Professor Dr. Ute Spiekerkötter
Medical Director of the Department of General Pediatrics, Adolescent Medicine and Neonatology
Professor Dr. Ute Spiekerkötter is an internationally recognized specialist in pediatric medicine and one of Germany’s leading experts in the diagnosis and treatment of inherited metabolic disorders. Since 2012, she has served as Medical Director of the Department of General Pediatrics, Adolescent Medicine and Neonatology at the Medical Center – University of Freiburg and as Chair of General Pediatrics at the Albert Ludwigs University of Freiburg.
Professor Spiekerkötter completed her pediatric training at University Hospital Düsseldorf and subsequently undertook postdoctoral research fellowships at Vanderbilt University in the United States and the University of Amsterdam in the Netherlands.
As Medical Director of the Department of General Pediatrics, Adolescent Medicine and Neonatology and head of the Metabolic Center Freiburg, Professor Spiekerkötter oversees a broad spectrum of highly specialized pediatric care, including the diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal diseases, endocrine and hormonal disorders, kidney and urinary tract disorders, rheumatic and autoimmune conditions, and pulmonary and allergic diseases. The Metabolic Center Freiburg is one of Germany’s major university centers for the diagnosis and treatment of inherited metabolic disorders.
Areas of Expertise
- Inherited metabolic disorders
- Fatty acid oxidation disorders and carnitine cycle defects
- Mitochondrial diseases and energy metabolism disorders
- Glycogen storage diseases and carbohydrate metabolism disorders
- Amino acid metabolism disorders and organic acidurias
- Lysosomal storage disorders
- Pediatric endocrinology and diabetology
- Advanced biochemical, genetic, and metabolomic diagnostics
- Personalized treatment, dietary therapy, enzyme replacement therapy, and long-term multidisciplinary care for rare metabolic diseases
Research & Innovation
Professor Spiekerkötter leads an internationally recognized translational research program focused on inherited metabolic diseases, with particular emphasis on disorders of mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation, glycogen storage diseases, and other inherited disorders of energy metabolism. Her research investigates disease mechanisms, mitochondrial function, metabolic networks, early risk stratification, and the development of personalized therapeutic strategies for rare metabolic disorders.
Her research group combines molecular and biochemical phenotyping, targeted metabolomics, functional genomics, experimental disease models, and clinical studies to improve diagnosis and develop innovative treatment approaches for children with rare metabolic diseases. She also contributes to the University of Freiburg's Metabolomics Core Facility and collaborates extensively in national and international research networks.
Professor Spiekerkötter's research has contributed to a better understanding of the clinical variability and long-term outcomes of inherited metabolic disorders, supporting the development of more precise diagnostic strategies and personalized therapies for children and young adults with rare metabolic diseases.
Department of General Pediatrics, Adolescent Medicine and Neonatology