Gender research has a long tradition at the University of Duisburg-Essen - especially through the Essener College for Genderresearch. Today, March 8, not only its 25th anniversary is being celebrated, but also another milestone: The kick-off of the Institute for Gender-Sensitive Medicine. Dr. Maren A. Jochimsen, Prof. Dr. Anke Hinney and Associate Professor Dr. Andrea Kindler-Röhrborn explain in an interview how the comparatively short history of the university has led to particular innovative strength.

The UDE has several reasons to celebrate on March 8. At a joint event on International Women's Day, the Essen Center for Gender Studies will not only look back on its 25-year history, but will also kick off the newly founded Institute for Gender-Sensitive Medicine at the Faculty of Medicine. The event will include lectures and discussion panels. NRW Science Minister Ina Brandes will give a welcome address. Registration is possible until February 19.

International studies analyzing the relationships between genetic variants and their influences have already found numerous sites in the genome that influence body weight. "However, the variants found are often located outside the actual genes, i.e. not in the so-called coding region," explains EKfG member and co-spokesperson of the EKfG research cluster "Biomedical Research and Clinical Medicine" Prof. Dr. Anke Hinney. In their study published in "Scientific Reports", the researchers therefore took a closer look at non-coding, circular RNAs in particular and also found gender-specific differences.

In addition to environmental influences, genetic factors are also important for eating disorders and the regulation of body weight. In a genome-wide association study (GWAS) for anorexia nervosa (AN) recently conducted at the Faculty of Medicine, the PTBP2 gene was localized, which could have an influence on the regulation of body weight, especially in men. The findings of the researchers, including EKfG board member and spokesperson of the EKfG research cluster "Biomedical Research and Clinical Medicine" Prof. Dr. Anke Hinney, were published in Translational Psychiatry.