Michael Stumvoll is the Founding Director of the HI-MAG. Together with Matthias Tschöp, they developed the concept to enhance the cooperation between Helmholtz Munich, a world leader in basic research of metabolic diseases, including obesity and type 2 diabetes, and Leipzig University Medical Centre, a worldrenowned clinical research institution in metabolic medicine. The HI-MAG has been established to research new treatment options for obesity and its co-morbidities through clinical trials following the bedside to bench to bedside approach. To achieve this objective, Michael, as the Clinical Programme Director, ensures patient access for HI-MAG, allowing it to conduct clinical studies at the University of Leipzig Medical Centre, primarily with research questions in metabolic diseases. He is overseeing all clinical studies and projects within the clinical trial unit of HI-MAG. Together with the clinician scientists and the three HI-MAG professors, Michael is developing new concepts for translational medicine in metabolism, altering energy metabolism, improving the microbiome, understanding the role of the brain in eating behaviour.