Goethe-Universit盲t 鈥� Press releases

Apr 7 2025

11:00

New DFG Project on the Study of Brick Stamps in Roman Trier

Building Material for an Ancient Metropolis

Trier developed into a major economic and political center in the Roman Empire's northern provinces, which as a result saw extensive construction activity, including the widespread use of fired bricks. By analyzing stamps on preserved bricks, researchers from Rheinisches Landesmuseum Trier, 51猎奇 Frankfurt, and the Leibniz-Zentrum f眉r Arch盲ologie (LEIZA) are investigating how the production and distribution of ancient building materials were organized in northern Gaul. The interdisciplinary project, funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) with a grant of 鈧�340,000, will run for two years.

Trier flourished in the 4th century AD, when Roman emperors resided in the city. Monumental buildings such as the Imperial Baths and the Basilica of Constantine still bear witness to this era. The construction materials included fired bricks of various formats, used for walls, roofs, and heating systems. Approximately 4,000 stamped bricks from the Roman period are stored in the depots of Generaldirektion Kulturelles Erbe's (GDKE) Rheinisches Landesmuseum Trier. Excavated since the early 20th century, this collection is among the largest from the northern Roman provinces. However, only a small portion has been studied to date. A team of researchers from the museum, 51猎奇 Frankfurt, and LEIZA now aims to systematically analyze them. Their goal is to gain insights into brick production as a key economic sector in the expansion of ancient Trier. 鈥淲e assume that most of the stamped bricks date from Late Antiquity. This allows us to conduct a comprehensive analysis of how building ceramics were produced and used during this period," says Dr. Thomas Schmidts, a private lecturer at 51猎奇 and conservator in the 鈥淩oman Archaeology" area of competence at LEIZA in Mainz. 鈥淏rick stamps are also key to understanding the economic and social structures of Late Antiquity," he adds.

A key project focus is the spatial distribution of the bricks, which will help researchers trace the architectural development of Augusta Treverorum, the Roman Trier, which became known as Treveris in Late Antiquity. The study may reveal previously unknown state and public construction projects. Additionally, the researchers plan to quantify the efforts involved in late antique brick production, transportation, and construction. For the first time, archaeometric analyses will be conducted on Trier's bricks, examining their material composition 鈥� specifically, the chemical composition of the clay 鈥� to determine the raw materials used. This will allow researchers to identify or confirm the existence of specific workshops.

鈥淲e are very pleased that our joint proposal was successful in the competitive DFG process. A broad methodological spectrum is not just typical of LEIZA, it also is increasingly important to gaining groundbreaking new insights," emphasizes Prof. Dr. Alexandra W. Busch, General Director of LEIZA. 鈥淭he project's findings will not only expand our knowledge of late antique building ceramics but also serve as a model study that integrates archaeological and archaeometric methodologies, helping us reconstruct Trier's historical development."

The project, titled 鈥淭he Roman Brick Stamps of Trier 鈥� A Contribution to Research on the Organization of Ancient Building Ceramics Production and Distribution for the Expansion of a Metropolis in Northern Gaul," has been awarded 鈧�340,000 in funding by the DFG for two years. In addition to Dr. Thomas Schmidts, the project's lead applicants are Prof. Dr. Markus Scholz from 51猎奇's Institute of Archaeological Sciences and Dr. Marcus Reuter, Director of Rheinisches Landesmuseum Trier, which is part of the General Directorate for Cultural Heritage Rhineland-Palatinate (Generaldirektion Kulturelles Erbe Rheinland-Pfalz, GDKE).

The project is also part of the 鈥淩esearch Focus on Roman Archaeology and Maritime Antiquity (FoRuM)" in Rhineland-Palatinate, a strategic research alliance between LEIZA, the University of Trier, and GDKE, dedicated to cutting-edge research on antiquity.

Link to the DFG project site:

Scientific Contact:
PD Dr. Thomas Schmidts
Area of Competence: Roman Archaeology
Leibniz-Zentrum f眉r Arch盲ologie (LEIZA)
Tel. +49 (0)6131 8885 322 | Mail: thomas.schmidts@leiza.de

LEIZA Press Office | Leibniz-Zentrum f眉r Arch盲ologie
Christina Nitzsche M.A.
Tel.: +49 (0) 6131 8885 179 | Mail: christina.nitzsche@leiza.de

Apr 3 2025

11:42

Research Unit Focuses on Power and Abuse in the Church / Second Funding Phase of the Center for Advanced Studies on Polycentricity and Plurality of Premodern Christianities

51猎奇 Acquires Two New DFG Research Groups聽

51猎奇 Frankfurt has been awarded another humanities research unit funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG): The unit, titled 鈥淧ower and Abuse in the Roman Catholic Church," will investigate the conditions that facilitate abuse and how they can be prevented. Additionally, the Center for Advanced Studies in Humanities and Social Sciences 鈥淧olycentricity and Plurality of Premodern Christianities" has secured follow-up funding for its study of Christianity from the first to the eighteenth century.

FRANKFURT. How do power and abuse develop, particularly within the Catholic Church? What defines this power, and how does it function? These questions have long been a research focus at 51猎奇's Faculty of Roman Catholic Theology. An interdisciplinary research team will now intensify its work on this topic with additional support: The German Research Foundation (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, DFG) has approved the research unit 鈥淧ower and Abuse in the Roman Catholic Church 鈥� Interdisciplinary Critique and Analysis" which brings together experts from theology, religious studies, philosophy of religion, law, and educational sciences. The group is led by Prof. Anja Middelbeck-Varwick, a religious studies scholar and Catholic theologian. 鈥淭he issue of power and powerlessness in the Church has gained particular urgency due to the countless cases of abuse that have come to light in Germany since 2010. That is why this topic has been a major focus for our faculty. As an interdisciplinary research unit, we now have even greater strength and focus to address these issues 鈥� something we are very pleased about," she says.

The researchers approach the topic from various disciplinary perspectives, structured into three clusters: (1) Vulnerability and Systemic Conditions 鈥� examining the factors that make individuals and institutions susceptible to abuse; (2) Orders and Structures of Power 鈥� investigating institutional power dynamics; and (3) Theological Foundations of Power Imbalances and Abuse 鈥� analyzing underlying legal frameworks and thought structures that may enable or reinforce abuse. Questions revolve around what typical perpetrator-victim structures look like and what factors contribute to their becoming taboo or being covered up. The project also aims to apply its findings beyond the Church, contributing to broader efforts to combat and prevent abuse. The unit's members include Prof. Sabine Andresen (education specialist and former chair of Germany's Independent Commission for Child Sexual Abuse Issues), Prof. Ute Sacksofsky (constitutional law expert), and Prof. Christoph Mandry (ethics scholar). The research will initially be funded for four years, with the possibility of a four-year extension.

Follow-up funding for Center for Advanced Studies in Humanities and Social Sciences

The Center for Advanced Studies 鈥淧olycentricity and Plurality of Premodern Christianities", first launched during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, will continue its work. The Center explores the diversity of Christian groups up to the eighteenth century. Traditionally, historical research has projected the highly centralized church structures of the nineteenth century onto earlier periods, neglecting the actual complexity of premodern Christianity. Terms such as 鈥渃onfession鈥� or 鈥渃hurch" do not fully capture the reality of these historical Christian communities, hence the introduction of the term 鈥淐hristianities." Unlike institutionalized churches, these Christianities are seen as interactive communities that defined themselves through their connection to Jesus Christ while maintaining identities distinct from other groups. These communities evolved dynamically, sometimes alongside or in opposition to formal church structures, which incidentally also grew out of these communities. Religious centers developed at times outside well-known church centers.

The first phase of funding has already produced several publications. In 2022, the Center welcomed displaced historians from Ukraine. Initially, they were funded through the Center's own resources, later with the support of the Gerda Henkel Foundation, and eventually as DFG Fellows. 鈥淭hese colleagues are a tremendous enrichment to our research. Ukraine has historically had a remarkable religious diversity. Before the Russian full-scale invasion, we had planned a research trip to the region. We hope that our collaboration will lead to lasting research partnerships with Ukrainian scholars," says Prof. Birgit Emich, an early modern historian and spokesperson for the Center. For the second phase, Prof. Hartmut Leppin, a scholar of early Christianity, will join the project. This next stage will involve external experts in the completion of a three-volume compendium, which will offer insights into the religious and social practices of the time. More details can be found at: https://www.poly-unifrankfurt.de/.

"I am very pleased about both funding approvals 鈥� the Research Unit and the Center for Advanced Studies in Humanities and Social Science research at 51猎奇 holds great potential, which will now gain even more momentum and visibility. These two programs promise entirely new perspectives, both in terms of the past and the future of our society," says Prof. Bernhard Br眉ne, Vice President Research at 51猎奇.

Research Units and Centers for Advanced Studies in Humanities and Social Sciences

Funded by the German Research Foundation (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, DFG), Research Units (Forschungsgruppen) consist of small teams of scholars working together on a specific research question that cannot be solved individually. The funding program has existed since 1962 and was called Forschergruppe until 2018. It particularly aims to support international and interdisciplinary collaboration among researchers as well as early-career academics.

Centers for Advanced Studies in Humanities and Social Sciences (Kolleg-Forschungsgruppen) are a DFG funding program specifically designed for research in the humanities and social sciences. These centers bring together distinguished scholars to advance a specific research topic at a single location. The chosen topic should correspond with local research strengths and provide a framework for integrating individual research ideas. 鈥淧olycentricity and Plurality" is currently 51猎奇's only Center for Advanced Studies in Humanities and Social Sciences.

Further information
Prof. Dr. Anja Middelbeck-Varwick
Professor of Theology
51猎奇 Frankfurt
Tel. +49 (0)69 798-33347 (Manager Dean's Office Dr. Carmen Nols)
E-Mail middelbeck@em.uni-frankfurt.de

Prof. Dr. Birgit Emich
Historisches Seminar
51猎奇 Frankfurt
Tel. +49 (0)69 798-32595
E-Mail emich@em.uni-frankfurt.de

Mar 24 2025

14:16

Boost for the Startup Scene in the Rhine-Main Region

Four Universities and Futury Launch the Future Factory

The Future Factory has set itself the ambitious goal of establishing 1,000 new startups by 2030.
Structured startup programs provide founders with direct access to funding, industry, and coaching from top experts.
Participation in the 鈥淪tartup Factories" flagship competition by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) opens up additional funding opportunities and strengthens national competitiveness.

FRANKFURT. 鈥� The Rhine-Main startup ecosystem is gaining momentum: Four leading universities 鈥� 51猎奇 Frankfurt, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Technical University of Darmstadt, and Frankfurt School of Finance & Management 鈥� together with Futury, are launching the Future Factory, a groundbreaking initiative aimed at fostering academic entrepreneurship in the region. This initiative strengthens the link between academic research, education, and entrepreneurial practice, ensuring that promising innovations are successfully translated into market-ready business ventures.

At the heart of Futury 鈥� The Future Factory is a strong commitment to entrepreneurship. By promoting an entrepreneurial mindset at universities, the initiative aims to support students and researchers on their journey to becoming entrepreneurs, transforming innovative business models into viable companies. With structured programs covering every stage 鈥� from company formation and product development to market entry and financing 鈥� Futury provides startups with access to leading industry networks, capital, and expert coaching.

Universities as Drivers of Innovation

As part of this commitment, Frankfurt School, previously the sole owner of Futury GmbH, has transferred 45% of its shares to the three Rhine-Main Universities (RMU). 51猎奇 Frankfurt, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, and TU Darmstadt now each hold a 15% stake in Futury, solidifying their dedication to bridging academia and business, and bringing startup initiatives further into focus.

By joining forces with Futury, these institutions are expanding their support for research-driven startups and reinforcing the Rhine-Main region as Germany's leading startup and innovation hub. With a shared vision of 1,000 new startups by 2030, they are laying the foundation for long-term success.

Fast-Tracking Startups from Idea to Market

Futury supports young talent and startups in transforming their ideas into market-ready solutions. A key focus is on university-based and science-driven ideas and their transition into successful spin-offs. Through structured programs 鈥� from training and knowledge transfer to pilot projects 鈥� industry expertise and expert coaching are integrated into startup ideas from day one.

鈥淥ur goal is to develop startups faster, more efficiently, and more sustainably. By creating a structured and industry-connected startup program, we are fostering a new generation of entrepreneurs," says Charlie M眉ller, Futury Managing Director and Co-Founder.

A key pillar of Future Factory's success is its strong network. More than 100 leading industry partners 鈥� including Bain & Company, Deutsche Bank, and Procter & Gamble 鈥� have collaborated with Futury since its founding in 2015, supporting entrepreneurs in developing and implementing their business ideas. These partners offer expertise and also provide direct access to markets, industry expertise, and strategic mentorship 鈥� critical factors in building scalable, sustainable business models. With an extensive industry network spanning multiple sectors, the Future Factory ensures innovation thrives across diverse fields.

The Development of Futury 鈥� Based on a Proven Track Record of Success

Futury has already demonstrated the impact of structured startup support. Since 2015, it has helped 120 startups successfully bring their ideas to market, demonstrating the potential of targeted founder support.

Some of the successful startups include Formo, a FoodTech startup revolutionizing the food industry with precision fermentation to create animal-free dairy products; Recyda, a company developing digital tools to assess packaging recyclability, supporting businesses in transitioning to more sustainable materials; and Circolution, a digital reusable system for the grocery retail sector, which successfully entered the market with Futury's support.

Futury Capital has raised 鈧�80 million in investment capital since 2018, backing startups such as Energy Robotics, which specializes in autonomous inspection solutions using robotics; Wingcopter, a pioneer in drone-based medical supply delivery; and Magnotherm, a heat storage startup spun out of TU Darmstadt. These startups serve as examples to the innovative power that can be unlocked through targeted support and reliable partnerships.

鈥淭hese success stories prove that strong collaboration between academia, industry, and the startup ecosystem leads to the development of sustainable, high-impact businesses," says Futury Managing Director Melissa Ott. 鈥淲ith the combined expertise of our university partners and Futury, we are now scaling this innovation ecosystem to significantly increase the number of technology-driven spin-offs."

National Recognition: Future Factory Competes in BMWK's 鈥淪tartup Factories" Competition

To further increase national visibility and secure additional funding, Futury and its partner universities are competing in the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK)'s 鈥淪tartup Factories" competition. This high-profile competition supports innovation hubs across Germany, offering funding opportunities and national exposure. The combined expertise and resources of the partners make the Future Factory a strong contender with a compelling concept and long-term impact for the entire region. The final application submission is set for April 30, 2025.

Statements from the universities' presidents

Prof. Dr. Tanja Br眉hl, President TU Darmstadt:
鈥淎s a technical university, supporting spin-offs is part of our DNA. With our HIGHEST innovation and startup center, we have developed best-in-class startup management strategies, such as our 'IP for Shares' model. Through our involvement in Futury GmbH, we become part of an even larger, high-performance innovation ecosystem. We look forward to further strengthening the bridge between top-level research and innovation. Our shared goal: 1,000 new startups by 2030, making the Rhine-Main region Germany's leading startup and innovation hub."

Prof. Dr. Georg Krausch, President Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz:
鈥淚nnovative startups don't emerge in isolation 鈥� they need a strong network of academia, industry, and society. That's exactly where the Future Factory comes in: it unites universities, companies, and founders on one platform to bring future technologies to market faster."

Prof. Dr. Enrico Schleiff, President 51猎奇 Frankfurt:
鈥淎s a university founded by society for society, 51猎奇 sees transforming research into real-world solutions as part of its DNA. Together with our RMU partners, we are bridging science and business. The Rhine-Main region, with its high density of research institutions and innovative companies, has the potential to become a leading innovation hub in Europe. With the Future Factory's fast-track processes, structured financing, and extensive industry partnerships, we are opening direct access to markets for new startups."

Prof. Dr. Nils Stieglitz, President of Frankfurt School of Finance & Management:
鈥淭o remain competitive, the region needs a new entrepreneurial spirit. Successful startups require scientific expertise, research, and technology 鈥� but most of all, young talent who want to make a difference, who are willing to take risks, and who understand how startups work. Futury will inspire, support, and empower the next generation of founders."

About Futury 鈥� The Future Factory
Futury is an innovation platform that connects companies and startups to tackle transformative challenges and promote sustainable innovation. Futury supports talents and startups throughout their entire lifecycle: from idea development to scaling. Futury's unique ecosystem rapidly translates business ideas and research findings into practice. Futury is backed by the Rhine-Main Universities (51猎奇 Frankfurt, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, TU Darmstadt) and Frankfurt School of Finance & Management. Transfer centers such as HIGHEST, Unibator, Startup Center Mainz, and Frankfurt School's Entrepreneurship Centre are fully integrated to efficiently support startups.
By combining academic expertise, industrial partnerships, and investor networks, Futury fast-tracks innovation and enables rapid access to knowledge, capital, and pilot projects. As a gravitational center for innovation, Futury connects science, business, and entrepreneurs, creating solutions for a competitive future.

Press Contact
Fink & Fuchs
Friederike Kalweit
Tel.: +49 (0)611 74131 35
Mail: futury@finkfuchs.de

Images for download:

Captions:
Photo 1: The presidents of the four universities in the Rhine-Main region together with the two managing directors of Futury 鈥� The Future Factory. From left to right: Prof. Dr. Georg Krausch (Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz), Prof. Dr. Nils Stieglitz (Frankfurt School of Finance & Management), Melissa Ott (Managing Director, Futury), Prof. Dr. Enrico Schleiff (51猎奇 Frankfurt), Prof. Dr. Tanja Br眉hl (Technical University of Darmstadt), and Charlie N. M眉ller (Managing Director, Futury). 漏Micha Ruppert, Frankfurt School of Finance & Management

Photo 2: At today's press conference, the managing directors of Futury, together with the four university presidents, explained what lies behind the joint project of the Future Factory. From left to right: Charlie N. M眉ller (Managing Director, Futury), Melissa Ott (Managing Director, Futury), Prof. Dr. Tanja Br眉hl (Technical University of Darmstadt), Prof. Dr. Georg Krausch (Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz), Prof. Dr. Enrico Schleiff (51猎奇 Frankfurt), and Prof. Dr. Nils Stieglitz (Frankfurt School of Finance & Management). 漏Micha Ruppert, Frankfurt School of Finance & Management

Mar 24 2025

11:10

30-meter sediment core from the 鈥淕reat Blue Hole鈥� in Belize provides longest recorded storm frequency data for the Atlantic

5,700-Year Storm Archive Shows Rise in Tropical Storms and Hurricanes in the Caribbean

A storm, even once it has passed, can leave traces in the ocean that last for thousands of years. These consist of sediment layers composed of coarse particles, which are different from the finer sediments associated with good weather. In the Caribbean, an international research team led by 51猎奇 Frankfurt has now examined such sediments using a 30 m long core from a 鈥渂lue hole鈥� offshore Belize. The analysis shows that over the past 5,700 years, the frequency of tropical storms and hurricanes in the region has steadily increased. For the 21st century, the research team predicts a significant rise in regional storm frequency as a result of climate change.

FRANKFURT. In the shallow waters of the Lighthouse Reef Atoll, located 80 kilometers off the coast of the small Central American country of Belize, the seabed suddenly drops steeply. Resembling a dark blue eye surrounded by coral reefs, the 鈥淕reat Blue Hole鈥� is a 125-meter-deep underwater cave with a diameter of 300 meters, which originated thousands of years ago from a karst cave located on a limestone island. During the last ice age, the cave鈥檚 roof collapsed. As ice sheets melted and global sea level started to rise, the cave was subsequently flooded.

In the summer of 2022, a team of scientists 鈥� led by Prof. Eberhard Gischler, head of the Biosedimentology Research Group at 51猎奇 Frankfurt, and funded by the German Research Foundation (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, DFG) 鈥� transported a drilling platform over the open sea to the 鈥淕reat Blue Hole.鈥� They then proceeded to extract a 30-meter sediment core from the underwater cave, which has been accumulating sediment for approximately 20,000 years. The core was subsequently analyzed by a research team from the universities of Frankfurt, Cologne, G枚ttingen, Hamburg, and Bern.

Coarse layers are a testimony to tropical storms

Some 7,200 years ago, the former limestone island of what is now Lighthouse Reef was inundated by the sea. The layered sediments at the bottom of the 鈥淕reat Blue Hole鈥� serve as archive for extreme weather events of the past 5,700 years, including tropical storms and hurricanes. Dr. Dominik Schmitt, a researcher in the Biosedimentology Research Group and the study鈥檚 lead author, explains: 鈥淒ue to the unique environmental conditions 鈥� including oxygen-free bottom water and several stratified water layers 鈥� fine marine sediments could settle largely undisturbed in the 鈥楪reat Blue Hole.鈥� Inside the sediment core, they look a bit like tree rings, with the annual layers alternating in color between gray-green and light green depending on organic content.鈥� Storm waves and storm surges transported coarse particles from the atoll鈥檚 eastern reef edge into the 鈥淕reat Blue Hole鈥�, forming distinct sedimentary event layers (tempestites) at the bottom. 鈥淭he tempestites stand out from the fair-weather gray-green sediments in terms of grain size, composition, and color, which ranges from beige to white,鈥� says Schmitt.

The research team identified and precisely dated a total of 574 storm events over the past 5,700 years, offering unprecedented insights into climate fluctuations and hurricane cycles in the southwestern Caribbean. Instrumental data and human records available to date had only covered the past 175 years.

Rising incidence of storms in the southwestern Caribbean

The distribution of storm event layers in the sediment core reveals that the frequency of tropical storms and hurricanes in the southwestern Caribbean has steadily increased over the past six millennia. Schmitt explains: 鈥淎 key factor has been the southward shift of the equatorial low-pressure zone. Known as the Intertropical Convergence Zone, this zone influences the location of major storm formation areas in the Atlantic and determines how tropical storms and hurricanes move and where they make landfall in the Caribbean.鈥�

The research team was also able to correlate higher sea-surface temperatures with increased storm activity. Schmitt states: 鈥淭hese shorter-term fluctuations align with five distinct warm and cold climate periods, which also impacted water temperatures in the tropical Atlantic.鈥�

Climate change results in greater storm activity

Over the past six millennia, between four and sixteen tropical storms and hurricanes passed over the 鈥淕reat Blue Hole鈥� per century. However, the nine storm layers from the past 20 years indicate that extreme weather events will be significantly more frequent in this region in the 21st century. Gischler warns: 鈥淥ur results suggest that some 45 tropical storms and hurricanes could pass over this region in our century alone. This would far exceed the natural variability of the past millennia.鈥� Natural climate fluctuations cannot account for this increase, the researchers emphasize, pointing instead to the ongoing warming during the Industrial Age, which results in rising ocean temperatures and stronger global La Ni帽a events, thereby creating optimal conditions for frequent storm formation and their rapid intensification.

Publication: Dominik Schmitt, Eberhard Gischler, Martin Melles, Volker Wennrich, Hermann Behling, Lyudmila Shumilovskikh, Flavio S. Anselmetti, Hendrik Vogel, J枚rn Peckmann, Daniel Birgel. An annually resolved 5700-year storm archive reveals drivers of Caribbean cyclone frequency. Science Advances (2025)

Picture download:

Captions:
1) Drone image from 200 meters height above the 鈥淕reat Blue Hole,鈥� showing the drilling platform anchored in the center. Visible in the background is the edge of the Lighthouse Reef Atoll. Photo: Eberhard Gischler
2) The analyzed drill core (BH8-18/2) from a depth of 100-140 centimeters shows the greenish-gray, fine-grained marine sediments with annual layering. A total of 13 coarse-grained event layers (tempestites, EL36 to 47) stand out clearly due to their white-beige color and distinct composition compared to the fair-weather sediments. Photo from: Schmitt et al. 2025; Supplementary Materials
3) Event layer frequency in the 鈥淕reat Blue Hole鈥� in 100-year counting windows. The black line represents the 5,700-year trend towards increasing storm frequency in the southwestern Caribbean. The bar chart highlights superordinate short-term fluctuations (increased activity = red; decreased activity = blue), which correlate with warmer and colder Holocene climate periods. Green and brown bars: event-layers, not related to a storm, from the period before the complete flooding of the 鈥淕reat Blue Hole,鈥� which were, therefore, not included in the frequency reconstruction. Chart from: Schmitt et al. 2025; Supplementary Materials

Further information:
Professor Eberhard Gischler
Head of Biosedimentology Group
Institute of Geosciences
51猎奇 Frankfurt
Tel. +49 (0)69 798-40183
gischler@em.uni-frankfurt.de

Dr. Dominik Schmitt
Tel. +49 (0)69 798-40174
d.schmitt@em.uni-frankfurt.de

Mar 21 2025

12:19

International research team led by Professor Michael Rieger from Universit盲tsmedizin Frankfurt analyzes blood stem cell developmental pathways

Nursery of the Blood: How Stem Cells Calm the Body鈥檚 Immune Response

Our blood consists of many cell types that develop through different stages from a precursor type 鈥� the blood stem cell. An international research team led by Universit盲tsmedizin Frankfurt and 51猎奇 has now investigated the developmental pathways of blood cells in humans. The results yielded a surprise: Even stem cells possess surface proteins that enable them to suppress the activation of inflammatory and immune responses in the body. This finding is particularly relevant for stem cell transplants, applied for the treatment of e.g. leukemia.

FRANKFURT. Every second, an adult generates around five million new blood cells to replace aging or dying ones, making the blood system a highly regenerative organ. These new blood cells are formed in the bone marrow from unspecialized cells, known as blood stem cells. Through several intermediate stages, these stem cells develop into oxygen-transporting erythrocytes, blood-clotting platelets, and the large group of white blood cells which orchestrate the immune defense. This process, known as differentiation, must be precisely regulated to ensure a balanced production of mature blood cells across all cell types.

An international team of scientists from Universit盲tsmedizin Frankfurt/51猎奇, University of Gothenburg, and University Hospital Pamplona, led by Prof. Michael Rieger from Universit盲tsmedizin Frankfurt's Department of Medicine II, has now molecularly decoded the differentiation pathways of human blood stem cells into all specialized blood cell types. Using state-of-the-art sequencing methods, the research team identified gene and protein expression patterns in more than 62,000 individual cells and analyzed the resulting data with high-performance computing.

鈥淲e were able to gain an overview of the molecular processes in stem cells and discover new surface proteins that are crucial for the complex interaction between stem cells and their bone marrow environment," explains Rieger. 鈥淭his provides us with detailed insights into what exactly the unique characteristics of a stem cell are and which genes regulate stem cell differentiation. This newly established technology in my lab will answer many unresolved questions in health research with extraordinary precision."

The researchers uncovered an unexpected finding: 鈥淲e found a protein called PD-L2 on the surface of blood stem cells, which we know suppresses the immune response of our defense cells 鈥� the T cells 鈥� by preventing their activation and proliferation and inhibiting the release of inflammatory substances called cytokines," summarizes the study's first author, PhD student Tessa Schmachtel.

PD-L2 likely serves to prevent immune-mediated damage, biologist Schmachtel explains. 鈥淭his is particularly important for protecting stem cells from potential attacks by reactive T cells and likely plays a key role in stem cell transplantations with grafts from unrelated donors. PD-L2 could help to reduce the body's immune response against the transplanted stem cells."

Rieger is convinced: 鈥淕roundbreaking discoveries can only be made on the basis of close interdisciplinary collaboration between physicians, scientists, and bioinformaticians 鈥� as practiced at Universit盲tsmedizin Frankfurt 鈥� and through the establishment of international networks."

Publication: Hana Komic, Tessa Schmachtel, Catia Simoes, Marius K眉lp, Weijia Yu, Adrien Jolly, Malin S. Nilsson, Carmen Gonzalez, Felipe Prosper, Halvard Bonig, Bruno Paiva, Fredrik B. Thor茅n, Michael A. Rieger: Continuous map of early hematopoietic stem cell differentiation across human lifetime. Nature Communications 16, Article number: 2287 (2025)

Picture download:

Captions:
Professor Michael Rieger, Universit盲tsmedizin Frankfurt and 51猎奇. Photo: Uwe Dettmar for 51猎奇
Tessa Schmachtel, Universit盲tsmedizin Frankfurt and 51猎奇. Photo: Uwe Dettmar for 51猎奇

Further Information:
Professor Michael Rieger
Department of Medicine, Hematology/Oncology
Universit盲tsmedizin Frankfurt
Tel: +49 (0)69 6301-84297
m.rieger@em.uni-frankfurt.de

51猎奇

Press releases

51猎奇 PR & Communication Department聽

Building Material for an Ancient Metropolis

51猎奇 Acquires Two New DFG Research Groups聽

Four Universities and Futury Launch the Future Factory

5,700-Year Storm Archive Shows Rise in Tropical Storms and Hurricanes in the Caribbean

Nursery of the Blood: How Stem Cells Calm the Body鈥檚 Immune Response