Molecular Nutritional Sciences
Research Focus
The research group Molecular Nutrition Science investigates how nutrition, individual dietary components, and dietary habits affect metabolism, the gut, the liver, and the immune system as well as the brain. At the center of our research is the question of how dietary components act at the molecular and cellular level, and what role they play in the development, progression, and prevention of chronic diseases.
A particular focus of our work is the gut–liver axis. We study how nutritional factors such as sugar and alcohol, as well as bioactive compounds found in foods interact with the intestinal barrier, the gut microbiota, inflammatory signaling pathways, and hepatic metabolism. These processes are of central importance for the development of metabolic and alcohol-associated liver diseases, as well as for inflammatory and age-associated changes.
Our aim is to add to the understanding of the molecular basis of nutrition-related disease processes and to use this knowledge to establish a scientific foundation for new prevention and treatment strategies. To this end, we combine experimental models with human studies in healthy individuals and patients. In close collaboration with national and international partners, we pursue a transdisciplinary approach to translate research findings into practice.
Projects
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Intestinal Barrier and Healthy Aging
This FWF-funded research project is unraveling the molecular mechanisms underlying age-related intestinal barrier dysfunction, with the goal of identifying new targets for preventing inflammatory processes in older adults.
Duration: 2022–2027
Funding: FWF / Herzfelder Family Foundation
Principal Investigator: Ina Bergheim, University of Vienna
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Xanthohumol as a Modulator of Cognition in Humans
This research project investigates whether xanthohumol affects cognition in humans.
Duration: 2025–2026
Funding: Science Funding Program of the German Brewing Industry Association (Wissenschaftsförderung der Deutschen Brauwirtschaft e.V.)
Principal Investigator: Ina Bergheim, University of Vienna
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Alcohol and Cognition
This FWF-funded research project investigates whether alcohol consumption in young adulthood impairs cognitive function in old age.
Duration: 2026–2029
Funding: FWF
Principal Investigator: Annette Brandt, University of Vienna
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Aging and Bacterial Endotoxin
Summary: Our completed research project shows that specifically targeting Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and their signaling pathways is a promising approach for limiting age-related inflammation and fibrosis in the liver and pancreas.
Duration: 2021–2025
Funding: FWF
Principal Investigator: Ina Bergheim, University of Vienna
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Endogenous Alcohol and NAFLD
In this project, we were able to show that the fasting ethanol levels—which are frequently elevated in MASLD patients—are associated with impaired alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) activity in the liver and with disease severity, with the altered ADH function apparently being regulated in a TNF-dependent manner.
Duration: 2019–2023
Funding: FWF
Principal Investigator: Ina Bergheim, University of Vienna
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Xanthohumol and Viral Infections
This FWF-funded research project investigates whether xanthohumol, a compound found in hops, affects the immune response and the course of infections in humans.
Duration: 2021–2026
Funding: FWF
Principal Investigator: Ina Bergheim, University of Vienna
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Effects of Iso-alpha Acids and Xanthohumol on the Human Immune System
This project investigates whether xanthohumol and iso-alpha acids affect the immune response to bacterial stimuli. The underlying molecular mechanisms are being studied in human immune and liver cells.
Duration: 2022–2026
Funding: Science Funding Program of the German Brewing Industry Association (Wissenschaftsförderung der Deutschen Brauwirtschaft e.V.)
Principal Investigators: Ina Bergheim, University of Vienna; Claus Hellerbrand (†), continued by Anja Bosserhoff, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen
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ITN SmartAge - Gut-Brain Axis: Targets for Improving Cognition in the Elderly
By investigating the gut-brain axis in cognitive aging, SmartAge has not only identified new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches but has also trained a new generation of interdisciplinary researchers in this field of the future.
Duration: 2020–2025
Funding: Marie Skłodowska-Curie ITN funded by the Horizon 2020 Framework Program
Project Participants: Ina Bergheim, University of Vienna
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Dietary modulation of intestinal microbiota as trigger of liver health: Di-Mi-Liv
The transnational Di-Mi-Liv project shows that patients with MASLD often have an insufficient dietary fiber intake and that even a dietary intervention can improve key health markers. Fiber-rich cereal blends significantly increased daily fiber intake but showed no additional effects on fatty liver, microbiota, or bile acid profiles, whereas oat β-glucan was able to protect against early stages of MASLD in a mouse model.
Duration: 2018–2022
Funding: HDHL INTIMIC Knowledge Platform on Food, Diet, Intestinal Microbiomics and Human Health / Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG)
Consortium Leader: Ina Bergheim, University of Vienna
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Binge Drinking in Adolescence and Young Adulthood: Studies Using the Model Organism C. elegans
This HSFJ-funded research project investigates whether alcohol consumption in young adulthood impairs cognitive function in old age.
Duration: 2025–2026
Funding: University Anniversary Fund of the City of Vienna
Principal Investigator: Annette Brandt, University of Vienna
Learn more about this project:
Project Objective: As part of this research project, we have established C. elegans as a model organism to investigate the long-term effects of binge drinking on cognitive performance and health.
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Other Completed Projects
Publications
Kromm F, Bozkir HÖ, Brandt A, Yergaliyev T, Camarinha-Silva A, Bergheim I. Aging-related decline in the liver and brain is accelerated by refined diet consumption. GeroScience. 2026 Jun;48(3):4275-4294. Epub 2025 Sept 26. doi: 10.1007/s11357-025-01897-y
Bergheim I, Cadranel JF, Chen JG, Ding WX, Eferl R, Garcia-Ruiz C et al. Understanding Liver and Digestive Diseases: A Paved Road to Improve Diagnosis, Management, and Treatment. Exploration of Digestive Diseases. 2026 May;5.
Csarmann K, Jung F, Baumann A, Simbrunner B, Schweiger K, Burger K et al. A single oral dose of an iso-alpha acids rich hop extract dampens the lipoteichoic acid mediated immune response of monocytes in healthy individuals. European Journal of Nutrition. 2026 Mar 7;65(3):84. doi: 10.1007/s00394-026-03931-x
Brandt A, Staltner R, Baumann A, Burger K, Jelleschitz J, De Oliveira Prada P et al. Toll-like receptor 2 drives liver senescence and fibrosis in aging through gut-derived microbial signaling. Cellular & molecular biology letters. 2026 Mar 3;31(1):50. doi: 10.1186/s11658-026-00881-4
Bozkir HÖ, Brandt A, Csarmann K, Baumann A, Burger K, Yergaliyev T et al. TNFα is a trigger of aging-associated liver inflammation in mice. npj aging. 2026 Jan 13.
Head
Ina Bergheim
Privatdoz.
Josef-Holaubek-Platz 2 (UZA II)
1090 Wien
Raum: 2F504
+43-1-4277-54981
PubMed
ORCID
Non-scientific Staff
Beate Gärtner, MSc
Josef-Holaubek-Platz 2 (UZA II)
1090 Wien
Raum: 2F505
+43-1-4277-54986
