Press Releases

Alexander Westermann investigates the intestinal microbiota. He has now been awarded a Starting Grant of 1.5 million euros from the European Research Council (ERC).

Researchers from Würzburg, Freiburg and Leipzig discover a mechanism for prioritizing the immune response in bacteria.

Excessive sugar consumption can promote inflammatory processes in the body and facilitate the development of autoimmune diseases. A research team at the University of Würzburg has now deciphered new details of these processes.

The chemistry department in Würzburg aims to develop a new class of chiral organic semiconductors - for next-generation applications in organic electronics. The project is funded by the European Research Council with 1.5 million euros.

Virology professor Lars Dölken has once again received a Consolidator Grant worth two million euros. With this award from the European Research Council, he is advancing a new project on herpesviruses.

Cynthia Sharma studies how bacteria adapt to changing environments, focusing on RNA-binding proteins, about which very little is known so far. For this, she has now received an ERC Consolidator Grant endowed with two million euros.

For foreign students or researchers who feel discriminated against at the university, there is a central contact person: the International Mentor.

Infection biologist Cynthia Sharma, virologist Lars Dölken and chemist Prince Ravat win substantial funding for their research – ERC grants worth a total of 5.5 million euros.

Russia’s attack on Ukraine doesn’t leave the academic community unaffected. Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg (JMU) will halt its institutional collaborations with Russian partners for the time being; a dialogue between individuals is still possible.

In humans, only nerves and muscle cells are electrically excitable, whereas in plants almost all cells are. This is due to a sophisticated mechanism in an ion channel of the vacuole.

Infections with several pathogens simultaneously increase the risk of cervical cancer—these results from a study conducted on artificial 3D tissue models.

Würzburg researchers have highlighted and quantified a three-fold coupling between exciton, photon, and phonon in a microcavity with embedded two-dimensional materials.

How do canopy insects react to the sudden disappearance of their host tree? A study in the floodplain forests along the river Elbe shows surprising results.

The carnivorous Venus flytrap can be anaesthetised with ether. Some surprising parallels to anaesthesia in humans emerge.

In northern Spain, wild honeybees use hollow electricity poles as nesting cavities. Natural areas in the surroundings promote the colonies’ chances to survive the winter.