The German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD) is a national association combining the efforts of leading German academic research institutions and universities. It seeks to recruit a new generation of biomedical scientists who will translate fundamental scientific discoveries into novel individualized prevention and therapy strategies for type 1 and type 2 diabetes. The research areas of the DZD include the investigation of the molecular mechanisms underlying diabetes, beta cell research, the development of novel therapeutic approaches, clinical studies and epidemiological research.