The Collaborative Research Centre (CRC) 1774 investigates why individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D) continue to face a persistently elevated risk of myocardial infarction, heart failure, and other cardiovascular complications. A CRC is a long-term, interdisciplinary research network in which complementary teams collaboratively address a shared scientific question.

Cardiodiabetes constitutes the central research framework of our CRC: metabolic and cardiovascular dysfunctions develop in concert, often already before diabetes is clinically diagnosed. We focus on four "promoter organs"—the gut, adipose tissue, liver, and bone marrow—that can initiate and amplify insulin resistance, impaired lipid storage, chronic low-grade inflammation, and altered hormonal signalling. CRC 1774 aims to elucidate how these alterations render the heart and vasculature more vulnerable to injury.

Projects within Area A explore the biology of the promoter organs, while Area B investigates cardiovascular dysfunction. Joint service and data science projects provide standardised disease models, state-of-the-art imaging, multi-omics, and machine-learning infrastructures. An integrated Research Training Group (iRTG) supports early-career scientists. By identifying molecular tipping points and biologically distinct disease subtypes, CRC 1774 seeks to improve risk prediction and enable more precise prevention and treatment strategies for individuals with prediabetes and T2D.