Three researchers at the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) have each been awarded a Starting Grant from the European Research Council (ERC) this year. Daniel Kirschenbaum, Lena Kutscher, and Michael Scherer impressed the ERC with their innovative research approaches to fundamental questions in cancer medicine.

Coughing, phlegm, and shortness of breath can be early signs of COPC. In COPD, the airways are permanently narrowed, making it harder to breathe. The most significant risk factor is long-term smoking. The CHRONOS study conducted by the Department of Pneumology at the Medical Center – University of Freiburg provides evidence that changes in the lungs can already be detected before a standard pulmonary function test confirms the airway narrowing.

Research into quantum technology by four teams at Ulm University is being funded as part of the European QuantERA programme. This is more than at any other German university. The projects focus, for example, on more robust quantum computers and innovative medical diagnostic methods.

A team led by researchers from the German Cancer Research Center, the HI-STEM* Stem Cell Institute, and Medical Clinic V at Heidelberg University Hospital has characterized T cells in the bone marrow in cases of multiple myeloma and acute myeloid leukemia: A specific group of tumor-reactive T cells can recognize and fight cancer cells, but is often not sufficiently activated. Nevertheless, the number of these cells influences the prognosis.

BioM Biotech Cluster Development GmbH, bioRN Life Science Cluster and ESMT Berlin announced the establishment of a Unified Hub for Healthcare Innovation. Through this alliance, the two biotech cluster organizations and DEEP – Institute for Deep Tech Innovation at ESMT will collaborate strategically to reinforce Germany’s position as a leading hub for translating scientific breakthroughs into impactful healthcare solutions.

Researchers at the NCT Heidelberg and the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) have, for the first time, systematically determined how specific mutations promote acute myeloid leukemias. The results show why IDH1- and IDH2-mutated leukemias develop differently despite similar molecular mechanisms—and open up new approaches for diagnostics and targeted therapies.

Effective July 1, the Hahn-Schickard Association for Applied Research e.V. will spin off its operational business and transfer it to the newly founded Hahn-Schickard gGmbH. This nonprofit company has assumed the universal legal succession of the association and has been entered in the commercial register of the Stuttgart District Court. It is legally represented by its managing director, Dr. Karl-Peter Fritz.

FlareOn Biotech - fluorescence-guided tumour margin detection - 01/07/2026

A sensor designed to visualise residual tumour tissue during surgery

In order to safely remove tumours in the head and neck region, surgeons must be able to reliably distinguish diseased tissue from healthy tissue. FlareOn Biotech, a start-up based in Frickenhausen, has developed a biochemical sensor capable of visualising tumour cells in tissue samples directly in the operating theatre within just ten minutes. The company is now seeking partners to help bring its diagnostic platform to market.

For his research on the development of rare malignant tumors in the hereditary DICER1 tumor predisposition syndrome, Dr. Felix Kommoss has been awarded the Rudolf Virchow Prize of the German Society of Pathology. Dr. Kommoss conducts research at the Heidelberg Faculty of Medicine at Heidelberg University and serves as Senior Physician and Head of Gynecologic Pathology at the Institute of Pathology, Heidelberg University Hospital.

Gelatin is a versatile natural material. To tailor its properties specifically to the various applications in medicine, diagnostics, and cosmetics, the Fraunhofer IGB has developed a toolbox for chemical functionalization. With the help of automated processes, the modifications can now be scaled under defined conditions, and reproducible batches of modified gelatin can be produced on a scale ranging from grams to kg for customer sampling.

The Collaborative Research Center (SFB) “High Performance Compact Magnetic Resonance” (HyPERiON) has been exploring new avenues in magnetic resonance technology since 2022. Under the leadership of the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), the researchers aim to develop high-performance magnetic resonance systems in a benchtop format to make them suitable for widespread use.

Experts in Heidelberg have developed an AI system that can classify brain tumors with unprecedented accuracy using standard microscopic tissue sections. Using digitized standard stains, the system identifies more than 100 molecular subtypes of central nervous system tumors, delivers results within minutes, and could accelerate the diagnosis of brain tumors worldwide.

In response to stress or damage, cells undergo senescence and stop dividing. However, if senescent cells accumulate in tissues over the long term, chronic inflammation occurs and the risk of cancer increases. Researchers at the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) have now discovered a previously unknown mechanism by which senescent cells protect themselves from oxidative stress and a specific form of cell death known as ferroptosis.

Quantum sensors for magnetic measurements - 02/06/2026

New insights into muscle physiology – contactless and three-dimensional

Contactless measurement of muscle activity and training effects: using highly sensitive quantum sensors, researchers at the Universities of Tübingen and Stuttgart are setting new standards. This technology has the potential to revolutionise clinical diagnostics and optimise training and neuroscience research.

Joint press release of the Heidelberg Faculty of Medicine at Heidelberg University and the German Center for Infection Research: With the FDA approval of Hepcludex (bulevirtide), a therapy for chronic hepatitis D developed at the Heidelberg Faculty of Medicine at Heidelberg University, Heidelberg University Hospital, and the German Center for Infection Research (DZIF) has now reached the world’s most important pharmaceutical market.

Chronic pain is among the most common and burdensome health conditions worldwide. But which processes in the nervous system cause pain to be “learned” and thus persist long term? And how can insights into the mechanisms underlying chronic pain be translated into new therapeutic approaches? These questions have been at the core of Rohini Kuner’s research for many years.

Medical Center – University of Freiburg demonstrates a fundamental therapeutic approach for hereditary immune system defects in a mouse model. The safety profile of genome editing varies significantly depending on the method and cell type.

The Medical Center – University of Freiburg has been certified for the first time as a “Center of Excellence” by the European Neuroendocrine Tumor Society (ENETS). The professional association recognizes specialized centers that treat rare tumor diseases in accordance with established quality standards. Neuroendocrine tumors are rare cancers that can arise from hormone-producing cells.

AI is transforming science and does not stop at neuroscience. In this interview, we speak to Gabriele Lohmann about her research at the intersection of the brain and algorithms. She talks about the use of artificial intelligence as a research tool, the decoding of brain activity, and why large language models do not understand what they are doing.

NVision announced a $55 million Series B led by Abbott and unveiled PIQC, a new quantum computing platform built on its molecular quantum technology.

High blood pressure is one of the most common causes of heart attacks, strokes, kidney damage, and vascular diseases. Many people affected experience no symptoms for a long time. This is precisely why it is important to check your blood pressure regularly. To mark World Hypertension Day on May 17, the Medical Center – University of Freiburg is providing information on warning signs, diagnosis, and treatment options.

Prof. Dr Simon Elsässer will be awarded one of this year’s Alexander von Humboldt Professorships in Berlin on 12 May 2026. With funding of five million euros, Elsässer will strengthen Freiburg’s research focus ‘Signals of Life’ over the next five years. In this interview, he discusses complex decision-making processes in cells, the significance of signals and what makes the research environment in Freiburg so special.

The ability of cancer cells to change their identity makes tumors such as glioblastoma particularly aggressive and resistant to treatment. Moritz Mall, of the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and the Hector Institute for Translational Brain Research (HITBR), is investigating how this plasticity can be specifically restricted. His approach focuses on genetic “guardians” that suppress alternative cell programs.

The Athletin-D project combines the universities of Bochum, Freiburg, Wuppertal and the Technical University of Munich on research into how the performance and health of female athletes could be improved in Olympic and paralympic sports. At the University of Freiburg, the sports psychologist Professor Jana Strahler is studying the interaction of hormonal processes, stress, lifestyle factors and mental health.

Scientists from the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and the HI-STEM* Stem Cell Institute have deciphered a key mechanism that contributes to treatment failure in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). They show that there are not just one, but four different subtypes of leukemia stem cells. This diversity could explain why one of the most important AML drugs does not work sufficiently in some patients or loses its effectiveness over time.