Research

Researchers at FAU have received a total of 1.32 million euros in funding from the German Research Foundation (DFG) for developing new procedures for voice diagnostics which can be used to diagnose and investigate voice disorders, hoarseness and their causes.

Another success for researchers at FAU: FAU researchers receive three ERC Consolidator Grants. Prof. Dr. Gerhard Krönke and Prof. Dr. Aline Bozec, both from the Chair of Internal Medicine III, and Henry Dube, Chair of Organic Chemistry I have each received one of the coveted ERC Consolidator Grants from the European Research Council (ERC).

A team of researchers at FAU led by Prof. Dr. Aldo R. Boccaccini, Chair of Materials Science (Biomaterials) is producing bioactive glass that is being tested for suitability in the treatment of giant-cell tumours of the bone at Heidelberg University Hospital as part of a cooperation project. The cancer research foundation Deutsche Krebshilfe is funding the project with approximately 212,000 euros.

Researchers at FAU, the Paul Scherrer Institute in Switzerland and other institutions in Paris, Hamburg and Basel, have succeeded in setting a new record in X-ray microscopy. With improved diffractive lenses and more precise sample positioning, they were able to achieve spatial resolution in the single-digit nanometre scale.

Many older people suffer from isolation or loneliness. Several studies have proven that good social contacts and relationships make a decisive contribution to improving health, health behaviour and increased activity. In a new research project, FAU researchers will investigate how to promote social participation and thus also health and well-being in old age. The project is being funded with over 395,000 euros.

The German Research Foundation (DFG) has approved three new Collaborative Research Centres/Transregios (CRC/TRR) at FAU. The topics are quantum cooperation, research into metastases formation and new catalysts.

Covid-19 does not only spread via the respiratory tract, it can also affect other organs. Often, the gastrointestinal tract is affected. A team led by Prof. Dr. Christoph Becker and a team from the Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin have discovered that there is a particularly high density of coronavirus docking sites in the gut epithelium.

Researchers from Universitätsklinikum Erlangen and LMU Klinikum Munich investigated the distribution of aerosols while musicians played the trumpet, flute and clarinet. The results indicate that the distance either side of players in an orchestra could be reduced to below what is currently recommended.

Prof. Dr. Christian Bogdan und Prof. Dr. Klaus Überla are members of the Standing Committee on Vaccination at the Robert Koch Institute. In their position as members of the STIKO, the two researchers from Erlangen are involved in drawing up a Covid-19 vaccination strategy for Germany. It may even be finalised this year.

This year, six FAU researchers are among the most highly cited researchers in their field. The Highly Cited Researchers List names almost 6200 of the most influential researchers across the globe in 21 different disciplines.