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03/06/2026 | Research , English

A new “molecular switch” for inborn immunity identified

Researchers have discovered a previously unknown signalling cascade that determines how powerful our innate immune system responds to virus infections. This discovery has broad implications for inflammatory diseases, cancer, and neurodegeneration

03/06/2026 | Research , English

Sea level along the world’s coastlines is higher than previously assumed

Studies on the effects of rising sea levels on coastal regions often refer to an assumed sea level instead of actual measured sea level. A German-Dutch research team provides a corrected calculation to reassess the consequences for coastal regions worldwide

03/05/2026 | Research , English

Drug-related homicides increased in Mexico after NAFTA

Following the implementation of the NAFTA free trade agreement, more people lost their lives in violence along key drug trafficking routes to the USA than in previous years

03/05/2026 | Research , English

How faulty mRNA is destroyed

Researchers from the University of Cologne and the Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry show that the targeted interaction of two proteins ensures that a key control mechanism in the formation of proteins functions with precision

03/02/2026 | Research , English

Study assesses cooling effect of aerosols globally for the first time

New insights from satellite measurements and simulations

02/24/2026 | Research , English

Dysregulation of the immune system differentiates depression and psychosis in young adulthood

In the early stages of both mental illnesses, patients often show certain levels of inflammation in the blood as well as changes in the grey matter of the brain. A better understanding of these biomarkers opens up new diagnostic options and therapeutic measures.

02/19/2026 | Research , English

Artificial DNA base pair developed based on halogen bonds

A research team at the University of Cologne has developed an artificial DNA base pair that works according to a new chemical principle. In contrast to natural bases, the novel artificial base pairs use halogen bonds that are enzymatically incorporated into DNA / publication in the ‘Journal of the American Chemical Society’

02/13/2026 | Research , English

False alarm in newborn screening: how zebrafish can prevent unnecessary SMA therapies

Studies show for the first time how functional tests can clarify genetic false alarms and protect families from irreversible therapies and substantial costs

02/12/2026 | Research , English

HIV antibody opens up new approaches for vaccine development and combination therapies

An international research team has identified a novel HIV antibody that targets the virus at a particularly vulnerable site and overcomes previous limitations of known antibodies. This study, led by Professor Dr Florian Klein, opens up new perspectives for the development of vaccines and therapeutics against HIV-1 and was published in the journal „Nature Immunology“.

02/06/2026 | Research , English

Brain network identified for effective treatment of Parkinson's disease

Deep brain stimulation is a key procedure in the treatment of Parkinson's disease. Researchers have now identified the optimal target network in the human brain

02/03/2026 | Research , English

A clock that measures the aging of nerve cells finds molecules that protect against age-related neurodegeneration

Using an aging clock, researchers from the University of Cologne have used the Caenorhabditis elegans model organism to demonstrate that nerve cells age differently. They identified both the causes of aging and molecules that keep the nervous system healthy in old age

01/27/2026 | Funding , English

Jane Reznick receives ‘Proof of Concept’ grant from the European Research Council

The NEWHEART projects develop a new treatment option after heart attacks. ERC funding of 150,000 euros over 18 months allows researchers to explore the commercial or societal potential of their work

01/15/2026 | Research , English

Mentoring improves educational outcomes for socially disadvantaged children

Even when they perform equally well in elementary school, children from less privileged families in Germany are less likely to enter the high track in secondary school. A study by the ECONtribute Cluster of Excellence at the Universities of Bonn and Cologne shows that mentoring programmes can reduce this gap.

01/13/2026 | Research , English

Organisms in the Atacama Desert soil are remarkably diverse

Nematodes resist extreme aridity and unfavourable ground conditions by using various reproduction strategies and demonstrate how organisms adapt to an extreme environment.

01/13/2026 | Research , English

Cosmogenic krypton enables reconstruction of landscapes millions of years old

Geoscientists from the Universities of Cologne and Göttingen develop a novel geochemical approach to analyse landscape evolution: cosmogenic krypton, a rare noble gas, provides information on how long sediments remained on the Earth’s surface

12/23/2025 | Research , English

Inflammation fuels one of the most aggressive forms of cancer

Researchers at the University of Cologne discovered a new mechanism used by one of the most aggressive forms of lung cancer to escape treatment, paving the way for more efficient future therapies

12/19/2025 | Research , English

Study models the transition from Neanderthals to modern humans in Europe

Researchers at the University of Cologne use simulations to investigate the likelihood of interactions between Neanderthals and anatomically modern humans on the Iberian Peninsula / publication in “PLOS One”

12/18/2025 | Research , English

EU-funded VACCELERATE Project concludes with positive assessment

An independent expert review commissioned by the Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA) confirms that the four-year project coordinated in Cologne has made a successful contribution to preparing for future pandemics. In particular, the registry for those interested in clinical vaccine studies, the network of trial sites and the training course for healthcare professionals will continue beyond…

12/17/2025 | Research , English

Telescope images show time-stamped rings in jet from a newborn star

Astronomers identify more than four hundred individual rings in the jet of the binary star system SVS 13 / publication in ‘Nature Astronomy’

12/11/2025 | Research , English

STOP PKD - Study investigates a new treatment option for people with the most common form of genetic kidney disease

Scientists have initiated a study to investigate whether dapagliflozin, an already approved drug from the SGLT2 inhibitors group, can positively affect the course of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD)

12/10/2025 | Funding , English

Rethinking Global Governance and Human Security

The University of Cologne and Nuffield College (Oxford University) launch landmark research on the history of global governance and human security in the 1990s. Alfred Landecker Foundation funds new project with 4.4 million euros

12/09/2025 | Funding , English

ERC Consolidator Grant for Debora Gerstenberger

Project on the interaction between computers and society in Latin America successfully reviewed and selected for funding, Two million euros funding over five years

12/04/2025 | Research , English

Animal behaviour: AI can help fill the gap

Researchers from Cologne developed an AI method to recover missing data from animal movement recordings and to efficiently quantify behaviour / publication in “Nature Methods”

12/01/2025 | Funding , English

Union of Academies funds long-term project to investigate papyri

In a joint project, the Universities of Cologne and Münster are researching ancient Greek papyri stored at the University of California. Funding totalling 4.34 million euros over 15 years as part of the Academies’ Programme

11/28/2025 | Research , English

Stars defy the black hole: research in Cologne shows stable orbits around Sagittarius A*

New observations made with the ERIS instrument at the Very Large Telescope facility disprove the assumption that the supermassive black hole at the centre of the Milky Way devours nearby dust objects.

11/27/2025 | Research , English

Possible therapeutic approach to treat diabetic nerve damage discovered

Researchers have decoded the signalling pathway that inhibits nerve regeneration in diabetes and have developed a therapeutic peptide that could transform the treatment—and possibly even the prevention—of diabetic nerve damage.

11/21/2025 | Funding , English

Follow-up funding for two Collaborative Research Centres at the University of Cologne

The Collaborative Research Centre (CRC) 1310 ‘Predictability in Evolution’ and the CRC/Transregio 228 ‘Future Rural Africa’ will receive funding from the German Research Foundation for a further four years. A total of 16.1 million euros for the University of Cologne

11/19/2025 | Research , English

Developing the research competence of future teachers

Research-based learning in teacher education shows: motivation drives scientific thinking

11/18/2025 | Research , English

Artificial intelligence can improve psychiatric diagnosis

A research team has tested how well three large language models can detect overlaps and redundancies in clinical questionnaires on mental illness.

11/17/2025 | Research , English

A sparkling ‘Diamond Ring’ in space: Astronomers in Cologne unravel the mystery of a cosmic ring

The structure of gas and dust resembles a glowing diamond ring. Computer simulations and observations made on board the 'flying observatory' SOFIA are now able to explain the special shape .

11/12/2025 | Ranking , English

Six University of Cologne scientists among the most highly cited researchers worldwide

Annual ranking of ‘Highly Cited Researchers’ published as an indicator for outstanding research. University of Cologne represented by two biologists and four medical researchers

11/11/2025 | Research , English

Optional learning support fosters self-directed learning

A study led by the Institute of Biology Education shows that optional learning support effectively reaches the students who need it most and helps teachers manage varying skill levels in the classroom.

11/11/2025 | Research , English

Protective Brain Immune Cell State Discovered

Discovery points to a potential new therapeutic pathway for Alzheimer’s disease

11/06/2025 | Funding , English

ERC Synergy Grant for physicist Michael Lässig and virologist Florian Klein

In a joint project, the two University of Cologne scientists are investigating mutations of viral pathogens in connection with the immune response. The European Research Council awards ERC Synergy Grants to interdisciplinary groups of two to four excellent researchers

11/04/2025 | Research , English

Long-lived contrails usually form in natural ice clouds

The effect of contrails on the climate has not yet been widely researched. Scientists assume that they predominantly have a warming effect. A study published in the journal Nature Communications provides new evidence that could influence the future planning of climate-adapted flight routes.

11/03/2025 | Research , English

Improving cloud modelling using algorithmic methods

The German Research Foundation (DFG) will fund a Reinhart Koselleck project at the University of Cologne with 1.25 million euros over five years. The project combines computer science and meteorology to improve cloud modelling and enhance our understanding of climate change

10/31/2025 | Research , English

Cologne researchers add a new detail to the “nuclear periodic table”

Nuclear chemists and nuclear physicists at the University of Cologne provide experimental proof of a long-suspected atomic decay pathway. The article published in ‘Physical Review’ shows that technetium-98 occasionally decays into molybdenum-98

10/31/2025 | Research , English

From food to fuel: How leucine enhances mitochondrial energy production

Researchers from the University of Cologne discovered how a specific dietary amino acid increases cellular energy, opening new possibilities for treating metabolic diseases

10/30/2025 | Research , English

Schon wenige Nervenfasern ermöglichen Austausch zwischen Hirnhälften

Struktur-Funktions-Beziehungen des menschlichen Gehirns

10/28/2025 | Research , English

Dopamine increases willingness to wait for rewards

L-DOPA, a precursor of the neurotransmitter dopamine, makes humans wait longer for rewards, as new research addresses gaps in earlier studies.

10/23/2025 | Research , English

The Zebrafish can heal its spinal cord using a sophisticated mechanism

Specialized connective tissue cells regulate inflammation and prevent formation of scar tissue, enabling nerve fibers to regrow in zebrafish following spinal cord injury. The findings could offer a long-term approach for developing therapies in humans as well

10/21/2025 | Research , English

Brain scan as a BMI oracle for people with mental disorders

A new AI-supported method can effectively predict the future weight gain of certain psychiatric patients. Early health and nutritional interventions can increase the life expectancy and quality of life of this patient group

10/20/2025 | Research , English

Leptin-sensing brain circuit helps overcome anxiety to meet vital needs

A research team at the University of Cologne and University Hospital Cologne identifies a circuit in the brain that counteracts anxiety and helps to restore balanced behaviour. The result could contribute to developing treatment options for anorexia nervosa, one of the deadliest mental illnesses.

10/17/2025 | Award , English

Driving test with AI: start-up distinguished by Time Magazine

The Swedish start-up QT-PIE, with the participation of a researcher from the University of Cologne, has developed an AI-based eye tracking system for driver training and driving tests. It was listed in Time Magazine’s best inventions of 2025

10/14/2025 | Research , English

Researchers identify clues that link mechanism to the most common hereditary neurological disease

A new study shows that disease-causing changes in the MFN2 gene in Charcot-Marie-Tooth syndrome trigger programmed cell death – a potential key to understanding the incurable nerve disease / publication in “Journal of Cell Science”

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