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
Bochum detects sepsis
With the city-wide campaign #BochumRecognizesSepsis, healthcare stakeholders across Bochum are joining forces to promote greater awareness, vigilance, and early action when it comes to sepsis. Because sepsis can affect anyone – and it is always a medical emergency. Several events focusing on sepsis will take place in Bochum throughout March. These include a Science Slam at the Schauspielhaus Bochum, a reading by author Stephan Schäfer, an information event for healthcare professionals, and a hands-on activity where educational materials will be packed and distributed to medical practices and pharmacies.
Super microscope against leukemia
Researchers from the Medical Faculty at Ruhr University Bochum led by Prof. Dr. Huu Phuc Nguyen have clinically evaluated a high-resolution method for genetic analysis in leukemia. Using optical genome mapping, Dr. Marco Tembrink was able to detect structural genomic alterations with far higher resolution than conventional microscopy and identify a previously unknown genetic alteration. For this work, he received the 2026 doctoral thesis award of the German Society of Human Genetics.
Guideline published on the use of reserve antibiotics
Researchers led by Prof. Dr. Sören Gatermann from the Medical Faculty at Ruhr University Bochum have published a new clinical guideline for the treatment of severe infections caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria. It supports hospital physicians in using reserve antibiotics in a targeted way—improving recovery chances for critically ill patients while preserving the effectiveness of these vital drugs.
A highly precise target for drugs against tropical diseases
Researchers led by Prof. Dr. Ralf Erdmann together with Dr. Chethan Krishna and Dr. Vishal Kalel from the Medical Faculty at Ruhr University Bochum have discovered a key vulnerability in parasites that cause tropical diseases such as sleeping sickness, Chagas disease, and leishmaniasis. The protein PEX38 is essential for the parasites’ survival but is not present in humans. This makes it a promising target for the development of more precise and less toxic therapies.
New Player in Pulmonary Hypertension Discovered
Prof. Dr. Daniela Wenzel, Dr. Alexander Seidinger, and Dr. Michaela Matthey from the Chair of Systems Physiology at Ruhr University Bochum have identified Beta Arrestin 1 as a previously unsuspected player in pulmonary hypertension. The protein plays a key role in the transport of blood vessel–regulating signaling molecules and opens new perspectives for understanding the disease.
Experimental Surgery receives inaugural AIM3R Award
The Department of Experimental Surgery at Knappschaft Kliniken University Hospital Bochum has received the AIM3R Award, presented for the first time by the Medical Faculty of Ruhr University Bochum. The prize honors an innovative 3D test system based on human cells that enables precise evaluation of implant materials entirely without animal testing.
How damaged huntingtin proteins are degraded
The team led by Prof. Dr. Huu Phuc Nguyen at Ruhr University Bochum has identified key steps that control the degradation of the mutant huntingtin protein. The discovery of precise ubiquitin markings opens up new perspectives for potential therapeutic strategies against the currently incurable Huntington’s disease.
Mitochondria as central hubs of cellular communication
Mitochondria are far more than the cell’s “powerhouses”: as central signaling organelles, they integrate metabolism, stress responses, and immune functions. A research team led by Prof. Dr. Konstanze F. Winklhofer at Ruhr University Bochum highlights how mitochondrial signaling shapes inflammatory processes and can drive both protective mechanisms and disease development. The review article was published on January 28, 2026, in Molecular Cell.
Insights into the Logistics of the Cell’s Waste Disposal System
Cutting-edge research from Ruhr University Bochum provides new insights into the development of neurodegenerative diseases: An international team led by Prof. Dr. Konstanze F. Winklhofer has uncovered a key mechanism of the cell’s waste disposal system. The study focuses on the protein optineurin, whose malfunction is linked to disorders such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia. Published in Advanced Science, the findings highlight how fundamental biochemical research at Ruhr University Bochum may open up new avenues for future therapeutic approaches.
Bad Oeynhausen: Ruhr University Bochum Honors Two Research Projects
At the Medical Faculty’s FORUM conference, early-career scientists presented their latest projects with great success. Two outstanding research initiatives closely linked to Ruhr University Bochum and the Heart and Diabetes Center NRW received special recognition. The award-winning studies provide new insights into the genetic causes of cardiomyopathies and the molecular mechanisms underlying right heart failure, highlighting RUB’s key role as a hub for innovative, interdisciplinary cardiovascular research.
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.