Metabolism coordinates the conversion of available nutrients toward energy, biosynthetic intermediates, and signaling molecules to mediate cellular functions. Dysregulation of metabolic pathways, i.e. genetic perturbation, i.e. via environmental stress and/or inflammatory signaling, contributes to many metabolic diseases, including cancer, inflammation, and brain disorders. However, our current knowledge of metabolic pathways and their regulation is still limited, so a detailed understanding of metabolism has significant therapeutic implications.
The overall theme of our research is to characterize metabolic heterogeneity and interconnectivity of cells and pathogens to better understand metabolism in driving cell function, focusing on metabolic flux, mass spectrometry, and engineering approaches. We expect that our research identifies metabolic vulnerabilities in inflammatory diseases, which can be influenced through targeted therapies.
Our current research centers on metabolic tracing approaches to understand how metabolism is reprogrammed in response to inflammatory signaling, nutrient availability, environmental stress, or genetic perturbation. Our specific research interests are:
to apply metabolic flux analysis and mass spectrometry approaches to identify metabolic vulnerabilities in cancer and inflammation
to characterize how genetic perturbations, microenvironment, intracellular signals, and small molecules impact metabolic fluxes and host-pathogen interactions
to understand inter- and intracellular transport mechanisms
to identify therapeutics and, ultimately, translate drug targets into the pharmaceutical industry
Thekla Cordes is a professor for Cellular Metabolism at the TU Braunschweig and HZI and applies mass spectrometry and tracing approaches to track metabolic pathways in mammalian cells. Taking this approach, her lab has made discoveries about how metabolism is reprogrammed in inflammation, cancer, and brain disorders. Cordes has an interdisciplinary and international training background that has spanned both industry and academic labs, covering metabolism, mass spectrometry, metabolic flux analysis strategies, and bioprocess engineering. At TU Braunschweig, her research will focus on identifying and exploiting metabolic vulnerabilities using mass spectrometry and tracing approaches to better understand metabolism in health and disease. Prior to joining TU Braunschweig, Cordes was a Project Scientist at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) and SALK Institute for Biological Studies in La Jolla, US.
OPEN POSITION: PhD student Position (f/m/d) in cellular metabolism available in the MSCA Doctoral Network UNLIMITED (UNderstanding Lipid ImmunoMetabolIsm To trEat Disease)
International cooperation in cell metabolism research
Doctoral student reports on her stay in Canada
In January, doctoral student Hanna Voß-Willenbockel had the opportunity to spend two weeks learning about research and everyday working life in Vancouver, Canada. As part of a continuing education stay funded by Erasmus+, she travelled to the BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, where she learned new scientific methods in Prof. Seth Parker’s working group and gained valuable international research experience.
Further Information can be found here | 09.02.2026 | TU Magazine
Seven students from TU Braunschweig receive the ‘Braunschweig Citizens’ Award’
On St. Nicholas Day, the Braunschweig Citizens’ Award was presented as is tradition – for the 30th time in 2025. This year, seven students from Technische Universität Braunschweig were honoured for outstanding academic achievements and social commitment, including Lena Zackl working for our institute.
Further Information can be found here | 06.12.2025 | TU Magazine
Cooperative ecosystem accelerates metabolic research in the Braunschweig area | Goal: Establishment of a "metaBoSpace"
A new chapter in metabolic research in the Braunschweig area was opened at Drübeck Monastery in the Harz Mountains from 4 to 5 November 2025: Around 30 researchers at all career stages came together for a workshop to promote the formation of a metabolic research community within the Braunschweig ecosystem.
Further Information can be found here | 20.11.2025 | TU Magazine
How Itaconate Travels Through Space and Time to Shape Our Immune Response
Scientists from Braunschweig and San Diego track the path of the small molecule itaconate to understand its immunomodulatory function.
Itaconate is a small molecule produced by our bodies to fight bacteria and control the immune response. Scientists led by the Technical University of Braunschweig have now deciphered for the first time exactly how it moves within the body. The findings open up new approaches for the treatment of inflammatory diseases.
Further Information can be found here | 16.09.2025 | TU Magazine German version: TU Magazin
Macrophage Effectors gone Mad: Nitric Oxide and Itaconate in Macrophage Metabolic Reprogramming Presentation | Daniel W. McVicar, Ph.D.
Date: Friday, December 13th, 2024 Time: 10:00h (am) Location: BRICS, seminar room 046 Host: Karsten Hiller (Department of Bioinformatics and Biochemistry)
„Ich möchte das Vertrauen in die Forschung stärken“
Hanna F. Willenbockel studiert Biologie und arbeitet an ihrer Masterarbeit in der Gruppe von Professorin Thekla Cordes. Diese Forschungsgruppe ist im Department für Bioinformatik und Biochemie am Braunschweiger Zentrum für Systembiologie (BRICS) angesiedelt. Dort untersucht sie, wie sich der Stoffwechsel von Immunzellen während einer Infektion verändert. Nebenbei engagiert sie sich für Wissenschaftskommunikation in den Biowissenschaften.
Further Information can be found here | 02.05.2023 | TU Magazine
Understanding and treating diseases
The offer at the Poster Marketplace of the research area “Infection and Therapeutics ” is huge. 40 projects and working groups with a total of 90 participants presented their research here on 19 July and at the same time gave a good overview of the wide range of the research focus. This ranges from research into neurodegenerative diseases to drug targeting and the creation of bioinformatic prognosis models. We took a look around the marketplace and spoke with some of the scientists.
Further Information can be found here | 28.07.2022 | TU Magazine
“I am fascinated by the complexity of metabolism”
Since mid-February 2022 Professor Thekla Cordes has been teaching and researching in the field of cellular metabolism at the TU Braunschweig at the BRICS. The biotechnologist studied in Braunschweig, but her work took her out into the world. Most recently she worked in the USA. As a scientist, she focuses on researching metabolism and how it influences human health.
Further Information can be found here | 26.04.2022 | TU Magazine
Technische Universität Braunschweig Institute for Biochemistry, Biotechnology, and Bioinformatics Department of Bioinformatics and Biochemistry BRICS - Braunschweig Integrated Centre of Systems Biology Building 3210, rooms 130 - 133 Rebenring 56 38106 Braunschweig, Germany
