Medizinische Klinik für Gastroenterologie, Infektiologie und Rheumatologie (einschl. Arbeitsbereich Ernährungsmedizin) CBF
 Clinical Physiology / Nutritional Medicine
Joint Heads: Prof. Susanne Krug and Prof. Michael Schumann

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     Our profile

  "Physiology" we define by a central question: "How does it work?"

  For answering this question we apply several methods including molecular biology, electrophysiology, microbiology, biophysics, laser-scanning microscopy, and freeze-fracture electron microscopy

  We investigate all levels of the organism: molecules, cells, tissues, organoids, and the whole body

  Our approach is translational as it combines basic research with topics related to diseases of the intestines, kidneys, nerves, and skin

  Main research topics are the tight junction and membrane channel molecules of the "intelligent borders of the body", the epithelia

  We perform numerous collaborative projects with colleagues from clinical departments

  Clinical Physiology / Nutritional Medicine is a division of the Dept. of Gastroenterology, Rheumatology, and Infectious Diseases and is located in the central tract of the Campus Benjamin Franklin

   News update       Blog archive

  • Susanne Krug and Michael Schumann: Joint Heads of Clinical Physiology / Nutritional Medicine, 01.10.2026

  • Jörg-Dieter Schulzke: Appointment as Senior Professor, 01.10.2026

  • Jörg Piontek: Permanent contract as Research Associate, 01.10.2026

  • Rita Rosenthal: Retired, 31.09.2026

    •

  • Ayk Waldow, Promotion 11.09.2026, "Clostridium perfringens enterotoxin-based biologics for microscopic detection and modulation of claudins in tumors and tissue barriers as well as tight junction nanoarchitecture analysis". FU-Berlin, magna cum laude, Supervision Jörg Piontek

  • Bahramimehr F, Kurz S, Guthart A, Krug SM, Fromm A, Tarasek D, Elbadawi M, Hai Y, Dawood M, Shahhamzehei N, Yücer R, Weiskirchen R, Roth W, Schulzke JD, Stremmel W, Bringmann G, Efferth T (2026) Targeting chitinase-3-like protein-1 in pancolitis by a drug-repurposing approach. Biochem. Pharmacol. 353(1): 118292 (22 pages). doi: 10.1016/j.bcp.2026.118292 (°IF 6.5)

  • Khomeijani Farahani S, Liebe F, Manna S, Weiß F, Stumpff F, Günzel D (2026) Model epithelia from rumen organoids. Am. J. Physiol. Cell. Physiol. 331: C137-C156, doi: 10.1152/ajpcell.00809.2025 (°IF 5.4)

Research topics
External collaborations
(*PhD) (°MD) (GRK)
  Staff Doctoral students  (*PhD) (°MD) (GRK)
Tight junctions and their proteins
- Claudin family
- TAMP family
- Angulin family

DFG Research Training Group 
"TJ-Train" GRK 2318
(Progenitor: DFG Research Unit 721)

   Jörg Schulzke,
Michael Fromm,
Dorothee Günzel,
Susanne Krug,
Luca Meoli,
Jörg Piontek,
Rita Rosenthal		   Surgery: Nina Hering
Physiology, Univ. Kiel: Susanne Milatz
Vet. Physiology FU Berlin: Salah Amasheh
Molecular structure
- Molec. structure of single claudins
- Molec. arrangement of heteromers
- Molec. structure of tricellulin		   Jörg Piontek,
Dorothee Günzel,
Susanne Krug, Santhosh Nagarajan		 Joy Weber* (A2), Ayk Waldow* (A2)
 		 Physiology, Univ. Kiel: Susanne Milatz

Functional properties
- Barriers and ion channels
- Water channels
- Tricellular tight junction

   Michael Fromm,
Dorothee Günzel,
Susanne Krug,
Rita Rosenthal		 Alina Handreg* (A3),
Fabian Martinez-Perafan* (A3)
 
Diseases and pathologies
- Inflammatory bowel diseases
- Cytokines & interleukins
- Epithelial cancers

DFG Transregio-SFB TRR 241

   Jörg Schulzke,
Roland Bücker,
Susanne Krug		 Amélie Moll* (C2),
Janna Bleck* (B06)		 Gastroenterology: Michael Schumann, Christian Bojarski, Hans-Jörg Epple, Valerie Masete* (C4), Hannah Lutz° (C4)
- Pathogens and TJ

BMBF Consortium "PAC-CAMPY"

   Jörg Schulzke,
Roland Bücker,
Dorothee Günzel		 Martina Schneemann* (C1) Gastroenterology: Hans-Jörg Epple, Surgery: Nina Hering
- Diets and nutrients
- Celiac disease		   Jörg Schulzke,
Rita Rosenthal,
Roland Bücker		   Gastroenterology: Michael Schumann
Pathol.+Gastroent.: Subhakankha (Victor) Manna* (B2)
- Claudins of the kidney
- FHHNC,  - Ca2+,  - Mg2+		   Dorothee Günzel,
Susanne Krug,
Luca Meoli		   Pediatric Nephrology: Dominik Müller, Tilman Breiderhoff,
Physiology, Univ. Kiel: Susanne Milatz
- Pain reduction in peripheral nerve

DFG Clinical Research Unit
KFO 5001

   Susanne Krug Lukas Knobe* (P7) Anesthesiology Würzburg: Heike Rittner
Mechanisms
- Macromolecule permeation
- Drug absorption enhancers		   Susanne Krug,
Michael Fromm,
Rita Rosenthal		    
Topics except TJ
- Epithelial Na+ channel (ENaC)
- Physiology of the eye		   Jörg Schulzke,
Michael Fromm,
Rita Rosenthal		 Martina Schneemann* (C1),  
Methods
- Impedance spectroscopy
- Electron microscopy
- Organoid culture		   Dorothee Günzel,
Susanne Krug,
Jörg Piontek,
In-Fah Lee		 Evgeniya Kochina* (A1), Saeed Khomeijani Farahani* (A1),
 		 Anatomy: Sebastian Bachmann
FMP: Roman Shobik* (A4), Rozemarijn van der Veen* (A4)
 

 
History
The Institute of Clinical Physiology was founded in 1969 and chaired until 1995 by Klaus Hierholzer († 2007), followed by Michael Wiederholt. (1995-2002) and Michael Fromm (2002-2014, now Charité Seniorprofessor). Retired professors are Ulrich Hegel and Hans Ebel.
Head of Clinical Physiology / Nutritional Medicine was Jörg D.Schulzke (2014-2026, now Charité Seniorprofessor) and are now as Joint Heads Susanne Krug und Michael Schumann.
 

Address
The main building of the Campus Benjamin Franklin (CBF)
of the Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin		    University Hospital Benjamin Franklin (UKBF) pics
Address:    Clinical Physiology / Nutritional Medicine
Charité - Universitäsmedizin Berlin
Campus Benjamin Franklin
Hindenburgdamm 30
12203 Berlin (Steglitz), Germany
  Google Maps
Public transportation: Subway (U-Bahn "U9") or local train (S-Bahn "S1") 
to "Rathaus Steglitz", then change for bus 285 or M85, 
exit bus stop "Universitätsklinikum Benjamin Franklin"  Local map  
   
Joint Heads:
 		 Prof. Susanne Krug and Prof. Michael Schumann
susanne.m.krug{α}charite.de, michael.schumann{α}charite.de
Phone: SK: +49 30 450-514521, MS: +49 30 450-514536
FAX: +49 30 450-514962
   

Representative of the German Research Foundation
(DFG) at the Charité, Prof. Dr. Michael Fromm:

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