Goethe-Universität — Press releases

Jan 27 2026

10:54

DFG awards up to €2 million to Frankfurt University Library

Specialized Information Service (FID) Jewish Studies to Be Further Expanded

FRANKFURT. The German Research Foundation (DFG) is providing up to €2 million in funding to continue and further develop the Specialized Information Service (FID) Jewish Studies for another three years. The renewed funding will strengthen the central research infrastructure for Jewish and Israel studies, covering periods from classical antiquity to the present day. The FID has been coordinated by the Johann Christian Senckenberg University Library since 2016. Long-standing partners include Professor Kai Eckert of Mannheim University of Applied Sciences, with the Hamburg State and University Library Carl von Ossietzky joining the consortium more recently.

The FID Jewish Studies provides tailored information services to researchers at universities, research institutes, museums, libraries, and archives working on Jewish history, culture, and the State of Israel. Particular attention is given to the needs of university-based disciplines such as Judaic studies, Jewish studies, Jewish theology, Yiddish studies, and Israel studies.

A central focus of the FID's work is the acquisition and provision of specialist literature, printed sources, and databases. These services build on the internationally renowned Hebraica and Judaica collections held by the Frankfurt University Library, including one of the most significant digital collections in Jewish studies, which offers public access to key works on Jewish history and culture. Through a new cooperation, the Hamburg State and University Library – together with the FID Romance Studies based there – will assume responsibility for literature and resources relating to Judeo-Spanish as well as the history and culture of Sephardic Judaism.

Beyond collection development, the FID offers a broad range of specialized services, including research support, project guidance, publications, events, and discipline-specific data services. During the fourth funding phase (2026–2028), these offerings will be further expanded in close collaboration with academic experts to ensure their medium- and long-term sustainability. The FID also plays a key role in fostering exchange and networking within a research community that spans a wide range of thematic, methodological, and disciplinary approaches. Its central access point is the FID portal (www.jewishstudies.de), which provides access to services such as the specialized subject catalogue, the Research Navigator Jewish Studies, and JudaicaLink. A particular focus is placed on digital research infrastructures. The Linked Open Data service developed by Professor Kai Eckert processes discipline-specific datasets as Linked Open Data and makes them available via a knowledge graph. This includes the indexing of highly specialized resources and the curation of authority data – both of which are increasingly central to contemporary digital research practices.

Contact FID Jewish Studies:
Dr. Kerstin von der Krone, Johann Christian Senckenberg University Library, Tel.: +49 (69) 798 39665, E-Mail: k.vonderkrone@ub.uni-frankfurt.de

Contact for press inquiries:
Melanie Baunemann, Johann Christian Senckenberg University Library, Tel. +49 (0)152 023 506 97, E-Mail: kom@ub.uni-frankfurt.de

Jan 27 2026

10:04

Cancer cells tap into the nervous system’s power grid: Heidelberg neurologist co-founded the research field of “Cancer Neuroscience”

Pulling the Plug on Tumors: Varun Venkataramani Receives Paul Ehrlich and Ludwig Darmstaedter Early Career Award 2026

Neurologist Dr. Varun Venkataramani (36) from Heidelberg University Hospital will be awarded the Paul Ehrlich and Ludwig Darmstaedter Early Career Award 2026, the Scientific Council of the Paul Ehrlich Foundation announced today. The prizewinner has fundamentally expanded our understanding of glioblastomas – particularly malignant brain tumors. They arise from glial cells, whose task is to protect and nourish nerve cells. Venkataramani discovered that glioblastomas hijack the nervous system to tap into electrical signals, which they then use to accelerate their deadly growth. A drug to interrupt this electrical activity is already being tested on patients.

FRANKFURT. Brain tumors do not consist of nerve cells. This is because mature nerve cells – with very few exceptions – have lost the ability to divide. Most brain tumors are gliomas. They are thought to originate from precursors of glial cells. In an adult brain, glial cells are about as numerous as nerve cells (approximately 100 billion), and primarily serve as structural support and nutrient providers. Glioblastomas are particularly dangerous. Even with the best available treatment options, the average survival time from diagnosis to death for patients with this type of tumor is a maximum of 18 months. Glioblastomas double in volume within a month. Their cells spread diffusely through the brain from the tumor core, migrating along nerve pathways. In doing so, they form a network that entangles the nerve cell network by connecting to other glioma cells via extremely long and thin extensions.

When Varun Venkataramani examined these extensions under an electron microscope eleven years ago as part of his medical doctoral thesis, his sharp eye was drawn to a particular section of the image: What he saw was not a connection between two tumor cells, but rather a link between a tumor cell and a nerve cell – via a structure that looked like a synapse, i.e. a classic electrochemical junction between two nerve cells. It seemed so unbelievable that both he and his doctoral advisors initially assumed it was an artifact. But Venkataramani did not give up. Through persistent effort and exceptional methodological skill, supported by his colleagues and mentors, he succeeded in experimentally proving his observation in the following years. In 2019, this work culminated in a sensational publication in the top journal Nature. Glioma cells that aim to spread actively form synaptic contacts with nerve cells. In doing so, they mimic the behavior of immature nerve cells during brain development. Through these synapses, they tap into electrical impulses from presynaptic nerve fibers, which in turn promotes their proliferation and accelerates their spread.

The electrical signals that trigger tumor growth are transmitted in the synaptic cleft between nerve cells and glioma cells, primarily through the release of the neurotransmitter glutamate. It binds to so-called AMPA receptors on the tumor cells, causing calcium ions to flow into the cells and generate an electrical current. These receptors, when overactivated, are also implicated in the development of epileptic seizures. The selective AMPA receptor blocker perampanel has been approved for the treatment of epilepsy since 2012. It could therefore also interrupt the transmission of nerve signals to tumor cells. This is why Venkataramani and his team are rapidly advancing the repurposing of this drug for the previously unapproved indication of glioblastoma. They have already demonstrated its efficacy in preclinical trials. A prospective Phase II clinical trial is currently underway.

The perampanel study marks only the beginning of what Venkataramani sees as the potential development of effective glioma therapies. Recently, his research group – where technology and therapy development go hand in hand – provided proof of concept for a gene therapy approach that could one day be used in the diagnosis and treatment of gliomas. In this procedure, only those nerve cells that are connected to tumor cells via synapses are selectively labeled with dyes. These nerve cells are then primed for programmed cell death (apoptosis). Once they undergo apoptosis, the tumor cells lose the connection that was essential for their growth. In other words, they are disconnected from the nervous system's power grid.

The field of cancer neuroscience did not exist before Venkatarami's discovery. He co-founded it and is playing a key role in its development. He sees his primary task as decoding the brain's “tumor connectome" with ever greater precision. As the field of cancer neuroscience continues to expand, it is becoming increasingly clear that interactions between the nervous system and cancer cells also promote tumor growth in other organs.

Varun Venkataramani, MD, PhD, studied human medicine at Heidelberg University from 2009 to 2016. There, he was selected for the structured doctoral program, which enables particularly gifted medical students to pursue a dual doctorate. In 2019, he earned his Dr. med., followed by a Dr. rer. nat. one year later. Since 2022, he has been leading a 15-member research group at at Heidelberg University's Medical Faculty and also works as a neurologist at the Neurological Clinic of Heidelberg University Hospital.

The prize will be awarded – together with the main prize in 2026 – on March 14, 2026, at 5 p.m. by the Chairman of the Scientific Council of the Paul Ehrlich Foundation in Frankfurt's Paulskirche.

Photos of the award winner and detailed background information “Inside the tumor's power grid" can be downloaded at: www.paul-ehrlich-stiftung.de

Further information
Press Office Paul Ehrlich Foundation
Joachim Pietzsch
Phone: +49 (0)69 36007188
Email: j.pietzsch@wissenswort.com
www.paul-ehrlich-stiftung.de

Jan 26 2026

15:08

International research team secures over €1 million to study newly uncovered Roman cult district

Unlocking the Sacred Landscape of Roman Nida

Several years ago, construction work for a new school in Frankfurt led to a discovery of regional importance: a large Roman sanctuary. This was followed by extensive excavations carried out by Frankfurt’s Monument Office. The findings can now be subjected to comprehensive scientific analysis by an interdisciplinary research team. Funding for this work has been jointly secured by the Archaeological Museum Frankfurt, Goethe University Frankfurt, and the University of Basel.

FRANKFURT. This marks another milestone for Roman-period archaeology in Hesse: The German Research Foundation (DFG) and the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNF) have jointly approved more than €1 million to support the analysis of excavations at the large Roman sanctuary in the ancient city of Nida (Frankfurt-Heddernheim). Over the next three years, the funding will enable researchers to conduct a comprehensive investigation of one of the most significant recent archaeological discoveries in Roman Germania.

Grant application spanning Frankfurt and Basel
Applicants for the project “Exploring the dynamics of a Roman sanctuary – Interdisciplinary studies on spatial organisation and depositions at the central sanctuary in Nida-Heddernheim” include the Archaeological Museum Frankfurt (Dr. Carsten Wenzel); the Institute for Archaeological Sciences at Goethe University Frankfurt (Prof. Anja Klöckner, Classical Archaeology; Prof. Markus Scholz, Archaeology and History of the Roman Provinces; Prof. Astrid Stobbe, Archaeobotany); and the Institute for Integrative Prehistoric and Scientific Archaeology (IPNA) at the University of Basel (Prof. Sabine Deschler-Erb (ⴕ), Dr. Barbara Stopp). Additional cooperation partners include Frankfurt’s City Monument Office [Denkmalamt] and the Roman-Germanic Commission (RGK) of the German Archaeological Institute, also based in Frankfurt. The approved research project was officially presented today at a press conference held at the Archaeological Museum of the City of Frankfurt.

Dr. Ina Hartwig, Frankfurt’s City Commissioner for Culture and Science, commented on the project: “The central cult district of Nida represents an archaeological discovery of almost unparalleled significance in Europe. Its comprehensive scholarly investigation will further establish Frankfurt as a hub of international cutting-edge research. The project demonstrates the strength of our research landscape when museums, universities, non-university research institutions, and heritage conservation work hand in hand to make research visible within the city.”

School construction uncovers Roman cult complex
The cult district of Nida was uncovered during excavations conducted by the Monument Office between 2016 and 2018, and again in 2022, in Frankfurt’s Nordweststadt district. In the course of constructing the new “Römerstadtschule,” an area of more than 4,500 square meters in the center of the Roman city was excavated, revealing a walled complex. The site was almost completely excavated and documented using modern archaeological methods. The findings have been preserved in a coherent state, with only minimal post-Roman disturbance.

Marcus Gwechenberger, Frankfurt’s City Councilor for Planning and Housing, emphasized the discovery’s broader significance: “The newly uncovered cult district of the Roman city of Nida is among the most important archaeological finds in Frankfurt in recent years. The funding now makes it possible to scientifically analyze this exceptional discovery in depth. At the same time, it recognizes the continuous and highly professional work of our municipal heritage office. This project also illustrates how urban development and research go hand in hand in Frankfurt. The fact that the discovery was made during construction of the new Römerstadtschule vividly demonstrates how past and future intersect in our city.”

Archaeological Evidence of Roman Cult Practices
The cult site comprises eleven stone buildings constructed in several phases, as well as around 70 shafts and ten pits used for (ritual) depositions. The building layouts are highly unusual and have no known parallels in the Germanic or Gallic provinces of the Roman Empire. More than 5,000 fragments of painted wall plaster, together with bronze fittings from doors and windows, attest to the elaborate architectural design of the structures.

The shafts and pits yielded numerous ceramic vessels and large quantities of plant and animal remains, including fish and birds. These finds are interpreted as remains of ritual meals and offerings made to the gods. To facilitate detailed analysis, 150 samples were collected for archaeozoological and archaeobotanical study.

The analysis of 254 Roman coins and more than 70 silver and bronze garment clasps (fibulae), some of them fully preserved, is central to reconstructing the ritual and sacrificial practices carried out at the site. Such objects are widely attested as offerings and votive gifts in Roman sanctuaries throughout the empire. By contrast, the evidence pointing to possible human sacrifice at the cult district of Nida is entirely exceptional. Despite the excellent state of preservation and the richness of the material record, conclusions regarding the specific deities worshipped at the site remain limited. Inscriptions and iconographic evidence attest to the veneration of several gods, including Jupiter, the chief Roman deity; Jupiter Dolichenus, particularly revered by soldiers; Mercurius Alatheus, god of trade and commerce; Diana, goddess of nature; Apollo, god of healing; and Epona, the Celtic-Roman goddess of fertility. This constellation suggests that the site functioned as a sanctuary of regional importance in which multiple deities were worshipped side by side.

Based on current evidence, the cult district was established at the beginning of the 2nd century CE. A dedicatory inscription from a soldier to Mercurius Alatheus, dated 9 September 246 CE, confirms that the sanctuary remained in use at least until the mid-3rd century CE.

Interdisciplinary Research Team Enables Comprehensive Study
The approval of this large-scale research project underscores the importance of archaeological research in the Frankfurt region. It also serves as a strong example of the close networking of academic institutions within the Rhine-Main area, both among themselves and in collaboration with international partner institutions.

The funding provides a unique opportunity to investigate this regionally significant complex through an interdisciplinary approach. Focusing on the analysis of interior design and depositional practices, the project aims to reconstruct the ritual activities carried out at the site. In doing so, the cult district of Nida will be embedded within the broader cultural and historical context of the sacred landscapes of the Roman north-western provinces. The project will involve five early-career researchers in doctoral and postdoctoral positions across the participating institutions.

One year after the presentation of the “Frankfurt Silver Inscription”: Research on Nida enters the next phase
In addition to the cult district, other excavations conducted by the Monument Office over the past decades have yielded important insights into the settlement history and topography of Nida. Just over a year after the presentation of the “Frankfurt Silver Inscription” – the oldest known Christian written testimony north of the Alps – the Roman city on Frankfurt soil is once again the focus of public attention. The research team now has the unique opportunity to collaboratively explore Roman religions in Frankfurt and investigate temples, sacrifices, and rituals. The high-quality, exceptionally well-preserved findings underscore the exceptional importance of Nida for Roman-period archaeology in Germany. Founded as a military base in the 70s of the 1st century CE, the settlement developed into the economic and cultural center of the Limes region by the early 2nd century. Characterized by remarkable cultural diversity, Nida remained one of the most important urban centers in Roman Germania until its abandonment around 275/280 CE.

Images and captions can be downloaded at: https://www.uni-frankfurt.de/182413177

Selection of quotes from members of the project “Exploring the dynamics of a Roman sanctuary”

“For many years, the Roman city of Nida has been a focal point of Frankfurt’s archaeological heritage work, yielding exceptional discoveries that continue to advance scholarly understanding. Step by step, these findings are bringing the ancient city into clearer focus and highlighting its remarkable importance within the Roman Empire on the right bank of the Rhine. Meticulous excavation and documentation have now revealed a Roman sacred district in Nida whose scale and character are without parallel anywhere in the empire.”
Dr. Andrea Hampel, Frankfurt’s City Monument Office [Denkmalamt]

“Depositional practices can play a decisive role in shaping both the sacralization and the secularization of spaces. Using Roman Nida as a case study, an international and interdisciplinary research project is examining these processes and underscoring the central importance of religious practices in a major urban center located along the Roman frontier.”
Dr. Kerstin P. Hofmann, Roman-Germanic Commission (RGK) of the German Archaeological Institute

“In many ancient sanctuaries, our knowledge is limited to the ground plans of the cult buildings. At Nida, however, the large number of preserved wall-painting fragments allows us to gain far deeper insight into room heights, spatial organization, and interior design. These findings offer a more nuanced understanding of how the sanctuary functioned as a space – and of the ritual practices that can be inferred from its architecture and decoration.”
Prof. Dr. Anja Klöckner, Goethe University Frankfurt, Classical Archaeology

“In most Roman cities, the urban center was defined by a forum. Nida presents a striking exception. Here, excavations have revealed a multi-phase sanctuary comprising several temples – an arrangement that is highly unusual. The complex likely functioned as the spiritual heart of the settlement and may even have served a wider regional role. Might it have been a pilgrimage center? The evidence points to influences from Gaul, the Mediterranean, and the eastern provinces. Deposits from more than eighty shafts and pits preserve traces of ritual activity, including remains of sacred meals – what might be described as ‘holy refuse.’ Might some of this evidence point to a deliberate abandonment or even desecration of the sanctuary in the third century?”
Prof. Dr. Markus Scholz, Goethe University Frankfurt, Archaeology and History of the Roman Provinces

“Animals and animal products appear to have played a central role in ancient religious practice – whether in ritual meals, acts of communication with the divine, or as offerings. For the first time, this interdisciplinary research project enables a comprehensive and systematic examination of these functions at the Roman site of Nida.”
Dr. des. Benjamin Sichert, IPNA, University of Basel

“Plants and plant-based products played an important role in everyday life, including religious practice, in antiquity. At Roman Nida, archaeobotanical research offers a unique opportunity to examine these functions in a differentiated way, while also gaining insight into patterns of cultivation, importation, and the surrounding environment.”
Prof. Dr. Astrid Stobbe, Goethe University Frankfurt, Archaeobotany Laboratory

“The discovery of Nida’s sacred district came as a remarkable surprise, coinciding with my arrival at the Archaeological Museum in the summer of 2016. As curator for the Roman period, it was an exceptional beginning – and an opportunity to develop a long-term project together with colleagues. With its many distinctive features, the sanctuary not only underscores Nida’s outstanding importance within Roman Germania; its systematic study within the DFG-funded project promises far-reaching new insights into religious life and cult practices in the northern reaches of the Roman Empire.”
Dr. Carsten Wenzel, Archaeological Museum Frankfurt

Further Information:
Prof. Dr. Markus Scholz
Archaeology and History of the Roman Provinces
Goethe University Frankfurt
Institute for Archaeological Sciences, Dept. II
Phone +49 (0)69 798-32265
E-Mail m.scholz@em.uni-frankfurt.de

Holger Kieburg M.A.
PR and Science Communication
Archaeological Museum of the City of Frankfurt
Phone +49 (0)69 212-36747
Mobile +49 (0)151 184 01046
E-Mail: holger.kieburg@stadt-frankfurt.de

Jan 22 2026

10:13

New Method from Goethe University Frankfurt Reveals Demographic Risks in Zoo Mammal Populations

Aging Zoo Animals Threaten Long-Term Species Conservation Goals of Modern Zoos

Many mammal populations in European and North American zoos are aging – a trend that jeopardizes the long-term viability of so-called reserve populations and, with it, a core mission of modern zoos in global species conservation. This is the central finding of a new international study published on Wednesday in the journal PNAS.

FRANKFURT/ZURICH. Images of newborn zoo animals regularly attract public attention – yet the impression of cute baby animals is deceptive. Across many species, births are becoming rarer while populations grow steadily older- a development documented by an international study led by the University of Zurich (Switzerland) in collaboration with Goethe University Frankfurt (Germany), Aarhus University (Denmark), Zoo Zurich (Switzerland) and Copenhagen Zoo (Denmark).

For the study, the researchers analyzed the demographic data from a total of 774 zoo mammal populations (361 in North America, 413 in Europe) covering the period from 1970 to 2023. The analysis draws on the global “Species360" database, used by more than 1,200 institutions worldwide. The database records detailed life-history information for individual animals, including age, sex, ancestry, origin, and reproductive status, enabling a systematic assessment of zoo population structures over several decades.

Distorted Age Pyramids
To evaluate population stability, the team examined age pyramids – a standard demographic tool that illustrates the distribution of age groups within a population. Researchers at Goethe University Frankfurt developed a new method for the automated classification of these population pyramids, allowing demographic patterns to be compared across species and regions with greater precision. This approach translates complex population structures into standardized forms – such as pyramids, diamonds, or columns – each associated with different levels of demographic resilience. Prof. Paul Dierkes of Goethe University Frankfurt, who played a key role in developing the method, explains: “Especially for zoos and species conservation, this new methodological approach and the results based on it open up possibilities for clearly communicating demographic developments and making informed decisions."

But what do the different basic shapes tell us? A classic pyramid shape—with many young and reproductive individuals at the base and progressively fewer older animals—indicates a stable and resilient population. Such populations are better equipped to withstand unexpected shocks, including disease outbreaks. The study shows, however, that an increasing number of zoo populations now display diamond- or column-shaped profiles, characterized by relatively few young animals and a high proportion of older individuals. These structures are considered demographically fragile.

The study also shows that, at the same time, the proportion of actively reproducing females has declined sharply: by 49 percent in North American populations and by 68 percent in European populations. In some cases, populations no longer include any females capable of reproduction. Beyond reducing offspring numbers, this trend can disrupt social structures in many mammal species. Reproduction and rearing young animals are fundamental behavioral components and key elements of species-appropriate husbandry.

Species Conservation Goals at Risk
This development is concerning to the researchers and could threaten the species conservation work of modern zoos. Zoos are internationally recognized partners in global species conservation, particularly through the maintenance of reserve populations of endangered species. In a 2023 position paper, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) underscores the importance of zoos, aquariums, and botanical gardens in addressing worldwide biodiversity loss. However, a prerequisite for this role is that the reserve populations kept are stable, capable of reproduction, and viable in the long term. Lead author Prof. Marcus Clauss from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Zurich explains: “This trend must be halted and reversed. Zoos can only fulfill their conservation mandate if they maintain demographically stable and resilient reserve populations. That requires more young animals – and fewer old animals."

Prof. Dierkes adds that the implications extend beyond conservation breeding: “Zoos also play a crucial role in education and research. They reach millions of visitors each year, raise awareness of biodiversity loss, the causes of species extinction, and the importance of nature conservation. Zoos are therefore important places of learning that strengthen understanding and support for species conservation in society. In addition, zoos enable important scientific studies on the behavior, reproduction, and health of endangered species. These findings help to improve husbandry in zoos and make conservation measures in the natural environment more effective. Declining animal numbers and aging populations would therefore not only significantly impair species conservation itself, but also the educational and research work of zoos. Consequently, population management in zoos should be more focused on demographic sustainability. Only if the current trend toward aging populations can be reversed will zoos be able to permanently fulfill their contribution to international species conservation."

Publications:
João Pedro Meireles, Max Hahn-Klimroth, Laurie Bingaman Lackey, Nick van Eeuwijk, Mads F. Bertelsen, Severin Dressen, Paul W. Dierkes, Andrew J. Abraham, and Marcus Clauss. Ageing populations threaten conservation goals of zoos, PNAS (2026), doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2522274123

Max Hahn-Klimroth, João Pedro Meireles, Laurie Bingaman Lackey, Nick van Eeuwijk, Mads F. Bertelsen, Paul W. Dierkes, and Marcus Clauss. 2025, A semi-automatic approach to study population dynamics based on population pyramids, MethodsX (2025), doi.org/10.1016/j.mex.2025.103591

Picture download:
www.uni-frankfurt.de/182265514

Caption: The analysis of Meireles and colleagues shows that reproduction, as shown here in the endangered Grévy's zebra (Equus grevyi), is on the decrease across zoo mammal populations (Tim Benz/Zoo Zürich).

Further Information:
Prof. Dr. Paul W. Dierkes
Didactics and Biological Sciences
Goethe University Frankfurt, Germany
+49 (0)69 798-42273
dierkes@bio.uni-frankfurt.de
www.zoobiology-frankfurt.de

Editor: Dr. Phyllis Mania, Science Editor, PR & Communications Office, Theodor-W.-Adorno-Platz 1, 60323 Frankfurt, Tel: +49 (0) 69 798-13001, mania@uni-frankfurt.de

Jan 16 2026

09:38

One of Only a Few Devices Worldwide Enables Imaging of Living Cells

A View into the Innermost Workings of Life: First Scanning Electron Microscope with Nanomanipulator in Hesse Inaugurated at Goethe University

Goethe University Frankfurt (Germany) ceremonially commissioned a state-of-the-art cryo plasma-FIB scanning electron microscope with nanomanipulator worth more than 5 million euros on Thursday. The large-scale instrument, supported by the Dr. Rolf M. Schwiete Foundation, is the first of its kind in Hesse and one of only a few in Germany. It enables precise nanobiopsies of biological samples such as tissue or cell aggregates and is a key technology for the Cluster of Excellence SCALE, where researchers investigate the molecular foundations of cells.

FRANKFURT. With a so-called cryo plasma-FIB (Plasma Focused Ion Beam) scanning electron microscope with nanomanipulator, the Goethe University in Frankfurt (Germany) is expanding its research infrastructure with a powerful instrument. The microscope was inaugurated today at the Buchmann Institute for Molecular Life Sciences on the Riedberg Campus – as the first of its kind in Hesse and one of only a few in all of Germany.

The large-scale instrument works with a focused plasma ion beam, which can be used to prepare tiny sections from biological cells – so-called nanobiopsies with dimensions in the nanometer range. The decisive advantage over conventional ion beam microscopes: the plasma beam works more gently and faster, which is particularly important for sensitive biological samples such as water-containing cells. These ultra-thin sections can then be examined using both scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. This makes it possible to visualize protein structures in their natural environment or to trace cellular changes in diseases such as Alzheimer's or cancer at the molecular level.

"This microscope bridges medicine and structural cell biology, opening up completely new possibilities for our research," emphasizes Prof. Achilleas Frangakis, who secured the large-scale instrument worth 5.6 million euros. "We can now visualize biological processes under the microscope that were previously hidden – such as how proteins work together in cells in the still unknown physiological context or even how diseases develop at the nanoscale."

The non-profit Dr. Rolf M. Schwiete Foundation provided substantial funding for the microscope, for which it was honored with a plaque on the device. For the Foundation, supporting high-quality medical research projects is a central concern in order to contribute to improving research conditions and advancing medical knowledge.

Prof. Bernhard Brüne, Vice President for Research at Goethe University, emphasized: "Without this generous funding, this acquisition would not have been possible. The device is indispensable for work in the Cluster of Excellence SCALE – it allows researchers to examine the architecture of cells in previously unattainable detail."

SCALE (Subcellular Architecture of Life) is a joint research project of Goethe University and Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz within the Rhine-Main Universities (RMU) alliance, the Max Planck Institutes for Biophysics and Brain Research, and other partners. Researchers there investigate how cellular structures are built and how errors in this molecular blueprint lead to diseases. The new microscope makes it possible to three-dimensionally image and analyze precisely these defective structures in cancer cells or in neurodegenerative diseases.

Prof. Maike Windbergs, Research Dean at the Department of Biochemistry, Chemistry and Pharmacy, noted that the device makes the Frankfurt location significantly more attractive for international collaborations. Prof. Martin Pos, Dean of Studies at the department, also emphasized that students and doctoral candidates here gain access to a technology that is only available at a few locations worldwide – an important building block for their scientific training and later careers.
Prof. Inga Hänelt, spokesperson for the Cluster of Excellence SCALE, stressed that the microscope will be used by researchers from both RMU partner universities as well as the other partners and allows new insights into the subcellular architecture of life.

Initial images have already deciphered a cellular structure that is crucial for human kidney function. The microscope is now available for a wide range of research projects.

Picture download:
https://www.uni-frankfurt.de/182148333

Caption: Prof. Dr. Achilleas Frangakis presents the scanning electron microscope with nanomanipulator supported by the Dr. Rolf M. Schwiete Foundation (image: Uwe Dettmar/Goethe University).

Further Information:
Prof. Dr. Achilleas Frangakis
Institute for Biophysics
Buchmann Institute for Molecular Life Sciences
Goethe-University Frankfurt, Germany
+49 69 / 798 46462
achilleas.frangakis@biophysik.uni-frankfurt.de
https://frangakis.biophysik.org/

Editor: Dr. Phyllis Mania, Science Editor, PR & Communications Office, Theodor-W.-Adorno-Platz 1, 60323 Frankfurt, Tel: +49 (0) 69 798-13001, mania@physik.uni-frankfurt.de

Press releases

Goethe University PR & Communication Department

Specialized Information Service (FID) Jewish Studies to Be Further Expanded

Pulling the Plug on Tumors: Varun Venkataramani Receives Paul Ehrlich and Ludwig Darmstaedter Early Career Award 2026

Unlocking the Sacred Landscape of Roman Nida

Aging Zoo Animals Threaten Long-Term Species Conservation Goals of Modern Zoos

A View into the Innermost Workings of Life: First Scanning Electron Microscope with Nanomanipulator in Hesse Inaugurated at Goethe University