Research

Our Research - Our Strength

The Medical Faculty of the University of Bonn is the medical university institution in North Rhine-Westphalia with the strongest science.

Research, clinical practice and teaching are closely linked at the Medical Faculty. This leads to outstanding conditions for science.

The Medical Faculty has defined five research foci to highlight scientific excellence, pool resources and increase its (inter)national visibility.

Research Foci of the Faculty

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Immunosciences and Infection

Since the establishment of the first immunological institute at the Medical Faculty in 2003, the immunological-infectiological focus has developed extremely dynamically. In 2011, the research focus became a founding member of the German Center for Infection Research (DZIF) of the Helmholtz Association and since 2012 the Cluster of Excellence ImmunoSensation exists. Following on this the success story, the excellence cluster ImmunoSensation is being funded since January 2019.

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Neurosciences

The neurosciences in Bonn are represented by the Bonn Center of Neuroscience (BCN), the central network for neurosciences at the University of Bonn. At BCN, more than 300 researchers share a passion for understanding the brain, the most complex and fascinating organ in mammals.

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Cardiovascular Sciences

Cardiovascular Sciences was established in mid-2019 as a new research focus at the Medical Faculty of the University of Bonn. In terms of content, the focus is on cardiac, vascular and valve degeneration, metabolism and regeneration mechanisms in the cardiovascular system. The clinical and basic science departments of the focus are also united in the Heart Center of the University Hospital Bonn.

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Oncology

The treatment of oncological patients is of great importance at our university hospital. Through the Center for Integrated Oncology (CIO), Bonn is integrated into the   CIO ABCD Association Aachen-Bonn-Cologne-Düsseldorf.

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Genetics and Epidemiology

The research focus Genetics and Epidemiology is a cross-disciplinary research focus, with a strong methodological or conceptual basis.

Transdisciplinary Research Areas

The University of Bonn has stood for top-level research for over 200 years. The founding professors already saw Bonn as a research university aimed at answering scientific, social and technological questions. Researchers, teachers and early-career researchers all benefit from this today. The university's current academic profile is divided into six transdisciplinary research areas. These see themselves as spaces for innovation in research and teaching.

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Research Networks of the Medical Faculty

Researchers at the Bonn Medical Faculty are involved in numerous local, regional and international research networks.
On these pages you will find an overview of research networks that are coordinated in Bonn or in which research groups of the Medical Faculty Bonn are involved.

The Excellence Cluster ImmunoSensation² is a collaborative project of the Medical Faculty, the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences of the University of Bonn, and the DZNE (German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases).

  • SFB 1089"Synaptic Micronetworks in Health and Disease"
    Prof. Dr. Heinz Beck and Prof. Dr. Susanne Schoch
  • SFB 1454 "Metaflammation and Cellular Programming"
    Prof. Dr. Eicke Latz
  • SFB-TRR 237 "Nucleic Acid Immunity"
    Prof. Dr. Gunther Hartmann
  • SFB-TRR 259 "Aortic diseases"
    Prof. Dr. Georg Nickenig 
  • SFB-TRR 333 "BATenergy: Organ Crosstalk, Signaling and Energetics"
    Prof. Dr. Alexander Pfeifer
  • SFB 1158 "From nociception to chronic pain: structure-function characteristics of neural pathways and their reorganisation"
    TP A08 "Pain-related epigenetic changes and plasticity in the spinal cord: the role of the neurovascular unit", Prof. Carmen Ruiz de Almodovar
  • SFB 1192 "Immune mediated glomerular diseases - basic principles and clinical implications".
    TP A08 "Modulation of dendritic cells by CX3CR1 and complement receptors in rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis", Prof. Christian Kurts
  • SFB 1218 "Regulation of cellular function by mitochondria".
    TP B11 "Quality control at the entry gate for proteins into the mitochondria", PD Dr. Thomas Becker
  • SFB 1292 "Targeted influencing of converging mechanisms of inefficient immunity in tumor diseases and chronic infections"
    TP 11 "Regulation and targets of viral immune evasion", Prof. Niels Lemmermann
  • SFB 1328 "Adenine nucleotides in immunity and inflammation".
    TP A09 "Spatiotemporal organization of the cAMP signaling pathway in brown/beige adipocytes and interaction with the chemokine network", Prof. Alexander Pfeifer
  • SFB 1366 "Vascular control of organ function"
    TP A02 "Role of the vascular system in the organization of the central nervous system ",Prof. Carmen Ruiz de Almodovar
  • SFB 1369 "Vigilance cultures, transformation - spaces - techniques".
    TP C02 "Vigilance as ideal, strategy and method in pre-modern medical culture", Prof. Mariacarla Gadebusch Bondio
  • SFB 1399 "Mechanisms of drug sensitivity and resistance in small cell bronchial carcinoma"
    TP B06 "Relevance of helicase activity for changes in genome stability in small cell lung cancer", Prof. Dr. Katrin Paeschke
    TP B08 "Metabolic characterization of innate lymphoid cells in small cell lung cancer", Dr. Laura Surace, Ph.D.
    TP C04 "Modulation of immune signaling pathways in SCLC", Prof. Michael Hölzel
  • SFB 1403 "Cell death in immunity, inflammation and disease"
    TP CP04/Z04 "Proteomic analysis of cell death-induced protein release and proteolysis", Prof. Dr. Felix Meissner
  • SFB 1425 "Heterocellular Nature of Cardiac Lesions: Identities, Interactions, Implications"
    SP 14: Prof. Bernd Fleischmann and Prof. Wilhelm Röll
  • SFB 1450 "Imaging organ-specific inflammation through multiscale imaging"
    TP C05 "The role of IL24 in the development and regression of acute kidney injury"; PD Dr. Verena Hörr
  • SFB 1540 "Exploring the mechanics of the brain: understanding, engineering and utilizing mechanical properties and signals in the development, physiology and pathology of the central nervous system"
    TP B04 "Spinal cord mechanics in a mouse model of multiple sclerosis", Prof. Dr. Stefanie Kürten

German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE)
The founding of the DZNE in 2009 significantly strengthened translational research in Bonn. The close collaboration between working groups from the Neurosciences research focus and the DZNE was further intensified in 2016 with the move into the ultra-modern DZNE building in the immediate vicinity of the Neurocenter. Collaboration in clinical research is particularly close.

The establishment of a clinical research platform with its own clinical research areas (Clinical Trial Unit) in the DZNE building allows clinical studies to be conducted at the highest level. Together with the clinics of the Neurocenter, the clinical research platform conducts several large prospective observational and biomarker studies on neurodegenerative diseases. The Clinical Trial Unit of the DZNE is physically connected via a tunnel to the newly founded Clinic for Neurodegenerative Diseases and Gerontopsychiatry in the new Bonn NPP (Neurology, Psychiatry and Psychosomatics).

Several clinicians at the Neurocenter also have an affiliation with the DZNE. Since the DZNE was founded, several neuroscientific professorships based on the Jülich model have been established together with the DZNE. The DZNE operates several technological platforms to which researchers from the Faculty of Medicine Bonn have access. Scientists from the Cluster of Excellence ImmunoSensation2 also work closely with the DZNE.

  • EXC 2151 “ImmunoSensation2 - the immunosensory system”
    Speakers: Prof. Gunther Hartmann, Prof. Eicke Latz, Prof. Waldemar Kolanus
  • DESCARTES “A blood-based diagnostic and prognostic test for Alzheimer's disease - data integration, data management and analysis”
    Spokesperson: Prof. Dr. Anja Schneider (DZNE)
  • GRK 2168 “Myeloid antigen presenting cells and the induction of adaptive immunity”
    Spokesperson: Prof. Christian Kurts
  • iBehave “Algorithms of Adaptive Behavior and their Neuronal Implementation in Health and Disease”
    Spokesperson: Prof. Ilona Grunwald-Kadow
  • SFB 1089 “Function of synaptic micro-networks and their disorders in diseases of the central nervous system”
    Spokesperson: Prof. Heinz Beck
  • SFB 1454 “Metaflammation and Cellular Programming”
    Spokesperson: Prof. Eicke Latz

German Center for Infection Research (DZIF)
The overall concept of the DZIF (seven sites with equal status throughout Germany; administrative center at the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research in Braunschweig) was approved in spring 2012. In addition to substantial project funding in the areas of clinical infectiology, new viral infections and anti-infectives (the latter area is coordinated from Bonn as a focus for the entire DZIF), joint professorships are being established.

By locating these professorships in BMZ II, there will be interaction within the DZIF as well as networking with the other research networks located there in the area of the Immunosciences and Infection research focus.

Center for Integrated Oncology (CIO)
As the Center for Integrated Oncology (CIO), we are the interdisciplinary cancer center of the University Hospital Bonn. From 2007 to 2018, we worked together with the Cancer Center of the University Hospital of Cologne as the CIO Cologne Bonn. Since October 2018, the CIO Cologne Bonn has been shaping cancer medicine for 11 million people together with the university cancer centers from Aachen and Düsseldorf under the name “Center for Integrated Oncology - CIO Aachen Bonn Cologne Düsseldorf”. The CIO Aachen Bonn Cologne Düsseldorf is one of only 15 top oncology centers in Germany run by German Cancer Aid.
Top center means, above all, access to first-class diagnostic procedures and cancer therapies, as well as comprehensive research activities and corresponding teaching and networking.

BMBF Collaborative Projects with Speaker Function

  • ACRIBIS "Improving cardiovascular risk identification by synthesizing structured clinical documentation and phenotypes derived from biosignals"
    Speaker: PD Dr. Sven Zenker
  • CompLS "InterpretTME - Data-driven, multiscale modeling of the tumor microenvironment through interpretable machine learning"
    Speaker: Prof. Kevin Thurley
  • SNAP ONE "Strengthening the implementation of national action plans by analyzing the socio-economic costs of antimicrobial resistance"
    Speaker: Chantal Morel
  • SynGluCross "Quantitative and biophysical analysis of crosstalk at glutamatergic synapses"
    Speaker: Prof. Dr. Christian Henneberger
  • TackleCSVD "The role of autophagy networks and the lysosome in cerebral microangiopathy"
    Speaker: Prof. Dr. Carmen Ruiz de Almodovar
  • TransNiDeG "The effect of transcutaneously applied nicotine on the development of gastric emptying dysfunction after partial pancreatoduodenectomy, a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, multicenter study"
    Speaker: PD Dr. Tim Glowka
  • ValSRIm "Spectral detection and analysis of retinal deposits: Validation of an in vivo measurement device for the early detection of age-related macular degeneration"
    Speaker: PD Dr. Thomas Ach

BMBF Collaborative Projects with Participation

  • AUTONOMIC "Developmental effects of epilepsy on autonomic functions in Dravet syndrome" 
    Subproject management: Prof. Rainer Surges
  • DaRe "Health DAta Trust REallaboratory to develop and test the ecosystem integration of data-driven health research"
    Speaker: Anja Burmann (Frauenhofer-Institut)
  • DeepHumanVision "Study of visual coding in the human brain using multilayer neural networks"
    Subproject management: Prof. Florian Mottmann
  • DESCARTES "A blood-based diagnostic and prognostic test of Alzheimer's disease - data integration, data management and analysis"
  • fit4translation-Medizininformatik-Struktur "Kompetenzerweiterung und Unterstützung bei der Entwicklung von medizinischer Software unter dem regulatorischen Rahmen der MDR & IVDR im akademischen Umfeld"
  • HBCI "Brain clearance imaging in MRI after intravenous application of contrast agent to investigate the clearance mechanisms of the central nervous system and the influence of neurodegenerative diseases and sleep quality"
    Subproject management: Prof. Alexander Radbruch, Dr. Katerina Deike-Hofmann
  • InflASD "Physiological and molecular consequences of an inflammatory episode on the severity of Shank3-based ASD phenotypes in mouse and hPSC models"
    Subproject management: Prof. Oliver Brüstle
  • INTERPOLAR "Medical Informatics Consortium"
    Subproject management: PD Dr. Sven Zenker
  • KIAFlex "Interaktive KI-Assistenz zur prädiktiven und flexiblen Steuerung im Entlass- und Überleitungsmanagement
  • METARYL "Influence of diet-induced activation of the arylhydrocarbon receptor (AhR) on inflammation in mesenteric fat and postoperative wound infection in metabolic syndrome"
    Speaker: PD Dr. Sven Zenker
  • MoleVision "Präzise dermatologische Hautkrebsdiagnostik durch KI und tiefes Lernen
  • NRW-GPRN "General Practice Research Network North Rhine-Westphalia"
    Subproject management: Prof. Birgitta Weltermann
  • PACETherapy "Therapien für Pathologische Zellextrusion; PACE in RPE und neuronaler Retina erkrankter Personen"
  • SMITH "Medizininformatik-Konsortium"
    Subproject management: Prof. Matthias Schmid
  • TAKeOff2 "Network to overcome obstacles in the fight against filarial infections and podoconiosis"
    Subproject management: Prof. Dr. Joachim Hörauf
  • TRANS-FOODS "Preventing peanut allergy through improved understanding of the transcutaneous sensitisation route, novel food processing and skin care adaptations"
    Subproject management: Prof. Dr. Natalija Novak
  • Treat-ION "Neue Therapien für neurologische Ionenkanal- und Transporterstörungen - Neue Therapien für KCNT1-Ionenkanalerkrankungen"
    Subproject management: Prof. Dr. Heinz Beck
  • TrustNShare "Participatively developed, smart-contract-based data trust model with scalable trust and incentivization"
    Subproject management: Prof. Stephan Jonas
  • UPS-NDDiag "Entwicklung von Diagnosewerkzeugen für neurologische Erkrankungen, die durch Funktionsstörungen des Ubiquitin-Proteasom-Systems verursacht werden"
    Subproject management: Prof. Dr. Dipl. Peter Krawitz
  • VR-VTK "Alternative methods: Virtual reality in laboratory animal science"
  • FOR 2372 "G protein signalling cascades: with new molecular probes and modulators towards novel pharmacological concepts"
    TP "Effects of direct pharmacological Gq protein modulation on lung and right heart remodeling", Prof. Bernd Fleischmann, Prof. Daniela Wenzel
    TP "Impact of Gq signaling in the brown adipose tissue", Prof. Alexander Pfeifer
  • FOR 2448 "Practicing Evidence - Evidencing Practice in Science, Medicine Technology and Society"
    TP "The critique of evidence-based medicine and the diversification of medical evidence practices", Prof. Mariacarla Gadebusch Bondio
    TP "The de- and restabilisation of evidence in the corona crisis", Prof. Mariacarla Gadebusch Bondio
  • FOR 2625 "Mechanisms of Lysosomal Homeostasis"
    TP "Lysosomal gene transcription and protein expression", Dr. Dominic Winter
  • FOR 2685"The Limits of the Fossil Record: Analytical and Experimental Approaches to Fossilization"
    TP "The role of microbes and biofilms in the fossilization of leaves", Prof. Gabriele Bierbaum
    TP "Destruction, decay and preservation: Initial fossilization in leaf fossils", Prof. Gabriele Bierbaum
  • FOR 2686 "Resilience in Religion and Spirituality. Endurance and the Formation of Powerlessness, Fear and Anxiety"
    TP "Dynamics of resilience in a life crisis: interdisciplinary conceptualization and operationalization", Prof. Franziska Geiser
    TP "Resilience and Coherence in Palliative Medicine", Prof. Lukas Radbruch
  • FOR 2705 "Dissection of a Brain Circuit: Structure, Plasticity and Behavioral Function of the Drosophila Mushroom Body
    TP3"Infection and behavior: The role of the mushroom body, AMPs and octopamine in brain-body communication", Prof. Ilona Grunwald Kadow
  • FOR 2715 "Epileptogenesis of genetic epilepsies"
    TP "Functional epigenomic dissection of genetic generalized epilepsies", Prof. Dr. Heinz Beck, Dr. Tony Kelly
    TP "Molecular and network mechanisms-derived targeted interventions in neonatal genetic epilepsies"; Prof. Albert Becker
  • FOR 2743 "Mechanical Stress Protection"
    TP "Mechanical stress-induced pathomechanisms in BAG3-associated myopathies", Dr. Michael Hesse
    TP "Regulation of small GTPase signalling networks and chaperone-assisted selective autophagy through mechanical forces in leukocytes and cardiomyocytes", from the Medical Faculty: Prof. Dagmar Wachten
  • FOR 2795 "Synapses under stress: Early events induced by metabolic failure at glutamatergic synapses"
    TP "Alterations of synaptic and perisynaptic glutamate signalling during the onset of metabolic stress", Prof. Christian Henneberger
    TP "Calcium and glutamate dynamics and their contribution to acute cell death in an in vivo model of stroke", Professor Gabor Petzold
  • FOR 2953 "Sialic Acid as Regulator in Development and Immunity"
    TP "Protective role of sialic acid for sensory auditory neurons", Prof. Harald Neumann
  • FOR 5095 "Pollutant – Antibiotic Resistance – Pathogen Interactions in a Changing Wastewater Irrigation System"
    TP "Evolution and selection of resistant bacteria in the presence of subinhibitory concentrations of micropollutants", Prof. Gabriele Bierbaum
  • FOR 5298 " iMAGO - Personalised diagnostics for obesity therapy"
    TP "Label-free imaging of lipid-glucose metabolism in cells, tissues and mouse models", Prof. Dr. Yongguo Li
    FOR 5424 "Modulation of the olfaction: How recurrent circuits determine state-dependent behaviour"
    TP "Recurrent connections between higher olfactory brain areas and their role in the state-dependent behaviour of Drosophila females", Prof. Dr. Ilona Grunwald Kadow
    TP "Molecular and cellular mechanisms of oestrus-dependent modulation of odour perception", Dr. Annika Cichy
    FOR 5427 "Bacterial renal infections and their defence (BARICADE)"
    TP "Renal antibacterial defence mechanisms in glucosuria", Prof. Dr. Sibylle von Vietinghoff
    TP "Effect of a high-fat diet on pyelonephritis", Prof. Dr. Christian Kurts
    TP "The role of myeloid immune cells in healing and recurrent pyelonephritis", Dr. Selina Kathleen Jorch
    FOR 5547 "Deciphering the role of primary ciliary dynamics in tissue organisation and function"
    TP 5548 "The dynamics of primary cilia in the development and homeostasis of adipose tissue", Prof. Dagmar Wachten, Prof. Elvira Mass (LIMES)
    KFO 329 "Molecular mechanisms of podocyte diseases - nephrology on the way to precision medicine"
    TP "The role of mononuclear phagocytes in the pathogenesis of FSGS", Prof. Christian Kurts

EU Research Projects (with speaker function)

  • AI-POD "Trustworthy AI Tools for the Prediction of Obesity Related Vascular Disease"
    Koordination: Prof. Dr. Ulrike Altenberger
  • eWHORM "Eliminating Worm Infections in Sub-Saharan Africa"
    Koordination: Prof. Dr. Marc Hübner
  • TENACITY "TargEting the Nectin fAmily to boost Cancer ImmuniTY"
    Koordination: Prof. Tobias Bald; Bonn: Prof. Tobias Bald, Prof. Michael Hölzel


EU Research Projects (with participation)

  • DIGYMATEX "Establishing a comprehensive understanding and taxonomy of children´s digital maturity"
    Coordination: Marco Hubert, Department of Management at Aarhus BSS, Aarhus University, Denmark; Bonn: Prof. Bernd Weber
  • environMENTAL"Reducing the impact of major environmental challenges on mental health"
    Coordination: Prof. Dr. Gunter Schumann, Charité; Bonn: Prof. Markus Nöthen
  • EuroGCT "European consortium for communicating gene- and cell-based therapy information"
    Koordination: University of Edinburgh, UK; Bonn: Prof. Oliver Brüstle
  • HELP"Establishment of a pan-nematode drug development platform"
    Spokesperson: Prof. Jennifer Keiser, Basel, Schweiz; Bonn: Prof. Achim Hörauf
  • NeurotechRI "European University of Brain and Technology - Research and Innovation"
    Coordination: Stichting Radboud Universiteit, Netherlands; Bonn: Prof. Christian Henneberger
  • NSC-Reconstruct "Novel Strategies for Cell-based Neural Reconstruction"
    Coordination: Unioverstita Degli Studi di Milano, Italien; Bonn: Prof. Oliver Brüstle
  • PAL-CYCLES "PALliative Care Yields Cancer welLbEing Support"
    Coordination: Stichting Radboud Universitair Medisch Centrum; Bonn: Prof. Radbruch
  • PREVENTABLE "Cancer Prevention vs Cancer Treatment: The rare Tumour Risk Syndromes Battles"
    Koordination: Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde da Universidade do Porto; Bonn: Prof. Dr. Stefan Aretz
  • PalliativeSedation "The use of proportional palliative sedation for the relief of refractory symptoms: an international multicenter study"
    Coordination: Stichting Katholieke Universiteit, Niederlande; Bonn: Prof. Lukas Radbruch
  • PSY-PGx "A New Intervention for Implementation of Pharmacogenetics in Psychiatry"
    Subprojects P05a und P05b
    Coordination: Universiteit Maastricht, Netherlands; Bonn: Prof. Markus Nöthen, Prof. Alexandra Philipsen
  • REPO4EU "Precision drug REPurpOsing For EUrope and the world"
    Coordination: Universiteit Maastricht, Netherlands; Bonn: Dr. Martin Coenen
  • SCREEN4CARE"Shortening the path to rare disease diagnosis by using newborn genetic screening and digital technologies"
    Coordination: Universita Degli Studi di Ferrara, Italy; Bonn: Prof. Janbernd Kirschner
  • TO_AITION "A high-dimensional approach for unwinding immune-metabolic causes of cardiovascular disease-depression multimorbidities"
    Coordination: Dr. Evangelos Andreakos, Greece; Bonn: Prof. Eicke Latz
  • Tools4Teams "Research Training to Design and Implement Tools Supporting Safe Teamwork in Healthcare"
    Koordination: STICHTING VUMC, Amsterdam

 
EU-EIC Research Projects (with participation)

  • REPRESSIT "A novel class of clinical immune checkpoint inhibitors"
    Koordination: Dr. Kristina Ganzinger (AMOLF, Amsterdam); Bonn: Prof. Dr. Felix Meißner

NRW MKW Research Projects (with speaker function)

  • iBehave "Algorithms of Adaptive Behavior and their Neuronal Implementation in Health and Disease"
    Koordination: Prof. Ilona Grunwald-Kadow

NRW MKW Research Projects (with participation)

  • ABCD-J "Accessing Behavior for Clinical Data and Joint usage"
    Koordination: Prof. Dr. med. Simon B. Eickhoff (Jülich); Bonn: Prof. Dr. Alexandra Philipsen
  • CANTAR "Strategic concept for the development of the Network
    CANcer TARgeting"
    Koordination: Henning Walczak, Universität zu Köln
  • InVirtuo 4.0 "Kognitive Neurowissenschaften und klinische Psychologie als Keimzelle von in-virtuo-Forschung"
    Koordination: Prof. Dr. Reinhard Klein, Informatik, Bonn; Bonn: Prof. Dr. Alexandra Philipsen,
    Dr. Niclas Braun, Prof. Dr. Dominik Bach
  • West German Genome Center
  • 3R Kompetenznetzwerk NRW
    TP "Einrichtung einer Geschäftsstelle in Bonn und Aachen" (Bonn)

German Cancer Aid projects with participation

  • CIO ABCD “Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Düsseldorf” (German Cancer Aid)
  • DECADE “Decentralized artificial intelligence for diagnosis, prognosis and therapy prediction in colorectal cancer” (German Cancer Aid)
    Coordination: Prof. Jakob Kather, Dresden; Bonn: Prof. Jacob Nattermann, Dr. Robert Hüneburg
  • Mildred Scheel Center for Young Investigators of German Cancer Aid (Bonn/Cologne)
  • THUNDER “National Center for Nanobody Tumor Diagnostics” (German Cancer Aid)
    Coordination: Prof. Dr. Katja Weisel, Hamburg; Bonn: Prof. Florian Schmidt, Dr. Stephan Menzel, Prof. Michael Hölze

Selected Research Networks

Research Projects with speaker function

  • DiaCOS "Diagnostic Challenge – a collaborative online game for medical students" (Stiftung Innovation in der Hochschullehre)
    Koordination: Prof. Dr. Tobias Raupach
  • OERMEL "Online escape rooms in medical education" (Stiftung Innovation in der Hochschullehre)
    Koordination: Prof. Dr. Tobias Raupach
  • "Production of clinical corallopyronin A test samples" (Else Kröner Fresenius Foundation)
    Koordination: Prof. Dr. Achim Hörauf, Prof. Dr. Marc Stadler, Helmholtz Zentrum Braunschweig; Bonn: Prof. Dr. Achim Hörauf
  • "Switchable immunomodulation of mRNA transport and local translation in microglia by bioactive RNAs" (Human Frontier Science Program)
    Sprecherin: Prof. Dr. Kathrin Leppek
  • "The cultural evolution of scientific practice - from simulation to experimentation" (Volkswagenstiftung)
    Koordination: Dr. Oliver Braganza

Research Projects with participation

  • AELKI "Establishment and evaluation of a risk-adapted, multidisciplinary, guideline-based transition and (long-term) aftercare for children and adolescents with cancer."  (GBA Innovationsfond)
    Coordinator: Prof. Thorsten Langer, Uni Lübeck, Uniklinik Schleswig-Holstein; Bonn: UKB
  • ARKI "Augmented reality and AI in medical education" (Stiftung Innovation der Hochschullehre)
    Coordinator: Prof. Dr. Veit Braun, Siegen
  • CIO "The Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen, Bonn, Köln and Düsseldorf (CIO) of the German Cancer Aid is one of the leading tumor centers in Germany and combines patient care with research and teaching at the highest level."
  • DigIn2Perio"Digital Integrated Care for Diabetes Mellitus Type-2 and Periodontitis" (GBA Innovationsfond)
    Coordinator: Prof. Stefan Listl, Uniklinikum Heidelberg; Bonn: UKB
  • DNPM"German Network for Personalized Medicine" (GBA Innovationsfond)
    Coordinator: Prof. Nisar Malek; Bonn: UKB
  • FrühstArt"Early, cross-sector, outreach, and family-centered obesity prevention." (GBA Innovationsfond)
    Coordinator: Prof. Stephanie Stock, Uni Köln; Bonn: Uni Bonn
  • IMPRS "‘Brain and Behavior’" (Max-Planck Gesellschaft)
    Coordinator: Kevin Briggman, MPINB; Bonn: Prof. Heinz Beck
  • INNATEBITE: "Innate immune response in the mammalian host skin after the bite of a trypanosome-infected tsetse fly" (FWO The Research Foundation - Flanders)
    Coordination: Dr. Marc-Alain Widdowson, Prof. Dr. Jan Van Den Abbeele, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerpen; Bonn: Prof. Dr. Eva Bartok
  • INTEGRATION - "Combined nutritional and physical activity intervention during oncological therapy" (Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) Innovation Fond)
    Coordinator: PD Dr. Freerk T. Baumann, CIO Cologne; Prof. Sebastian Theurich, Munich; Bonn: Prof. Ingo Schmidt-Wolf
  • LeiSe LebEr "Guidelines for Rare Liver Diseases - Autoimmune and Genetic Cholestatic Liver Diseases from Pediatrics to Adulthood." (GBA Innovationsfond)
    Coordinator: Prof. Ansgar Lohse, Uniklinik Hamburg-Eppendorf; Bonn: UKB
  • NEO-MILK "Breast milk banks: Implementation and promotion of lactation in German neonatal intensive care units" (Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) Innovation Fond)
    Coordinator: Dr. Nadine Scholten, Cologne; Bonn: Prof. Andreas Müller, Dr. Till Dresbach, Prof. Matthias Weigl, Judith Hammerschmidt
  • PedSupport "Tailor-made e-health solutions after initial diagnosis to support paediatric patients with chronic illnesses and their parents" (GBA Innovationsfond)
    Koordination: Bonn: Prof. Dr. Freia de Bock
  • ProATTaC "Prophylactic autophagy-inducing therapies to tackle coronaviruses" (Volkswagenstiftung)
    Koordination: Bonn: Dr. Nils Gassen
  • PRO-P "Influence of electronic Patient Reported Outcomes (ePROMs) in surgical therapy for prostate cancer on the postoperative course."  (GBA Innovationsfond)
    Coordinator: Prof. Peter Albers, Uniklinikum Düsseldorf; Bonn: UKB
  • P-SUP "Personalized Self-Management Support Program" (Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) Innovation Fond)
    Coordinator: Prof. Stephanie Stock, Cologne; Bonn: Prof. Birgitta Weltermann
  • THUNDER "National Centre for Nanobody Tumour Diagnostics" (Deutsche Krebshilfe)
    Koordination: Prof. Dr. Katja Weisel, Hamburg; Bonn: Prof. Florian Schmidt, Dr. Stephan Menzel, Prof. Michael Hölze
  • VERSKiK "Care following childhood or adolescent cancer" (Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) Innovation Fondd)
    Coordinator: PD Dr. Enno Swart, Magdeburg; Bonn: Abteilung für Pädriatische Onkologie und Hämatologie
  • "Mesoscale and microscale dynamics underlying learning" (Collaborative Research Grants der Uni Bonn mit der Hebrew University of Jerusalem)
    Speaker: Bonn: Prof. Heinz Beck
  • Mildred-Scheel-Nachwuchszentrum der Deutschen Krebshilfe (Bonn/Köln)
  • "Hertie Network of Excellence in Clinical Neuroscience" (Gemeinnützige Hertie Stiftung)
    Speaker: Prof. Anja Schneider, Prof. Heinz Beck
  • "A Translational Approach Towards Understanding Brain Waste Clearance in Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy" (Leduq Foundation)
    Coordination: Matthias VAN OSCH, Leiden, Susanne VAN VELUW, Massachusetts General Hospital; Bonn: Gabor Petzold
  • "A hyperspectral approach to RPE fluorophores in AMD" (NIH)
    Coordination: Christine A Curcio; Bonn: Thomas Ach
Eine Wissenschaftlerin und ein Wissenschaftler arbeiten hinter einer Glasfassade und mischen Chemikalien mit Großgeräten.
© Colourbox

Research Funding at the Medical Faculty

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Collaborations of the Medical Faculty

Research and teaching at the Medical Faculty Bonn are strengthened by numerous collaborations with other faculties, universities and scientific institutions. The Medical Faculty Bonn thus corresponds to the philosophy of the University of Bonn as an internationally operating collaboration- and focus-oriented research university.

The Medical Faculty is excellently integrated into the university's network of disciplines and is well networked with the other faculties. In addition, the Medical Faculty is integrated into the scientific profile of the University of Bonn. Examples of successful interfaculty collaborations are: 

Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences
The excellent collaboration with the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences is reflected in several joint research associations (e.g. Cluster of Excellence "ImmunoSensation", SFB 1454, NRW Network iBehave and TRR 333) and institutions (e.g. Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Bonn Forum Biomedicine (BFB)). The collaboration of both faculties in research and teaching is closely coordinated and partly contractually regulated.

  • CompLS "InterpretTME - Datengesteuerte, multiskalige Modellierung der Mikroumgebung von Tumoren durch interpretierbares maschinelles Lernen"
    Speaker: Prof. Kevin Thurley
  • EXC 2151 "ImmunoSensation2 - das immunsensorische System"
    Speaker: Prof. Gunther Hartmann, Prof. Eicke Latz, Prof. Waldemar Kolanus
  • FOR 2372 "G-Protein Signalkaskaden: mit neuen molekularen Sonden und Wirkstoffen zu neuen pharmakologischen Konzepten"
    Speaker: Prof. Evi Kostenis
  • FOR 2743 "Zelluläre Schutzmechanismen gegen mechanischen Stress"
    Speaker: Prof. Jörg Höhfeld
  • GRK 2168 "Myeloid antigen presenting cells and the induction of adaptive immunity"
    Speaker: Prof. Christian Kurts
  • GRK 2873 "Werkzeuge und Wirkstoffe der Zukunft - Innovative Methoden und neue Modalitäten in der Medizinischen Chemie"
    Speaker: Prof. Christa E. Müller
  • iBehave "Algorithms of Adaptive Behavior and their Neuronal Implementation in Health and Disease"
    Speaker: Prof. Ilona Grunwald-Kadow
  • InVirtuo 4.0 "Kognitive Neurowissenschaften und klinische Psychologie
    als Keimzelle von in-virtuo-Forschung"
    Speaker: Prof. Dr. Rheinhard Klein
  • "Klärung der Rolle der Genominstabilität in dendritischen Zellen"
    Speaker: Prof. Dr. Katrin Paeschke
  • "Produktion von klinischen Corallopyronin-A-Prüfmustern"
    Speaker: Prof. Dr. Achim Hörauf
  • SFB 1454 "Metaflammation and Cellular Programming"
    Speaker: Prof. Eicke Latz
  • TRR 333 "Braunes und beiges Fett - Organinteraktionen, Signalwege und Energiehaushalt (BATenergy)"
    Speaker: Prof. Alexander Pfeifer
  • Pharmazeutische Mikrobiologie
  • Bonner Forum Biomedizin

Faculty of Protestant Theology

  • FOR 2686 "Resilience in religion and spirituality. Enduring and shaping powerlessness, fear and worry" together with the Faculty of Catholic Theology
    Speaker: Prof. Cornelia Richter

Faculty of Law and Political Sciences

  • ZMDT "Center for Medical Data Usability and Translation" together with the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences and the Cluster of Excellence ECONtribute

Faculty of Philosophy

Central institutions of the University of Bonn

  • CEN "Center for Economics and Neuroscience"
  • IWE "Institute for Science and Ethics"

German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE)
The foundation of the  DZNE in 2009 decisively strengthened translational research in Bonn. The close collaboration between working groups of the Neurosciences Research Center and the DZNE was further intensified by the occupation of the state-of-the-art DZNE building in 2016 in close proximity to the Neurocenter. The collaboration in clinical research is particularly close.

The establishment of a clinical research platform with its own clinical research areas (Clinical Trial Unit) in the DZNE building allows clinical studies to be conducted at the highest level. The clinical research platform conducts several large prospective observational and biomarker studies on neurodegenerative diseases together with the clinics of the Neurocenter. The Clinical Trial Unit of the DZNE is physically connected via a tunnel to the newly established Clinic for Neurodegenerative Diseases and Gerontopsychiatry in the new Bonn NPP (Neurology, Psychiatry and Psychosomatics).

Several clinicians of the Neurocenter have an affiliation in the DZNE at the same time. Since the foundation of the DZNE, several neuroscience professorships based on the Jülich model have been established together with the DZNE. The DZNE operates several technological platforms to which researchers of the Medical Faculty Bonn have access. Scientists of the Cluster of Excellence ImmunoSensation2 also work closely with the DZNE.

  • EXC 2151 "ImmunoSensation2 - the immunosensory system"
    Speaker: Prof. Gunther Hartmann, Prof. Eicke Latz, Prof. Waldemar Kolanus
  • DESCARTES "A blood-based diagnostic and prognostic test for Alzheimer's disease - data integration, data management and analysis"
    Speaker: Prof. Dr. Anja Schneider (DZNE)
  • GRK 2168 "Myeloid antigen presenting cells and the induction of adaptive immunity"
    Speaker: Prof. Christian Kurts
  • iBehave "Algorithms of Adaptive Behavior and their Neuronal Implementation in Health and Disease"
    Speaker: Prof. Ilona Grunwald-Kadow
  • SFB 1089 "Function of synaptic micro-networks and their disorders in diseases of the central nervous system"
    Speaker: Prof. Heinz Beck
  • SFB 1454 "Metaflammation and Cellular Programming"
    Speaker: Prof. Eicke Latz

German Center for Infection Research (DZIF)
The overall concept of the DZIF(seven equal locations nationwide; administrative center at the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research in Braunschweig) was approved in spring 2012. In addition to substantial project funding in the areas of clinical infectiology, new viral infections and anti-infectives (the latter area is coordinated from Bonn as a focus for the entire DZIF), joint professorships are being established.

By locating these professorships in BMZ II, there will be interaction within DZIF as well as networking with the other research networks located there in the area of the research focus Immunosciences and Infection.

The Max Planck Institute for Neurobiology of Behavior – caesar is mainly focused on neuroscience research. Caesar is closely linked to the Neuroscientific focus area through co-appointments with the Medical Faculty, close cooperation in collaborative projects (SFB 1089) and joint graduate schools  (BIGS Neuroscience, IMPRS „Brain and Behavior“).

  • iBehave "Algorithms of Adaptive Behavior and their Neuronal Implementation in Health and Disease"
    Speaker: Prof. Ilona Grunwald-Kadow
  • IMPRS "IMPRS ‘Brain and Behavior’"
    Speaker: Kevin Briggman, MPINB
  • SFB 1089 "Synaptic Micronetworks in Health and Disease"
    Speaker: Prof. Heinz Beck

The Medical Faculty Bonn works closely with the BfArM in the field of Translational Medicine. This includes in particular the processing of collaborative projects including a joint application for project funding as well as the joint use of research facilities, infrastructure and large-scale equipment.

In addition, there is close collaboration in the pharmaceutical research sector between the BfArM and the PharmaCenter of the University of Bonn. The collaboration in research and teaching includes joint courses in elective subjects and continuing education courses (e.g. Drug Regulatory Affairs), the provision of clinical traineeships and internships for medical doctoral students and pharmacy students, the use of laboratory resources and the library of the BfArM for training purposes, and the joint supervision of students (bachelor's and master's theses).

The "Center for Translational Medicine" was founded as a joint organizational structure with the participation of several professorships from the Medical Faculty and the BfArM. 

Translation and Transfer

In recent years, the Medical Faculty and the University Hospital Bonn have specifically established structures to support clinical research, industry collaborations as well as the translation of research results into practice, covering a wide range of applications from preclinical translation to clinical trials and support for spin-offs.

Pharmazeutische Abfüllanlange
© Colourbox

Infrastructure Facilities

Bonn Technology Campus
© Bonn Technology Campus

Bonn Technology Campus (BTC)

The BTC Life Sciences bundles established and new research infrastructures university-wide in a unified organizational and user concept.

Eine Wissenschaftlerin und ein Wissenschaftler arbeiten hinter einer Glasfassade und mischen Chemikalien mit Großgeräten.
© SZB

Bonn Study Center (SZB)

The Bonn Study Center (SZB) is the association of all clinics and facilities at the University Hospital Bonn that conduct clinical trials.

Eine Wissenschaftlerin und ein Wissenschaftler arbeiten hinter einer Glasfassade und mischen Chemikalien mit Großgeräten.
© Elsevier

Ethics Commission

The Ethics Commission advises members of the Medical Faculty on research projects to be carried out on human subjects (including deceased subjects) or on extracted body material.

2386

Scientists conducting research at the Faculty of Medicine (as of 2023)

c. 1,600

scientific publications are published each year by researchers of the faculty

119.7 Mio.

Euro in DFG-funding
in 2021-2023

Contact Team Research

Avatar Pohl

Dr. Judith-Mira Pohl

Science Management - Research (Team Lead)

Venusberg-Campus 1

53127 Bonn

Avatar Scharff

Dr. Lars Scharff

Science Management - Research

Venusberg-Campus 1

53127 Bonn

Avatar Wandt

Dr. Gudrun Wandt

Science Management - Research

Venusberg-Campus 1

53127 Bonn

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