Biomedical research at the Faculty aims to identify disease mechanisms at the molecular level and to develop biotechnological methods that can be used to influence these processes in order to develop more precise diagnostics and novel active substances.

The focus of the working groups on "Water Research" is on questions relating to the development, changes and restoration of aquatic biodiversity from the level of genes and species communities to ecosystems and their function. In addition to basic research, the focus is on interdisciplinary, application-oriented research projects.

The research focus on subject-related empirical teaching and learning research investigates questions relating to the learning and teaching of biology at school, at university or at extracurricular learning venues. In cooperation with other working groups in subject didactics and teaching-learning research, they also investigate interdisciplinary questions. They are integrated into the Interdisciplinary Center for Educational Research (IZfB) and the Center for Teacher Education (ZLB).

Dr Sabina Marks from the Faculty of Biology and junior research group leader Dr Lisa Voskuhl from the Faculty of Chemistry were invited to the final of the "Forum Junge Spitzenforscher" 2024 competition on the topic of "Resource-efficient circular economy". With their presentation on their research project "Nature's oil warriors", the two scientists took fourth place, which came with prize money of €2000. The competition was organised by TU concept GmbH at TU Dortmund University with the support of the Industrial Research Foundation.
In their research, Dr Marks and Dr Voskuhl investigate microbial and ecological processes in natural oil leaks and films on water and soil. Using samples they have taken themselves from natural oil leaks in Germany, they are analysing the composition of algae and bacterial communities adapted to oil as well as their role and speed in oil degradation. Previous results show that algae bacteria isolated from natural oil leaks can support and accelerate the degradation of man-made oil contamination.

has accepted the professorship for 'Ecotoxicology' at the Faculty of Biology/Research Center One Health on April 1st, 2024.
We warmly welcome him!

Decomposition of Damaged Lysosomes

• von Birte Vierjahn
• 08.04.2024

Lysosomes are the recycling centers in our cells: The spherical organelles break down both endogenous and foreign substances in their insides – for further utilization. As their interior has an acidic pH value, damage to the membrane surrounding the lysosomes is dangerous for cells. Scientists at the University of Duisburg-Essen have identified a new signaling pathway that in this case leads to the decomposition of the lysosome. Their findings, published in Molecular Cell, could contribute to the development of new approaches for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

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Supporting Early Career Researchers in Water Research

• von Juliana Fischer
• 26.02.2024

In the past year, the Water Science Alliance successfully relocated its headquarters to the Center for Water and Environmental Research at the University of Duisburg-Essen, having previously been based at the Dresden University of Technology. Under the leadership of the newly elected co-chairs, Prof. Dr. Martina Flörke from Ruhr-University Bochum and Prof. Dr. Florian Leese from the University of Duisburg-Essen, the German Water Research Alliance has secured a funding of 100,000 euros for the support of young researchers from the Bernhard and Ursula Plettner-Foundation.

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Water Science Alliance UDE

The migration of cells is crucial for many processes in the body. For example, during wound healing, specialized skin cells migrate specifically in the direction of the wound in order to close it. For this movement, the cells must continually change their shape.

The research groups around Prof. Dr. Perihan Nalbant (Center for Medical Biotechnology at the UDE) and Dr. Leif Dehmelt (Chemistry and Chemical Biology, TU Dortmund) has succeeded in making visible the signals that control shape changes in cell migration.

The EU Parliament will vote at the beginning of 2024

At the beginning of 2024, the European Parliament will finally vote on the “Nature Restoration Act”. The internationally unique and hotly debated regulation aims to halt and reverse the loss of biodiversity in Europe. An international team of scientists led by the UDE has examined how promising this law is. The article will be published in the journal Science on December 14th.