Newsroom

Researchers from Göttingen and Karlsruhe have developed a new treatment approach for pancreatic cancer. The innovative method promises to be able to treat the disease in a more targeted way and with fewer side effects in the future. more

Researchers led by Ashwin Chari and Holger Stark have visualised the structure of this fatty acid factory at an unprecedented resolution of 1.9 Å. At this level of detail, they were able to directly observe enzyme reactions and track a complete fatty acid production cycle. The findings provide new approaches for combating pathogens and producing fatty acids sustainably. more

Until a mammalian embryo implants in the uterus, the egg cell has to supply it with everything it needs to survive, including essential proteins. Researchers have now elucidated how egg cells store these proteins. Their experiments also provide important insights into how errors in protein storage can lead to infertility. Structures of the egg cell that have puzzled scientists for over 60 years play a crucial role in this. more

Researchers at our institute and colleagues have now found a possible explanation in planarian flatworms. Analyzing head regeneration abilities in a large collection of planarian species, they found that these capacities vary greatly and depend on how the different species reproduce. more

Researchers have succeeded in measuring interactions between electrons in the electron microscope. In the process, they discovered an “energetic fingerprint” in which the distribution of the velocities of the electrons is very characteristic of their respective numbers. With the help of their findings, they developed a new method that can increase the performance of various electron microscopes. more

The magnetic resonance imaging method developed by Jens Frahm at the MPI for Biophysical Chemistry (now MPI for Multidisciplinary Sciences), FLASH 2, makes processes in the body visible even in motion. At the Institute for Pediatric Radiology at Leipzig University Hospital, it enables to examine young children without sedation or anesthesia for the first time. (Press release by Max Planck Innovation) more

Vlad Pena's team has now deciphered the steps that activate the spliceosome. The nanomachine converts the building instructions for proteins in the cell into a readable form. As the researchers discovered, two molecular motors activate the spliceosome. more

Alzheimer’s is considered the world’s most common neurodegenerative disease. Researchers have now shown that age-related damage to the insulating layer around nerve cells, called myelin, actively promotes Alzheimer’s-related changes in the brain. more

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most common inflammatory disease of the central nervous system. A German-Dutch research team has now discovered that the ultrastructure of the normal-appearing white matter in MS patients is already altered before the first foci of inflammation appear. more

Researchers have, for the first time, recreated in the lab the complex nanomachine that starts the garbage disposal system in living cells – and it works quite differently from other cellular machines. Instead of a molecular “on” and “off” switch, the machinery is set in motion and stopped by means of “protein origami”. more

In Parkinson’s patients, alpha-synuclein proteins clump together to form fibrils, which presumably damage nerve cells. A research team has now shown how lipids bind to these fibrils and influence their arrangement. They also demonstrated how the drug candidate anle138b attaches to the lipidic fibrils. The findings could open up new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. more

When we change our diet or fall ill, our brain has to adapt. Researchers at our institute have discovered that the five most important cell types in the brain differ significantly in their ability to adjust their metabolism to changing influences. (in German) more

Scientists at our institute and University of Leipzig Medical Center have demonstrated that mutations in a gene containing the blueprint for a molecular transporter are associated with a specific form of early childhood epileptic encephalopathy. (in German) more

Scientists at our institute, together with colleagues from Switzerland, succeeded in generating controlled electron-photon pairs in an electron microscope. The study’s findings expand the toolbox of quantum technology. more

VPM1002, developed by Emeritus Director Stefan H.E. Kaufmann and his team, has also fewer side effects compared to BCG, the only vaccine available to date o prevent tuberculosis .  more

From October 27 to November 5, renowned researchers and authors will report on their exciting findings in astronomy, biology, the humanities, and social sciences in the scientifc lecture series Wissenschaftsreihe beim Göttinger Literaturherbst. The lectures in the Paulinerkirche in Göttingen begin at 7 pm. (in German) more

For the fourth time, scientists from the four Max Planck Institutes in Göttingen will visit secondary schools in the city on January 26. There, they report on their daily work and provide unique insights into current research topics. (in German) more

The former Managing Director of the caesar Research Center (since 2022 MPI for the Neurobiology of Behavior - caesar) will continue to research on how living cells process signals in Göttingen with an emeritus group. His team wants to understand how cells perceive stimuli and respond physiologically. (in German) more

The exhibition “Glanzlichter” (“Highlights”) promises a reunion with the artists who have presented their works in the series Kunst am Fassberg over the past 20 years. The opening ceremony takes place on Saturday, October 22 at 4 pm. (in German) more

From October 28 to November 6, internationally renowned researchers and authors will report in the scientifc lecture serious Wissenschaftsreihe beim Göttinger Literaturherbst on current challenges of our time − such as the development of vaccines, the shaping of the energy transition, migration, and environmental protection. The lectures in the Göttingen Paulinerkirche begin at 7 pm. (in German) more

On January 1, 2022, the former Max Planck Institutes (MPI) for Biophysical Chemistry and for Experimental Medicine in Göttingen merged to form our new institute. Last Friday, we celebrated the foundation with high-ranking guests from politics, industry, and science. (in German) more

The Society’s Senate unanimously appointed the Managing Director of our institute as new President-elect for the term of office from 2023 to 2029. He will take over the role in June 2023 on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the Max Planck Society in Göttingen. more

The Max Planck Institutes for Biophysical Chemistry and Experimental Medicine have merged as of January 1, 2022. The new Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences will cover a much broader spectrum of research, thus promoting disciplinary diversity and collaboration. With a total of 16 departments and more than 25 research groups, the new MPI will be the largest institute in the Max Planck Society.
  more

The Max Planck Society is funding the International Max Planck Research School for Genome Science for another six years. The PhD program combines experimental and computational methods to train young scientists in the field of genome research (in German). more

On October 18, the institute's biotope project BioDiversum was inaugurated. Guest of honor was the well-known ornithologist and conservationist Peter Berthold, who even in his old age never tires of promoting his heartfelt mission: a conservation concept that also works in our intensively used and spoiled landscape. more

Once again this fall, the lecture series Wissenschaft beim Göttinger Literaturherbst offers impressive insights into the world of cutting-edge science. From October 29 to November 6, nine internationally renowned researchers will present their latest findings on current scientific topics in the Paulinerkirche. (in German) more

In his podcast #wissenschafftzukunft, Lower Saxony's Science Minister Björn Thümler talks with brain researcher Hannelore Ehrenreich about the importance of basic research in the Corona pandemic and how the head of clinical neuroscience at the Max Planck Institute for Experimental Medicine plans to fight Covid-19 with Epo. more

The campaign initiated by the German Research Foundation and Tierversuche verstehen advocates for transparent information and open communication about animal experiments in research. The MPI for Biophysical Chemistry is one of the first 53 research institutions to sign the campaign. more

The MPI for Biophysical Chemistry and for Experimental Medicine will merge. On March 12, the decision-making bodies of the Max Planck Society approved this plan. Formally, both institutions will be closed and a new MPI will be founded. The future institute will bring together natural science and basic medical research. more

The BioDiversum will be built in the coming months. It will provide a habitat for endangered animal and plant species. Today, earthworks for the pond began, the biotope’s central measure. With this project on its premises near Nikolausberg, the institute wants to contribute its share to stopping the massive loss of biodiversity. more

Once again, trainees from various fields of work at the MPI for Multidisciplinary Sciences receive the Max Planck Society’s annual apprenticeship prize, worth 750 euros. Lin Cao, Lili Dederer, Niko Freter, Lucas Majora, and Jakob Suderland are being honored for their outstanding achievements during their now completed training. (in German) more

The European Research Council (ERC) is funding the three Göttingen Campus academics Hauke Hillen, Marieke Oudelaar, and Saskia Limbach with an ERC Starting Grant of about 1.5 million euros each for a period of five years. more

The National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina honors its member Jürgen Troe with the Cothenius Medal for his outstanding scientific life's achievements in the field of chemical reaction kinetics. (in German) more

Constanze Depp and Dmitriy Borodin receive the Otto Hahn Medal of the Max Planck Society for excellence in their dissertations. Borodin is also honored with the Otto Hahn Award for the exceptional quality of his research, Depp additionally receives the Peter Hans Hofschneider Prize. The research organization presented the awards at its annual meeting in Göttingen on June 21. more

Patrick Cramer shares the prestigious award in the life sciences with Eva Nogales from the University of California, Berkeley. Both scientists have made significant contributions to elucidating gene transcription, one of the fundamental processes to life, through the lens of structural biology. more

Aljaz Godec. leader of the Mathematical bioPhysics research group, receives a Consolidator Grant from the European Research Council (ERC). The competition for the funding is fierce: The ERC selected only 371 of 2,222 applications in this round. more

Stefan Hell is awarded the prize together with BioNTech scientists Uğur Şahin, Özlem Türeci, Christoph Huber, and Katalin Karikó. The physicist succeeded in observing living cells at the molecular level using the novel super-resolution microscopy, the foundation said about its decision to honor Hell. (in German) more

The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation has selected the research group leader to recruit outstanding international junior researchers as fellows. (in German) more

The Münster University Society honors the Max Planck scientist for his research achievements in the field of infection biology. The award is endowed with 20,000 euros and was ceremoniously awarded on November 8. (in German) more

The World Laureates Association (WLA) honors our director for his discoveries in the field of cellular logistics. He had key roles in elucidating the principles of transport between the nucleus and cytoplasm, the prize committee emphasized. The prize is worth 10 million Chinese yuan (about 1.4 million euros) and was ceremoniously awarded on November 6 at the 5^th WLA Forum in Shanghai. more

A new record for the Max Planck Society’s (MPS) annual apprenticeship prizes: At our institute, five former trainees and one training facility are among the winners this year. Jana Fahrenbach and Sara Rudert were honored together, Henri Münkel, Robin Paschke, and Dominik Peix were each recognized individually. For its excellent efforts in apprenticeship, the MPS honors the Carpentry at the City Campus. (in German) more

An efficient contrast agent method for MRI developed by Stefan Glöggler raises hopes of being able to distinguish tumors from healthy tissue on the basis of their metabolic activity. The ForTra gGmbH für Forschungstransfer of the Else Kröner-Fresenius Foundation (ForTra) and the European Research Council (ERC) are now providing funding to further develop the method for clinical patient studies. more

The research project FAIR CHARM aims to apply innovations from basic scientific research to clinical applications with the aid of high-resolution, real-time imaging. The EU is funding the international and interdisciplinary project with six million Euro.  more

The order honors the Nobel laureate in chemistry and director of the institute for his special services to science. Admission to the order is one of the highest honors that can be bestowed on researchers or artists in Germany. (in German) more

Jascha Lau and Michael Weber of our institute as well as Mirna Elizabeta Kramar of the MPI for Dynamics and Self-Organization receive the prestigious Otto Hahn Medal. Lau is additionally honored with the Otto Hahn Award allowing him to establish an own research group after a research stay abroad.  more