Research

A team of researchers at FAU has developed a method of reliably detecting and diagnosing heart sounds using radar. In a new study, the researchers have now shown that radar can be used to reliably measure heart rate variability (HRV). In future, radar could be used to monitor HRV over the long term to detect pathological changes and prevent severe disease.

Two proteins play a key role in triggering Parkinson’s disease. Prof. Dr. Friederike Zunke and PD Dr. Philipp Arnold from FAU are investigating these proteins in more detail, focussing on their structure, how they interact and the influence they have on the disease. The research project has received USD 149,500 in funding for one year from the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research (MJFF).

An international team of renowned astrophysicists has gained new insights into Cygnus X1. The black hole and its companion star are further away from Earth and considerably more massive than previously thought. The project has also delivered new answers to the question of how black holes are formed.

Some people who contract Covid-19 hardly even notice that they have it. Others become seriously ill and have to be admitted to hospital. The working group ‘Cellular immunity in inflammation and cancer’ at Universitätsklinikum Erlangen has now identified the immune messenger substance interleukin-3 as a significant early indicator for whether the virus infection will remain mild or develop into a severe case.

In recognition of her research, FAU doctoral candidate Franziska Schirrmacher has been shortlisted for the AI newcomer of the year award by the German Informatics Society. In an interview, we discussed her research and what she finds so fascinating about artificial intelligence. You can vote for the AI Newcomer 2021 until 7 March 2021.

Influential legal philosophers of the 20th century were just as strongly influenced by neo-Kantianism as the philosophical debates of today. The ‘back to Kant’ school of thought is the focus of research at the Centre for Studies in Neo-Kantianism (CENK) at FAU.

Energy market researchers at FAU, the Vienna University of Economics and Business and the University of Applied Sciences of the Grisons, have been investigating which methods are most effective for reducing the carbon dioxide emissions created when generating electricity. They have come to the conclusion that increasing the price of carbon credits is currently considerably more effective than subsidising renewable energy from wind and solar power.

Established transport systems quickly reach their limits. To relieve the pressure on these systems, the vehicles used for transport must be used in a more intelligent way. The MINOA research training group coordinated by FAU has now launched an international research challenge to find solutions to this problem. The challenge is open to participants from all fields.

The Volkswagen Foundation is funding research at FAU in a number of research areas related to the coronavirus as part of its ‘Corona Crisis and Beyond’ programme. From over 1100 applications received by the Foundation, 100 projects have been selected for funding including five projects at FAU. Each project will receive funding for the duration of 1.5 years which amounts to around 120,000 euros.