The brain has the ability to modify the contacts between neurons. Among other things, that is how it prevents brain activity from getting out of control. Researchers from the University Hospital Bonn, together with a team from Australia, have identified a mechanism that plays an important role in this. In cultured cells, this mechanism alters the synaptic coupling of neurons and thus stimulus transmission and processing. If it is disrupted, diseases such as epilepsy, schizophrenia or autism may be the result. The findings are published in the journal Cell Reports.

Researchers at the Universities of Bonn and Sao Paulo have succeeded in mitigating chronic inflammation in mice using customized "mini-antibodies." These nanobodies enabled them to dissolve molecular complexes in tissue that normally activate the immune system. The nanobodies produced may in future help to slow down unwanted inflammatory reactions that cause diseases such as arthritis or neurodegeneration. The study is published in the journal EMBO Molecular Medicine.

It is well known: Healthy food promotes healing. Nevertheless, many hospitals pay little attention to nutrition. A nationwide unique teaching project at the University Hospital Bonn (UKB) now aims to bring together medical students in their internship year (PJler) and nutritionists in their master's studies. The goal of the interprofessional training series, which started on April 13: Healthy food - as well as the prescribed medication - is an important therapy factor. Furthermore, nutritional medicine is to become an interprofessional subject at the UKB.

The University of Bonn is able to report fresh improvements in the QS World University Rankings by subject. Judged to be one of the best of its kind in Germany, our Mathematics Department also enjoys a leading international reputation as 49th in the world. Other of our subjects were also able to improve their international standing.

The North Rhine-Westphalian state government is supporting five outstanding research networks in pioneering research fields with a total of 81.2 million euros. Among them is "iBehave" under the leadership of the University of Bonn, which is being funded with around 20 million euros. The university of excellence is also involved in NRW-CANTAR.

The University of Bonn has once again received excellent reinforcement: Dominik Bach now fills a so-called Hertz Chair, which is designed to combine disciplines in a unique way. The internationally renowned psychologist, physician and mathematician will establish a new focus at the interface between neuroscience, psychiatry and computer science in the Transdisciplinary Research Area "Life and Health". He and his team want to use mathematical methods to decipher how the brain works. To this end, they analyze human behavior in extreme situations.

This was announced at the "Gala of German Science" of the DHV and the German University Foundation, which took place online due to the pandemic. The Rector of the University of Bonn, Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c.. Michael Hoch, the "Rector of the Year" of the two previous years, came in 2nd place.

On March 29, the extension to the teaching building was officially opened at Bonn University Hospital (UKB). The structure is connected to the existing building via a bridge and offers excellent conditions for the more than 3,000 medical students due to its technical equipment. The extensive remodeling and expansion measures were completed within the planned schedule of one year while strictly adhering to the budget. The construction was financed through the funding program for improving the quality of teaching in medicine (MIWF - NRW / 2016), which is part of the Higher Education Pact III of the federal and state governments.