—Children born to obese mothers are at higher risk of developing metabolic disorders, even if they follow a healthy diet themselves. A new study from the group of Elvira Mass at the University of Bonn offers an explanation for this phenomenon. In obese mice, certain cells in the embryo’s liver are reprogrammed during pregnancy. This leads to long-term changes in the offspring’s metabolism. The researchers believe that these findings could also be relevant for humans. The study has now been published in the journal Nature.
—PD Dr. Niklas Klümper was honored with the prestigious Johann-Georg-Zimmermann Research Prize. The €10,000 award is presented annually to young cancer researchers for their current scientific contributions.
—The Bonn Cluster of Excellence ImmunoSensation will be funded for further seven years as part of the Excellence Strategy of the German federal and state governments. The aim of the new funding period, which begins on January 1, 2026, is to research immune diversity: the structural, functional and dynamic diversity of the immune system. Involved are the University of Bonn, the University Hospital Bonn (UKB) and the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE). The funding amounts to around 50 million euros.
—The human immune system is diverse on both genotypic and phenotypic level. This diversity is crucial for a robust and adaptable immune response. But our immune systems also differ fundamentally depending on our sex, age, and the environmental influences to which we are exposed. Accordingly, immune diversity was at the core of this years event, celebrating the anual "Day of Immunology". More than 30 ImmunoSensation scientists were on hand in the Bonn city center, to discuss current immunological research with the public.
—Patients with spastic paraplegia type 15 develop movement disorders during adolescence that may ultimately require the use of a wheelchair. In the early stages of this rare hereditary disease the brain appears to play a major role by over-activating the immune system, as shown by a recent study published in the Journal of Experimental Medicine. The study was led by researchers at the University of Bonn and the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE). These findings could also be relevant for Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative conditions.
—People with the hereditary disease familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) have a greatly increased risk of developing a malignant tumor of the duodenum. Researchers at the University Hospital Bonn (UKB) and the Cluster of Excellence ImmunoSensation2 at the University of Bonn have now discovered a mechanism in the local immune system that can drive the development of cancer. They see this as a promising new approach to preventing duodenal carcinoma in people with FAP. The results have now been published in the journal "Nature Communications".
Genome data to improve diagnosis and treatment of long Covid
—Despite the many advances, there are still major gaps in the care of patients with long-term and post-COVID. The Institute of Human Genetics at the UKB in Bonn now begins a genomLC study as part of a BMG funding priority. The researchers want to help speed up the diagnosis of long- and post-COVID and identify possible biomarkers that could possibly also differentiate between subgroups of the diseases. To this end, the genomic data of those affected is being analyzed as part of a study using blood samples. The project is funded by the Federal Ministry of Health (BMG) with 1.34 million euros.
“Transparent by nature” network meeting a complete success
—In order to communicate the importance of animal research transparently and promote an open exchange, Bonn research institutions joined forces to facilitate the exchange of all those who work with laboratory animals. The University of Bonn, together with other research institutions in Bonn, invited everyone who works with laboratory animals to the first network meeting “Transparent by Nature” in the Poppelsdorf Auditorium Center. The aim of the event was to create a forum that strengthens the exchange of information on transparency in animal research and networking.
—The "Girl's Day" is an annual event, aiming to motivate girls and women to persue a career in the fields of crafts, technology and research. In March, we welcomed students from local schools to the ImmunoSensation2 labs and introduced them to the world of immunological research. While showcasing the fascinating side of biomedical research, the emphasis was also on possibilities and career perspectives as a woman in science.
