Nutrigenomics and Gene Regulation Group Welcome! Along with the availability of new life science research tools there is a growing interest in the systematic discovery and characterisation of bioactive natural products. The identification of food components, which influence the human organism, is of great scientific interest. An overall goal of our research programme is to systematically study functional connections among the action of natural products, physiological processes and metabolic diseases. We are particularly interested in analysing the effects of new bioactive compounds or extracts from edible biomaterials on molecular networks relevant for the metabolic syndrome. This knowledge will eventually improve patient counseling and provide efficient nutraceuticals as well as lead structures for pharmaceutical development to counteract the metabolic syndrome and prevent widespread diseases such as type-II diabetes and arterioscleroses.