thema "Erhebung und Aufbereitung hausärztlicher Routinedaten für die Versorgungsforschung und Epidemiologie"
- 2004-heute: Freiberuflich tätig als Softwareentwickler, Projektmanager und Berater
- 2012-heute: IT-Leiter der Hannover Unified Biobank (HUB)
Tätigkeiten und Schwerpunkte
- Anforderungsmanagement, Systemarchitektur, Projektmanagement und Softwareentwicklung
- Erhebung, Aufbereitung und Auswertung hausärztlicher Routinedaten aus den IT-Systemen niedergelassener allgemeinmedizinischer Ärzte
- Datenbanken (MS SQL-Server, Oracle, MySQL)
- Business Intelligence & Reporting (SSRS)
- Softwareentwicklung Java- C#, VBA- und Webentwicklung (XML, HTML, Javascript, CSS)
- MS Sharepoint Server 2007/2010
- Projektleitung für die Einführung des Microsoft Office Sharepoint Servers 2007 zur Dokumentenverwaltung an der MHH
- Projektleitung bei der Migration und anschließende Betreuung des neuen EDV-Systems des Betriebsärztlichen Dienstes der MHH
- Mitglied im Qualitätsring medizinische Software e. v. (QMS)
Dr. Verena Kopfnagel
GBA-Projektmanagerin
+49 511 5350-8456
Kopfnagel.Verena@mh-hannover.de
Dipl.-Biol. Inga Bernemann
+49 511 5350-8356
Bernemann.Inga@mh-hannover.de
Curriculum Vitae
- 2018: Ausbildung zur GBA Auditorin (ISO 20387, ISO 9001, ISO 19001)
- ab 2012: QMB, Hannover Unified Biobank (HUB), Medizinische Hochschule Hannover
- ab 2012: DZL - Projektmangement, Hannover Unified Biobank (HUB), Medizinische Hochschule Hannover
- 2006-2012: JRG "Biothermodynamics", Exzellenzcluster REBIRTH "Von Regenerativer Biologie zu Rekonstruktiver Therapie"
- 2006-2012: AG "Kryokonservierung & Tissue Engineering" Institut für Mehrphasenprozesse, Leibniz Universität Hannover.
- 2002-2006: AG "Kryobiologie und Biomaterialien", Helmholtz Institut für Biomedizintechnik, RWTH Aachen.
- 2005: Diplom Biologie, Julius-Maximilians-Universität, Würzburg.
- 2004: Diplomarbeit „Dynamische Besiedlung und Kultivierung in einem Perfusionsbioreaktorsystem", Helmholtz Institut für Biomedizintechnik, RWTH Aachen
- bis 2005: Dipl.-Biol. Studium, Julius-Maximilians-Universität, Würzburg.
- Pathologisches Institut Hannover
- Biologisch-Technische Assistentin, Hannover
Auszeichnungen
- 2014: Posterpreis des 3. Nationalen Biobanken Symposium, 3-4/12/2014 in Berlin, Deutschland
- 2010: Science Foundation Ireland Award for Exemplary Poster Presentation, Tissue Engineeing & Regenerative Medicine International Society (TERMIS-EU), 17-17/06/2010 in Galway, Ireland
- 2009: Best Poster Award, Scientific Meeting of the Society of Low Temperature Biologie (SLTB), 07-09/09/2009 in Hanover, Germany
- 2008: Audrey Smith Travel Award, Scientific Meeting of the Society of Low Temperature Biology (SLTB) 11-12/09/2008 in Copenhaven, Danmark
- 2008: Rosette "Celltransplantation and Tissue Engineering II" of the 35th Annual Meeting of the European Society of Artifical Organs (ESAO) in Geneva, Switzerland
- 2005: Student Travel Grant, 42nd Annual Meeting of the Society of Cryobiology, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
Veröffentlichungen
Dr. Sonja Volland
Projektmanagement
+49 511 5350-8344
Volland.Sonja@mh-hannover.de
Nataliia Nizhegorodtseva
+49-511-5350-8342
Nizhegorodtseva.Nataliia[at]mh-hannover.de
Karin Heine
+49 511 5350-8354
Heine.Karin@mh-hannover.de
Dirk Drobek
+49-511-5350-8357
Drobek.Dirk[at]mh-hannover.de
Christoph Dolch
+49-511-5350-8359
Dolch.Christoph@mh-hannover.de
Dipl.-Biol. Bettina Wilhelm
+49 511 5350-8358
Wilhelm.Bettina@mh-hannover.de
Patrick Schweier
+49 511 5350-8446
Schweier.Patrick[at]mh-hannover.de
Heike Lührs
+49 511 5350-8355
Luehrs.Heike-Andrea[at]mh-hannover.de
Sandy Stein
+49 511 5350-8444
Stein.Sandy[at]mh-hannover.de
Aline Backmeister
Backmeister.Aline[at]mh-hannover.de
+49 511 5350-8446
Manfred Mertin
+49 511 5350-8455
Mertin.Manfred[at]mh-hannover.de
Axel Schütte
+49 511 5350-8455
Schuette.Axel[at]mh-hannover.de
Manuel Melching
Tel: 0511-5350- 8455
Melching.Manuel@mh-hannover.de
Maike Ellersiek
+49 511 5350-8355
Ellersiek.Maike[at]mh-hannover.de