News from the Faculty of Medicine in Bochum
Here you will find the latest news and press releases from the Faculty of Medicine at Ruhr University Bochum.
For older press releases, please take a look at our archive. Do you have questions about our faculty or would you like to report on us? Here you will find our press contact.
News
SALUS Project – Template for Psychiatric Advance Directive Published
A research team at Ruhr University Bochum, working together with people with lived experience, relatives, and experts, has developed Germany’s first psychiatric advance directive template of its kind. The freely accessible document enables people with mental health conditions to specify in advance which treatments they want—or do not want—during times of crisis. An important step toward greater self-determination and reduced coercion in psychiatric care.
New Hope for Pompe Disease: TRACK-PD Research Project Launches in Bochum
At BG University Hospital Bergmannsheil, the TRACK-PD project is investigating how treatment effects in Pompe disease can be measured more precisely and improved on an individual basis. By using state-of-the-art MRI technology, biomarker analyses, and wearable devices, the research team aims to gain deeper insights into disease progression and develop personalized treatment strategies. This represents an important step toward sustainably improving the quality of life and future prospects of those affected.
Emotions play a role in chronic inflammatory bowel diseases
Why do people with chronic inflammatory bowel diseases often experience abdominal pain even during symptom-free phases? A research team at Ruhr University Bochum, led by Dr. Hanna Öhlmann from the Center for Medical Psychology and Translational Neuroscience, shows that inflammation alone is not the whole story. Instead, the emotional processing of pain plays a key role. The researchers found that in affected individuals, the link between learned fear and pain perception is altered—a finding that could open up new approaches for personalized therapies.
Knappschaft Kliniken Universitätsklinikum Bochum Launches Dementia Treatment with New Alzheimer’s Drug
For the first time, the Neurology Clinic at Knappschaft Kliniken Universitätsklinikum Bochum is offering patients therapy with the new Alzheimer’s medications. Clinic director Prof. Dr. Dr. Corinna Seliger-Behme emphasizes: ‘We are very pleased to now be able to offer affected patients a treatment option – while carefully evaluating each case due to potential side effects.”
Award-Winning Research on Mental Health
Medical student Charlotte Milewczyk from the LWL University Hospital Hamm has earned second place in the prestigious Young Science Best Medical Paper Award for her research on mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. Her findings reveal how closely depression, anxiety, and eating disorders are interconnected—offering new insights that could shape future treatment approaches for young patients.
Understanding unstable proteins
About 80% of disease-related proteins—including those involved in cancer and neurodegenerative disorders—lack a stable structure. These intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) can rapidly adapt to changing cellular conditions. A research team led by Puja Shrestha and Prof. Simon Ebbinghaus (Ruhr University Bochum) closely examined one of these proteins and characterized its dynamic behavior. Their findings were published in “Advanced Science.”
New expertise in the field of Electrophysiology at Medical Clinic II
The Department of Cardiology and Electrophysiology is strengthening its team: Since October, Vasileios Gkizas, MD M.Sc., has been heading the Invasive Electrophysiology unit, bringing extensive experience from major centers in Berlin and Essen. Together with Prof. Haghikia, Prof. Gotzmann, and a highly skilled clinical team, the Medical Clinic II is excellently positioned to provide optimal care for the full spectrum of cardiac rhythm disorders.
Platform for digital health start-ups becomes permanent
After a three-year development phase, the DigiHealthStart.NRW health platform is being established as a permanent ecosystem for the digital health industry. The platform brings together around 200 start-ups and 800 members. Its long-term operation is jointly supported by the ZENIT GmbH Transformation Agency, AOK Rheinland/Hamburg, and Ruhr University Bochum.
Center for Rare Diseases Welcomes New Director
Prof. Dr. Dr. Robert Steinfeld is the new Medical Director of the Center for Rare Diseases (CeSER) at the University Children’s Hospital Bochum, succeeding Prof. Corinna Grasemann.
Using a tablet before bed not as harmful as previously thought
It is often said that the blue light emitted by tablets and smartphones makes falling asleep more difficult, as it affects the production of the sleep hormone melatonin. Three researchers—Prof. Dr. Sabine Seehagen, Neele Hermesch, and Dr. Carolin Konrad from the Chair of Developmental Psychology at Ruhr University Bochum—investigated this effect in toddlers in a home setting as part of an extensively designed study. This was reported by Rubin, the science magazine of Ruhr University.
Extension of the Collaborative Research Center on Extinction Learning
How do we unlearn what we have learned? Since 2017, the team of Collaborative Research Center 1280 “Extinction Learning” at Ruhr University Bochum has been investigating the complex mechanisms of forgetting. The German Research Foundation has now fully approved the third funding period, allowing this internationally recognized research to continue.
Stay Healthy – Prevent Actively – Act Together
On November 20, 2025, the Ruhr University Bochum campus will be all about health: At the Prevention Day 2025, experts from university medicine will offer practical tips on how to prevent diseases. From heart health and nutrition to mental well-being, students and staff are invited to learn, engage, and take proactive steps toward a healthier lifestyle.