Portrait Gerhard Rogler

Gerhard Rogler
Prof. Dr. med. Dr. phil.

Director of Department, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology

Other functions at USZ

  • Center Manager Center for Obesity and Metabolic Surgery

Specialties

  • Chronic inflammatory bowel disease
  • Celiac disease
  • Gut microbiome
Appointment

Contact

Tel. +41 44 255 24 01

Other competencies

Gerhard Rogler’s research focus is on inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). A particular focus is on the molecular mechanisms by which genetic risk factors contribute to the development of the disease. Another focus is the therapy of gastrointestinal diseases via the gut microbiota.

Career

Since 2017 Clinic Director and Chair, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Switzerland
2014-2017 Full Professor of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Zurich
2007-2014 Novartis Chair of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Zurich
2005-2007 Clinical Deputy of the Clinic Director, Clinic for Internal Medicine I, University of Regensburg
2002-2005 Head, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Clinic for Internal Medicine I, University of Regensburg
2000-2001 Visiting Scientist, Center for Molecular Medicine, University of California San Diego, USA
1999-2007 Senior Physician, Department of Internal Medicine I, University of Regensburg
1999 Habilitation initially for the subject Experimental Internal Medicine and rehabilitation for the subject Internal Medicine at the Faculty of Clinical Medicine of the University of Regensburg
1996 Doctorate (Dr. phil.) with the thesis “The hermeneutic logic of Hans Lipps and the justifiability of scientific knowledge“, graded “magna cum laude
1994 – 1999 Resident, Department of Internal Medicine I, University of Regensburg
1992 – 1994 Postdoc, Institute for Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, University of Regensburg
1992 Doctorate (Dr. med.) with the thesis “HDL3-Retroendocytosis – a new metabolic pathway in the enterocyte”, evaluation “summa cum laude”.
1991 – 1992 Resident, Department of Internal Medicine II, Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Ulm University
1984 – 1991 Study of human medicine at the University of Ulm
1985 – 1993 Studies of philosophy with focus on epistemology at the universities of Ulm and Augsburg

Most important memberships

2019 Member of the National Academy of Sciences, Leopoldina
2018 Member, Board of Trustees, Holcim Foundation for Research, Zurich, Switzerland
2016 Advisory Board, Academy of Human Medicine, Zurich
2016 Member, Fund for the Advancement of Young Academics (FAN) at the University of Zurich (UZH), Switzerland
2016 -2020 Member, Governing Board, European Crohn’s and Colitis Organisation (ECCO)
2016 Member, Scientific Committee, World Gastroenterology Organization (WGO)
2015 Member, Faculty Commission for Master Students, University of Zurich
2014 Member, International Organisation of IBD Research (IOIBD)
2013 – 2019 Representative, Faculty and Member, Steering Committee, Foundation for Young Scientists, University of Zurich
2013 Member, Steering Committee, Hofschneider Foundation, Zurich
2013 Member, Steering Committee, Competence Center Medicine – Ethics – Law Helvetiae (MERH), University of Zurich
2010-2017 President, Hartmann Müller Foundation for Research, University of Zurich

Research focus

Gerhard Rogler’s research focus is on inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). A particular focus is on the molecular mechanisms by which genetic risk factors contribute to the development of the disease. Another focus is the therapy of gastrointestinal diseases via the gut microbiota.

The genetic risk factors Rogler and his team are studying include so-called pH receptors (TDAG-8, GPR-4, OGR-1). In addition, scientists are studying the function of protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPN2, PTPN22) in inflammatory bowel disease. They were able to show that PTPN22 is a regulator of the inflammasome, an intracellular protein complex responsible for activating inflammatory responses.

Another focus is the gut microbiota, which has received much attention in recent years. With colleagues from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (ETH), Rogler was able to found a start-up (PHARMABIOME) that focuses on the therapy of gastrointestinal diseases with microbiota. In addition, the research group was able to identify environmental factors that lead to inflammatory bowel disease.

For many years, Rogler has led the Swiss IBD cohort study funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF), which has published more than 250 manuscripts. The approach here is a translational one; it also examines the molecular mechanisms by which these environmental factors contribute to chronic inflammation.

In addition, he is studying the mechanisms of fibrosis, tumor development, and fistula development in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. For example, Gerhard Rogler and his team were able to develop an in vivo model for intestinal fibrosis that will enable the development of further treatment options.

Further

  • 2015 LeVaillant Award
  • 2013 Honorary Award, Swiss Society of Gastroenterology and Hepatology
  • 2013 Honorary Membership, South African Gastroenterology Society
  • 2004 Van Bekkum Award, European Society of Stem Cell Transplantation
  • 2000 – 2003 Heisenberg Fellowship, German Research Foundation (DFG)
  • 1993 Wolf Boas Prize, German Society for Digestive and Metabolic Diseases

For patients

For an appointment for private consultation contact us via disposition

Tel. +41 44 255 85 47

For international patients

For an appointment for private consultation, please contact our International Office directly.

Tel. +41 44 255 54 54

For referrer

To refer your patient for private consultation, contact us as follows:

Tel. +41 44 255 85 47
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