Connecting Health, Society and Science

Peter von Philipsborn is a man of many interests. The new Professor of Public Health Nutrition at the University of Bayreuth did not find it easy to choose a field of study after finishing school in Regensburg. “I was equally interested in the natural sciences, politics, economics and societal issues,” he recalls. He initially enrolled at the University of Freiburg to study politics, economics and law in a Magister programme. He then went on to earn a Master's in Global Politics at the London School of Economics and Political Science. After that, he decided to study medicine at the Technical University of Munich.

His journey took him far beyond Germany’s borders: time spent in Paris, London and Buenos Aires reflects his desire to get to know as many countries, cultures and languages as possible. After qualifying as a doctor, he worked clinically for several years in internal medicine and psychiatry in Munich. At the same time, he completed a doctoral thesis at the Chair of Public Health and Health Services Research at LMU Munich, focusing on the link between soft drinks and health. “Since then, nutrition and health has remained my core area of expertise,” says von Philipsborn.

Starting in 2021, he established the Public Health Nutrition research group at LMU, which investigates the causes of the rising prevalence of chronic diet-related diseases such as type 2 diabetes – and explores strategies to prevent them more effectively. He is now continuing this work at the University of Bayreuth.

“I’m excited to be able to continue my work, build on the themes I’ve been pursuing, and make the most of the fantastic opportunities that the University of Bayreuth offers,” says von Philipsborn. He is particularly enthusiastic about the interdisciplinary focus of the Faculty of Life Sciences: its 14 professorships are dedicated to the topic of nutrition – from a wide range of perspectives. “We need these diverse perspectives to understand the complex topic of nutrition in a truly comprehensive way,” says von Philipsborn. He values collaboration with colleagues “who are passionate about science, but not lone wolves – people who want to make a difference together.”

Von Philipsborn’s work touches on several key themes. One of his goals is to help improve our understanding of why Germany has not yet succeeded in implementing effective measures to prevent diet-related illnesses such as type 2 diabetes. Here, he sees international collaboration as a key factor, with the aim of adapting promising strategies from other countries to the German context. Looking ahead, he also plans to work with colleagues in the Faculty of Life Sciences to explore the opportunities and challenges of shifting protein supply from animal to plant-based sources.

Public engagement is especially important to him: “If we as scientists want to make a difference, our research must not remain locked away in the ivory tower. We need to enter into dialogue with policymakers, administrators, businesses and society – and that’s something I very much want to do from my base at the University of Bayreuth.”