13/11/2026 | As part of a joint project with international partners, scientists from the University of Cologne are conducting research into the early detection of neuroblastoma in children – a highly aggressive form of cancer that is often fatal. Through its ERC Synergy Grants, the European Research Council recognizes interdisciplinary groups comprising between two and four outstanding researchers

26/10/2026 | If cancer cells are deprived of the amino acid cysteine, their cellular state determines how they will respond / publication in ‘Cell’ - Researchers at the University of Cologne have demonstrated that, whilst various cellular states of small cell lung cancer are equally dependent on the amino acid cysteine, they react differently when deprived of it.

23/10/2026 | Scientists at the University of Cologne identify a key metabolic pathway linking cold temperatures to longevity. The metabolite dihydrobiopterin (BH2) and muscle tissue play a central role in the beneficial effects of cold temperatures on longevity and protein homeostasis. This finding could help prevent certain age-related diseases in the future

21/10/2026 | Researchers at the University of Cologne and Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf (HHU) have developed the digital platform MEDA-PKD. Using the example of polycystic kidney disease, this initiative brings together previously unstructured medical data for the first time into a continuously expanding knowledge database that can be analysed almost in real time, offering potential for research, clinical trials and patient care

19/10/2026 | A new study provides important insights into the biological causes of Verheij syndrome, a rare neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by short stature and disease-causing variants in the PUF60 gene. This gene encodes a splicing factor involved in DNA/RNA processing in the cell nucleus that is essential for the production of functional proteins.

12/10/2026 | Insights into biological properties of neuroblastomas provide a basis for individualized treatment decisions - A new study by the Experimental Pediatric Oncology team at University Hospital Cologne demonstrates that molecular classification of neuroblastomas based on so-called telomere maintenance mechanisms can improve current risk stratification in children with neuroblastoma.