Goethe-Universit盲t 鈥� Press releases

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

Mar 17 2025

13:18

Scientists at 51猎奇 discover how the oldest enzyme of cellular respiration works 鈥� potential applications in removing CO2 from exhaust gases

Without oxygen: How primordial microbes breathed

A team of scientists from 51猎奇 Frankfurt, University of Marburg and Stockholm University have elucidated an ancient mechanism of cellular respiration. To that end, they studied bacteria that feed on the gases carbon dioxide and hydrogen, and turn them into acetic acid 鈥� a metabolic pathway that emerged very early in evolution. The international team has now been able to resolve the mystery of how the microbes use this process to generate energy. Their findings are also interesting for another reason: Since the microorganisms remove CO2 from their environment, they are seen as a beacon of hope in the fight against climate change.

FRANKFURT. Animals, plants and many other living organisms inhale oxygen to 鈥渂urn" (technically: oxidize) compounds like sugar into CO2 and water 鈥� a process during which the energy-rich molecule ATP is produced. Cells require ATP to power vital reactions. In the early phase of our planet's existence, however, the earth's atmosphere did not yet contain any oxygen. Nevertheless, studies of ancient bacteria that still occur today in ecosystems without oxygen, e.g. in hot springs at the bottom of the ocean, suggest that a special form of respiration could have existed even then.

These microorganisms 鈥渞espire" carbon dioxide and hydrogen into acetic acid. The metabolic pathway with which they do so has been known for some time. The question that remained unanswered until now is how they use this process to produce ATP. The current study now provides an answer. 鈥淲e were able to show that the production of acetic acid itself activates a sophisticated mechanism as part of which sodium ions are pumped out of the bacterial cell into the environment," explains Prof. Volker M眉ller, Chair of Molecular Microbiology and Bioenergetics at 51猎奇 Frankfurt. 鈥淭his reduces the sodium concentration inside the cell, whereby the cell envelope acts like a kind of dam for the ions. Once this dam is opened, the sodium ions flow back into the cell, driving a kind of molecular turbine that generates ATP."

Cell respiration enzyme isolated just a few years ago

A conglomerate of different proteins known as the Rnf complex plays a key role in this process. These proteins are largely embedded inside the membrane surrounding the bacterial cell. 鈥淭he complex is so sensitive that we were only able to isolate it a few years ago," M眉ller emphasizes. When carbon dioxide reacts with hydrogen to form acetic acid, electrons are transferred from the hydrogen to the carbon atom via a series of different intermediate steps, in which the Rnf complex plays a mediating role: it takes up and passes on the electrons.

In the current study, the scientists have now shown what exactly happens during this process. Structural biologist Anuj Kumar 鈥� a PhD student in both M眉ller's research group as well as that of Dr. Jan Schuller at the University of Marburg 鈥� used a sophisticated method known as cryo-electron microscopy, as part of which the purified Rnf complex of the Acetobacterium woodii bacterium was 鈥渟hock-frozen" and then dripped onto a carrier plate. A thin film of ice is created in the process, which contains millions of Rnf complexes that can be observed using an electron microscope. Since they fall onto the carrier plate differently during the dripping process, it is possible to see different sides of them under the microscope.

鈥淭hese images can be combined into a three-dimensional one, which gave us a precise insight into the structure of the complex 鈥� especially those parts that are essential to the transfer of electrons," Kumar explains. The analysis of images taken at different intervals shows that far from being rigid, the individual components of the complex move back and forth dynamically. This allows the electron carriers to bridge longer distances and pass on their cargo.

Fundamentally new mechanism

The question remained: How does the flow of electrons drive the outflow of sodium ions? A molecular dynamics simulation by Prof. Dr. Ville Kaila's working group at Stockholm University provided an initial answer to this question. A key role is played by a cluster of iron and sulphur atoms located in the middle of the membrane, which, after picking up an electron, becomes negatively charged. 鈥淭he positively charged sodium ions from inside the cell are drawn to this cluster, just like a magnet," explains Jennifer Roth, a doctoral candidate in M眉ller's research group. 鈥淭his attraction in turn causes the proteins to shift around the iron-sulphur cluster, much like a rocker switch: they create an opening leading to the outside of the membrane, through which the sodium ions are once again released."

Roth was able to confirm this process by making specific genetic changes to the Rnf proteins. The fact that this fundamentally new mechanism could be elucidated is a testament to the successful cooperation between the three universities. Making the results even more interesting is the microorganisms' ability to absorb CO2 from their environment during the acetic acid production process. This ability could potentially be used to remove greenhouse gases from industrial waste emissions, for example. It could help slow down climate change while simultaneously providing valuable starting materials for the chemical industry. 鈥淥nce we know how the bacteria generate energy in the process, we may be able to optimize this process in a manner that would allow us to produce even higher-quality end products," is M眉ller's hope. The findings could also provide starting points for new drugs against pathogens with similar respiratory enzymes.

Publication: Anuj Kumar, Jennifer Roth, Hyunho Kim, Patricia Saura, Stefan Bohn, Tristan Reif-Trauttmansdorff, Anja Schubert, Ville R. I. Kaila, Jan M. Schuller, Volker M眉ller: Molecular principles of redox-coupled sodium pumping of the ancient Rnf machinery. Nature Communications (2025)

Background:
How bacteria gain energy through CO2 fixation (2022)

Oldest enzyme in cellular respiration found (2020)

New metabolic pathway discovered in rumen microbiome (2020)

Picture download:

Captions:
1) The acetogenic bacterium Acetobacterium woodii. The arrows indicate the planes of division of the rod-shaped bacterium. Photo: Mayer et al. 1977
2) Structure and electrical connectivity in the Rnf complex of Acetobacterium woodii. Graphic: Kumar et al., 2025
3) The principal investigators: Professor Volker M眉ller, Professor Ville R.I. Kaila, and Dr. Jan M. Schuller (from left). Photo: private

Further information:
Professor Volker M眉ller
Molecular Microbiology and Bioenergetics
Institute for Molecular Biosciences
51猎奇 Frankfurt
Tel: +49 (0)69 798-29507
vmueller@bio.uni-frankfurt.de

Mar 14 2025

10:00

This year鈥檚 Paul Ehrlich and Ludwig Darmstaedter Prizes will be awarded at Frankfurt鈥檚 Paulskirche later today聽

A chance to fight both cancer and inflammation and a prospect for dementia diagnostics聽

In recognition of their discovery of one of our immune system's foundations, physician Andrea Ablasser, virologist Glen Barber and biochemist Zhijian J. Chen will be awarded the Paul Ehrlich and Ludwig Darmstaedter Prize 2025, endowed with 鈧�120,000, in Frankfurt's Paulskirche today. The signaling pathway they discovered protects us like an alarm system against infections or cancer, but at the same time is also susceptible to harmful false alarms. Drugs interfering with this signaling pathway are already being developed. This year's Paul Ehrlich and Ludwig Darmstaedter Early Career Award goes to biologist Tobias Ackels for his discovery that mammals smell faster than they breathe 鈥� which opens a new door to understanding brain function.

FRANKFURT 鈥� Neither foreign nor our own DNA has any business in our cells' plasma. Any foreign genetic information that appears here comes from viruses or bacteria, while our own DNA can enter the plasma from the cell nucleus or the cell power plants (mitochondria) as a result of cancer or cellular stress. The cGAS sensor recognizes this danger: When it encounters DNA in the plasma, it clasps it and forms the messenger substance cGAMP, which 鈥� after docking onto the signal transducer STING 鈥搕hen triggers a defense reaction of the immune system. cGAS and cGAMP were discovered by Zhijian J. Chen, STING by Glen Barber. Andrea Ablasser characterized cGAMP in detail and synthesized the first STING inhibitor. Many biotech and pharmaceutical companies are now working on developing cGAS and STING antagonists, which could prove to be effective agents against diseases in which the cGAS-STING alarm is falsely directed against the patient's own body. A cGAS antagonist for the treatment of the widespread autoimmune disease lupus erythematosus is due to enter phase II clinical trials this spring. Conversely, almost 20 STING activators that enhance the effect of established cancer immunotherapies are currently in early phases of clinical development worldwide. By triggering the DNA alarm, these activators are capable of transforming so-called 鈥渃old tumors" that do not respond to checkpoint inhibitors alone into 鈥渉ot tumors" that are susceptible to immune attack and can be destroyed by T cells. 鈥淲ith the discovery and mapping of the cGAS-STING signaling pathway, the award winners have opened up completely new approaches to drug research," explains Thomas Boehm, Chairman of Paul Ehrlich Foundation's Scientific Council. 鈥淭his opens up the possibility for medicine to treat infections, cancer and autoimmune diseases more effectively than before."

Olfaction is fundamentally different from all other senses, as it is closely linked to emotions and memories. A 鈥渟niff" was previously considered to be the smallest information processing unit for odors 鈥� an assumption that has now been disproved by the winner of the Paul Ehrlich and Ludwig Darmstaedter Early Career Award. Using a self-constructed odor delivery device, Tobias Ackels experimentally recorded for the first time how mice perceive odors. He discovered that they smell faster than they breathe. The nocturnal animals can extract new information from dynamic scent clouds up to 40 times per second, using tiny time intervals to derive an image of the space. Since smell is the most primal sense in evolutionary terms, understanding it is probably key to unlocking the functioning of the entire brain. This applies in particular to the connection between smell and memory, which Ackels is researching. Olfactory disorders could serve as biomarkers for the early detection of dementia.

Paul Ehrlich and Ludwig Darmstaedter Prize 2025

Andrea Ablasser, born in 1983, is Professor of Life Sciences at the 脡cole polytechnique f茅d茅rale de Lausanne in Switzerland.

Glen Barber, born in 1962, is a professor in the Department of Surgery at Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA, where he heads the Center for Innate Immunity and Inflammation.

Zhijian J. Chen, born in 1966, is George L. MacGregor Distinguished Chair in Biomedical Science, Howard Hughes Medical Investigator and Professor of Molecular Biology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, USA.

Paul Ehrlich and Ludwig Darmstaedter Early Career Award 2025

Tobias Ackels, born in 1984, is a W2 professor at the Institute of Experimental Epileptology and Cognitive Research at the University of Bonn and heads the 鈥淪ensory Dynamics and Behavior" group.

Further information
Press office of the Paul Ehrlich Foundation
Joachim Pietzsch
Phone: +49 (0)69 36007188
E-mail: j.pietzsch@wissenswort.com

51猎奇

Press releases 鈥� March 2025

51猎奇 PR & Communication Department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

Without oxygen: How primordial microbes breathed

A chance to fight both cancer and inflammation and a prospect for dementia diagnostics聽