Prof. Pfaffl's field of research is the molecular physiology of animals and humans. Using modern biochemical and molecular biology techniques, experimental research focuses on foundations and innovations in the endocrine and paracrine regulation of human health and animal health & welfare. Besides the traditional signal transmission, the extracellular vesicle biology represents a key aspect of his research. The focus is on the development of nucleic acid-based signatures as biomarkers for non-physiological or pathological conditions.
Prof. Pfaffl started in 1986 to study 'Agriculture & Animal Science' and 'Biotechnology' at the Technical University of Munich (TUM). In 1997, he obtained his PhD in the field of molecular muscle and growth physiology at the Chair of Physiology. In June 2003 he completed his Venia Legendi (Dr. habil.) in 'Physiology' at the Center of Life and Food Sciences Weihenstephan. Early 2010 he became Professor of 'Molecular Physiology' at the TUM School of Life Sciences in Freising Weihenstephan.

Dr. Javeed is an Assistant Professor of Physiology at Mayo Clinic, where she leads a research program focused on extracellular vesicle-mediated communication in pancreatic β-cell biology and diabetes. Her laboratory investigates how β-cell stress alters extracellular vesicle cargo and function, how these signals contribute to β-cell dysfunction and disease progression, and how circulating extracellular vesicles may provide new insights into β-cell health. Her work spans Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, bridging fundamental β-cell biology with translational biomarker discovery. Dr. Javeed’s research has been supported by the NIH/NIDDK, Breakthrough T1D, and Mayo Clinic. Research interests: extracellular vesicles, islet biology, beta cell, diabetes, intercellular communication.

Overview:

• 1. How pancreatic β-cell stress changes extracellular vesicle cargo and function.
• 2. How extracellular vesicle-mediated signals influence β-cell function, survival, and dysfunction.
• 3. What circulating extracellular vesicles can reveal about β-cell health.
• 4. Insights from Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes into EV-mediated intercellular communication.
• 5. How studying extracellular vesicle signals may uncover disease mechanisms and support new opportunities to preserve β-cell function in diabetes.