News

Professor Dr. Thomas Benzing was elected to the DFG Senate

04/07/2025 | Together with Professor Dr. Andreas Speer and Professor Dr. Christiane Josephine Bruns, three Cologne professors will be members of the Senate of the German Research Foundation from January 1, 2026 / Thomas Benzing is responsible for Clinical Medicine I.

Anne Schaefer elected as EMBO Member

01/07/2025 | The European Molecular Biology Organisation (EMBO) has elected Anne Schaefer, Director at the Max Planck Institute for the Biology of Ageing and researcher at the Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), as a new member.

How mitochondrial energy metabolism is controlled

27/06/2025 | A University of Cologne research team has identified the protein AIFM1 as a central coordinator of cellular energy production.

In Memoriam: Prof. Dr. Dr. Dres. h.c. Wilhelm Stoffel

24/06/2025 | We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of Prof. Dr. Dr. Dres. h.c. Wilhelm Stoffel, who died on June 24, 2025, at the age of 97.

The University Hospital Cologne is involved in the new European Vaccines Hub

18/06/2025 | With the launch of the EVH, a new European project for pandemic preparedness vaccine development is taking off.

New resistance mechanism discovered in CAR-T cell therapy

16/06/2025 | Hope for more effective treatment for aggressive B-cell lymphoma: A research team from the University Hospital of Cologne and the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Cologne has discovered a previously unknown mechanism ...

Honor for Professor Cursiefen - DOC Research Award

13/06/2025 | At its 37th annual meeting in Nuremberg, the German Society for Ophthalmic Surgery (DOC) presented the DOC Research Award to Prof. Dr. Claus Cursiefen, Director of the Center for Ophthalmology at the University Hospital of Cologne ...

Green-up your Lab!

11/06/2025 | The "Green-up Your Lab competition" is now open to all research teams at the University of Cologne and University Hospital Cologne! Do you have a creative idea to make your lab more sustainable - by reducing waste, saving energy, or rethinking how resources are used? Click here ...

Award: Paper of the Year 2024 of the Anatomical Society awarded to Professor Dr. Johannes Vogt

05/06/2025 | The research group led by Professor Dr. Johannes Vogt (Institute of Anatomy II, Molecular and Translational Neuroscience Group of the Medical Faculty of the University of Cologne and principle investigator at the Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne) and the researchers involved were recently awarded the Best Publication Award 2024 of the Anatomical Society ...

Professor Heidenreich was appointed chairman of the European Society of Urology

04/06/2025 | Professor Dr. Axel Heidenreich, director of urology at the University Hospital of Cologne and associated member of the Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC) , was appointed chairman and spokesman of the guideline commission on testicular germ cell tumors by the European Society of Urology.

Professor Klein was admitted to the Leopoldina

04/06/2025 | Professor Dr. Florian Klein, director of the Institute of Virology at Cologne University Hospital and Executive Board Member at the Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), was appointed a new member of the Leopoldina - the National Academy of Sciences.

The State of North Rhine-Westphalia supports the project ´Bionic Reactors for Cardiac Organoids (BiRonCa)’

03/06/2025 | of Professor Kurt Pfannkuche at the Faculty of Medicine (University of Cologne). The ZukunftBio.NRW funding of €850,000 marks an important step towards advancing potential regenerative therapies for myocardial infarction.

Millions in funding for a new Collaborative Research Centre on molecular processes in kidney filtration

30/05/2025 | The German Research Foundation (DFG) has approved a new Transregional Collaborative Research Centre at the University of Cologne: Together with scientists at the Universities of Hamburg and Münster, the researchers will study the control processes in the kidney filter.

Live longer: Combination therapy with Rapamycin and Trametinib prolongs the life of mice

28/05/2025 | Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing (one of them Professor Andreas Beyer, Principle Investigator at the Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne) have discovered that the combination of the two cancer drugs Rapamycin and Trametinib significantly extends the lifespan of mice.

Newly identified group of nerve cells in the brain regulates bodyweight - Potential for novel obesity treatments

28/05/2025 | Obesity is a global health problem that affects many people. In recent years, very promising anti-obesity drugs have been developed. Despite these successes, there are patients who do not respond to these drugs or suffer from side effects. Therefore, there is still an unmet need for therapies. Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research

Oliver Cornely elected President of the International Society for Human and Animal Mycology

27/05/2025 | CECAD researcher, clinical mycology expert and associated principle investigator at the Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC) Professor Dr. Oliver A. Cornely will serve as President of ISHAM, the leading global society for fungal infections.

Great success: The University of Cologne is granted five Clusters of Excellence

23/05/2025 | Five proposals for Clusters of Excellence win funding in the federal competition / Clusters in the fields of aging research, astrophysics, plant sciences, quantum research and economics will receive funding

Aleksandra Trifunovic receives Max Delbrück Research Prize 2025

20/05/2025 | The Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC) congratulates Professor Aleksandra Trifunovic on receiving the University of Cologne’s Max Delbrück Prize for her pioneering contributions to mitochondrial biology.

NRW university consortium consolidates top genome research facility

19/05/2025 | The West German Genome Center has been re-established on a new legal basis, allowing it to continue its internationally competitive genome research in the medical field and the life sciences.

IGES - Annual Meeting 2025

12/05/2025 | You are invited to the Annual Meeting 2025 of the International Genetic Epidemiology Society (IGES), the premier gathering for experts in genetic epidemiology and statistical genetics!

University of Cologne honors Jens Brüning with Research Award

02/05/2025 | The Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC) congratulates Professor Jens Brüning on receiving the University Award for Research 2024 in recognition of his exceptional scientific achievements and his contribution to Cologne’s reputation as a leading research hub.

EU funds STEM-CORE MSCA with more than four million euros

02/05/2025 | As part of the European Union's (EU) MSCA funding line, the STEM-CORE project, which includes the Center for Ophthalmology at the University Hospital of Cologne, will receive more than four million euros.

11th IPMM Days of the

28/04/2025 | Interdisciplinary Progam Molecular Medicine - From May 19 - 20, 2025

Inhibition of an enzyme that promotes inflammation may reduce cardiovascular risk in obese people

25/04/2025 | A research team has discovered that the enzyme myeloperoxidase (MPO) plays an important role in vascular health in obese people

DFG and ANR fund Franco-German „NaPGyr project”

23/04/2025 | Professor Dr. Dr. Jan Rybniker, Cologne, and Professor Dr. Rolf Müller, Saarbrücken, are starting a collaboration with the Institut Pasteur in Paris.

How mitochondria influence the premature ageing of the skeleton

23/04/2025 | New mechanisms discovered that show how development-dependent disruptions in mitochondrial function lead to premature skeletal ageing

Professor Thomas Langmann of Cologne's research on the immune memory of the eyes was re-awarded funding by the German Research Foundation (DFG)

14/04/2025 | The DFG is providing €500,000 for three-years for his research, which is closely tied to the CRC 1607.

Bozek Lab: Fighting Cancer with AI?

09/04/2025 | How can data-driven medicine help fight breast cancer better? Host Vivian Polenz visited researchers at the University of Cologne for the Mindblown University YouTube channel. The video was produced on behalf of the BMBF.

Professor Fischer receives German Cancer Prize 2025

08/04/2025 | for his outstanding scientific achievements in neuroblastoma research

How cells repair their power plants

07/04/2025 | Damage to the mitochondria, the “power plants” of the cells, contributes to many diseases.

Cologne Scientists Receive DFG Funding for Proteastais Research

04/04/2025 | A new DFG-funded research group investigates how proteostasis is regulated at the organismal level and its impact on aging and disease.

Successful therapy confirmed for newborns with the fatal metabolic disorder MoCD type A

04/04/2025 | Early administration of the drug Fosdenopterin/rcPMP improves the chances of survival of infants with MoCD type A and promotes the development of brain functions

mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines train the ‘long-term memory’ of the immune system

24/03/2025 | Researchers at the University of Cologne have discovered that mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines have a persistent effect on the innate immune system.

Two Cologne clinician scientists receive 1.7 million euro to combat antibiotic-resistant bacteria

21/03/2025 | Funded by the German Center for Infection Research - The rise of antibiotic resistance is a global health problem associated with increasing mortality and significantly higher healthcare costs.

Key protein identified for understanding and treating Alzheimer’s disease

28/02/2025 | Researchers at the University of Cologne have identified a specific form of the tau protein that is responsible for mediating the toxicity of harmful protein clumps in human neurons

Hans A. Schlößer appointed for the Heisenberg Professorship in Immuno-Oncology of the Upper Gastrointestinal Tract

18/02/2025 | Dept. of General, Visceral, Thoracic and Transplant Surgery at Cologne University Hospital and the Medical Faculty of the University of Cologne

In Memory of Professor Dr. Angelika A. Noegel - Distinguished scientist and mentor

17/02/2025 | The CMMC Community pays tribute to the life and contributions of Professor Dr. Angelika Noegel, whose commitment to science and mentorship has left an indelible mark.

Protective role of mitochondrial protein Mitofusin 2 in cellular health revealed

13/02/2025 | A European research collaboration has found that besides regulating the fusion of mitochondria, Mitofusin 2 also ensures protein quality control. This discovery could open up new routes to treating Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease / publication in ‘Nature Communications’

Björn Schumacher Joins the Academy for Health & Lifespan Research

07/02/2025 | Advancing global collaboration to accelerate breakthroughs in healthy aging.

Cell atlas of the human hypothalamus

07/02/2025 | A high-resolution spatial map of the human hypothalamus makes it possible to identify specific cells, determine their exact location and analyse their neighbouring cells.

Powering brain-health: How autophagy protects neurons by controlling their glucose consumption

16/01/2025 | Scientists have discovered a novel autophagy mechanism that protects the brain cells of mice and opens up new therapeutic approaches for the treatment of neurogenerative diseases.

"Leverkusen hilft krebskranken Kindern e.V." supports research projects on childhood tumors with 200,000 euros

03/01/2025 | The Donation goes to the Dept. of Exp. Pediatric Oncology at the University Hospital Cologne headed by Professor Matthias Fischer

Professor Claus Cursiefen awarded with the Filatov Memorial Medal of the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine

20/12/2024 | honored for his pioneering contributions to optimizing minimally invasive corneal transplantation.

Elisa Motori Awarded Prestigious Boehringer Ingelheim Foundation Exploration Grant

17/12/2024 | to Investigate Metabolic Implications of Neuron-Tumor Interactions

Cologne Scientist - Anne Wolf - awarded with prize of the Freifrau von Nauendorf Foundation

16/12/2024 | In recognition of her work in identifying microglial immune mechanisms and targets to optimize AAV-based gene therapies for retinal degeneration.

German Cancer Aid Foundation funds research consortium on therapy-resistant testicular cancer

06/12/2024 | Cologne Scientist Prof. Axel Heidenreich receives €700.000 funding for his research on yolk sac tumors

Prof. Dr. Dr. Philipp Schommers and Dr. Alexander Simonis receive Walter Siegenthaler Medals

29/11/2024 | Two of the three silver medals awarded this year by the Walter Siegenthaler Society go to Prof. Dr. Dr. Philipp Schommers and Dr. Alexander Simonis, both from the Clinic I for Internal Medicine at the University Hospital Cologne and the Medical Faculty of the University of Cologne.

New regulatory mechanism identified in the chromatin-modifying complex PRC2

29/11/2024 | An international research team led by Simon Pöpsel (CMMC) has used cryo-electron microscopy and functional assays to demonstrate how the transcriptional regulator PRC2 impacts biochemical changes in chromatin to control gene regulation.

DFG funds study by Roman-Ullrich Müller on treatment of the most common genetic kidney disease

27/11/2024 | STOP-PKD is the first study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of SGLT2 inhibitors in patients with ADPKD.

Follow-up funding for CRC 1451 by DFG: `Key mechanisms of motor control in health and disease’

26/11/2024 | Two Collaborative Research Centres involving the University of Cologne will receive funding from the German Research Foundation (DFG) for a further funding period. One of them is the CRC 1451.

Please find more CMMC news in our news archive.