Helmut Lutz

Winter series "Prominent Researchers at RWTH" Ulrich Schwaneberg’s team designs new-to-nature proteins which would require microscopes with nanometer-sized resolution to observe them at work. Professor Schwaneberg, Head of the Institute of Biotechnology at RWTH Aachen University and member of the scientific board of directors at the DWI – Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials, designs functional proteins and enzymes as customized high-performance nanomachines for applications in the production of valuable chemicals and material science applications. As such, he and his team pave the way for a biological transformation of materials science and empower the biological transformation of industries. He came to Aachen in 2009, having previously worked as a postdoc with the Nobel laureate Frances H. Arnold at Caltech in California and published jointly with her groundbreaking methodologies for directed enzyme evolution. Early on, he recognized the importance of the bioeconomy and initiated the Bioeconomy Science Center (BioSC; a 58 million euro project) on behalf of RWTH. He has served on the BioSC Board of Directors since it was founded in 2013. In the bioeconomy model region, he and Professor Thomas Bergs, Director of the Manufacturing Technology Institute – MTI der RWTH Aachen, won Ulrich Schwaneberg – Driver of the Transformation one of two flagship projects, the Bio4MatPro Competence Center (26.4 million euros), as a follow-up project. 👍 His work ranges from “disruptive basic research,” as Schwaneberg puts it, to industrial applications. For instance, biofunctional building blocks from the Aachen laboratories are a game changer in many areas: in detergents, in the production of chemical substances, in medicine, in plant health, as biophosphates recycling/valorization, as water or pathogen repellents on textiles, or as switchable adhesives to enable a recycling economy. “We don’t keep our research in the laboratory and design new-to-nature proteins. Thanks to our methodological expertise in protein design, which allows us to generate and screen millions of protein variants experimentally and to decipher basic design principles using computer simulations and AI/machine learning systems, we support many companies that come to us with their problems,” says Schwaneberg. Click here for the complete RWTH Annual Report 2023: ➡ www.rwth-aachen.de/report 📸 : Peter Winandy #research #researcher #science #scientists #Biotechnology

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🧬💉 HPV #vaccine breakthrough published by Sebastian Kruse et al. in Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer. The researchers from #DKFZ and the #SILVACX project group at #HeidelbergUniversity use silica nanoparticles as carriers for viral protein fragments. In a humanized mouse model, this strategy successfully activated cytotoxic T cells and was able to partially or even completely suppress HPV-positive tumors. Preventive HPV vaccines already exist – but no therapeutic vaccines are yet available to fight established lesions or tumors. This nanoparticle-based platform could change that, and might even be adapted to other cancers or infectious diseases in the future. 👉 Read more in the press release: https://lnkd.in/eTUj22AW Congratulations to Angelika Riemer and co-authors Dr. Sebastian, Lia, Dr. Samantha, Ann-Katrin, Agnieszka, Eva, Jonas, Josephine, Philip, Stella, #HPV #immunotherapy #nanomedicine #cancerresearch #vaccines DKFZ German Cancer Research Center & University of Heidelberg DKFZ Innovation Management Image: 3D renderings of the human papillomavirus (HPV) capsid /bj

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We Welcome Professor Tim Neudecker to the Faculty of Biology / Chemistry   Tim Neudecker has held a tenure-track professorship in theoretical chemistry at the University of Bremen since 2019. He has now been appointed a regular professorship.   In their research, Neudecker‘s working group develops simulation methods for materials under mechanical stress. All relevant orders of magnitude are taken into account, from individual molecules to macroscopic materials. The working group then uses these models to develop plastics on the computer that change color under mechanical stress, which can be used in the construction and transportation industries, for example. The researchers also implement simulation methods to develop paper that remains tear-resistant when wet. In addition, the team investigates fundamental questions about the behavior of molecules and materials in high-pressure and tensile experiments, as well as the stability of biochemical systems on the ocean floor. The simulation methods developed by Neudecker's group thus provide both a fundamental understanding of the behavior of chemical systems under mechanical stress and impetus for the development of novel materials. Tim Neudecker studied chemistry at the Goethe-Universität Frankfurt and then earned his doctorate in theoretical chemistry at Universität Heidelberg. After a two-year postdoctoral fellowship at the University of California, Berkeley, he joined the University of Bremen in 2019 as a tenure-track professor of theoretical chemistry, which was converted to a regular professorship in July 2025.

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📢 Preprint Alert In our latest study, conducted in collaboration with colleagues at ETH Zürich and AstraZeneca over the last two years, we tackle a fundamental question in particle characterization: Is there a "right" particle size and shape characterization tool? Particle ensembles come in diverse shapes, ranging from spheres and cubes to needles and plates, and choosing the right tool to characterize them is critical for quality control, process modeling/understanding and control in the fine chemical sector. To explore this, we conducted a comprehensive comparison study covering seven techniques (five commercial and two bespoke) across nine representative particle populations. Here’s what we found: 1. Online vs. Offline Discrepancies – Online measurement tools often disagree with each other, with offline tools, and with independent size references. 2. Shape-Dependent Performance - Offline tools agree well for equant particles, but start diverging for needles and plates. 3. Dimensional Capabilities Vary - Only three tools (Morphologi, DISCO, Petroscope) capture both length and width (2D), and only the bespoke systems (DISCO and Petroscope) offer full 3D characterization, with good agreement between them. 4. No universal winner – Each method has trade-offs in terms of accuracy and applicability. Understanding these differences is key to making informed decisions in process development and control. Read the preprint for our take on answering the question and for our recommendations! 🔗 https://lnkd.in/e4UgMPUf Hard work of Daniel Biri Anna Jaeggi Oleksandr Prykhodko with huge support from Billy Hicks and Giulio Perini! Marco Mazzotti #Crystallization #ProcessMonitoring #ProcessAnalyticalTechnology #3DImaging

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😍🥰😍🥰HEALING THE SKIN WITH GEL Scientists from Aalto University and the University of Bayreuth have engineered a revolutionary bio-inspired hydrogel that mimics real human skin — and it’s changing the future of healing. Made from clay nanosheets and polymer networks, this synthetic skin-like material is both stretchable and incredibly tough, capable of healing 90% of a wound within 4 hours and completing the recovery in just 24 hours — without stitches or scars. This "super skin" doesn’t just repair — it senses, adapts, and lasts. Designed for extreme durability and rapid recovery, it opens a new frontier for: Burn and trauma wound recovery Smart bandages and artificial skin Next-gen prosthetics and soft robotics Targeted drug delivery systems 💡 The implications? Less pain, faster healing, and futuristic care that could one day replace traditional sutures and bandages entirely. https://lnkd.in/eQcsVy-F

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New research training group for biomolecular condensates in Dresden 🔬 In the new research training group at #TUDresden entitled RTG 3120 “Biomolecular Condensates: From Physics to Biological Functions”, researchers will focus on a cutting-edge topic at the interface of physics, biology, and polymer research. With the RTG starting in 2026, the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - German Research Foundation has approved a budget of around €7 million for a period of five years. The new research training group led by Prof. Sommer Jens-Uwe will focus on so-called biomolecular condensates – membrane-less structures within living cells that play a central role in the spatial and temporal organization of biological processes. This emerging field of research holds great promise for uncovering fundamental principles of life. More info ➡️ https://lnkd.in/egxVKCFQ

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𝐃𝐅𝐆 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐟𝐞𝐫 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐬 – 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐛𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐡 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝𝐬 🔄💡 (What are Transfer Projects? Why are they important? What’s our topic?) I’m delighted that the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - German Research Foundation has approved my Transfer Project “Modelling of Flow–Flame–Cooling-Air Interaction under Technically Relevant Conditions” 🎉🔥. The project is now part of the Collaborative Research Centre / Transregio 150 “Turbulent, Chemically Reacting Multiphase Flows Near Walls” (speaker: Andreas Dreizler) of Technische Universität Darmstadt and Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT) 🧑‍🔬🌊. 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐟𝐞𝐫 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭s ❓ In Collaborative Research Centres, Transfer Projects are designed to test and further develop fundamental research findings under real-world conditions with an application partner. Their goal is to enable knowledge transfer between research and practice – to the benefit of both sides 🤝🔧. In our case, we’re working closely with Rolls-Royce Deutschland (RRD). The reviewers particularly praised this collaboration, highlighting its clear role distribution and responsibilities ✅✈️. 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐨 𝐰𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐟𝐞𝐫 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭? 🔍 The project addresses two critical aspects of modern high-efficiency gas turbines: 1️⃣ Flow–Flame–Cooling-Air Interaction We investigate how near-wall reactive flows interact with effusion-cooled combustion chamber walls. These zones exhibit extreme temperature gradients and highly dynamic mixing processes. Our goal is to represent flame dynamics and pollutant formation precisely in our models. 2️⃣ Hot Gas–Cooling-Air Interaction We examine how hot exhaust gases downstream of the combustor interact with film-cooled turbine nozzle guide vanes (NGVs). With gas temperatures up to 2000 K – far above the material limits of modern components – the aim is to better understand the thermodynamic and aerodynamic effects in these flows and to develop reliable LES wall-models 🛠️🌡️. Ruud Eggels, Dr. Carsten Clemen, Rolls-Royce,  TU Darmstadt - Maschinenbau, Vera Stadelmann, Simulation of reactive Thermo-Fluid Systems (STFS), TU Darmstadt (just in case, based on experience. You are welcome to use the illustration, it is published under CC-BY 4.0; please cite its doi:10.48328/tudatalib-1932)

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Dresden scientists Theresia Gutmann and David Kuster from the research lab of Anthony Hyman at the MPI-CBG - Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics discover a new strategy used by the SARS-CoV-2 virus to hide from the body’s DNA immune detection system. Now published in PNAS. https://lnkd.in/efrGajyp

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Chemical Process Simulation with Modelica? When we founded TLK Energy in Aachen, we didn’t want to just offer the same things as our partner company TLK-Thermo in Braunschweig. One of our first ideas was to create the PSL (Process Systems Library). Chemical engineering at RWTH Aachen is quite strong, and with Alexander Mitsos there’s even a professor working with Modelica in process engineering. So, we hired a PhD from his institute and got started. To be honest, it wasn’t exactly a success story at the beginning. We tried different approaches, experimented a lot, and even completely changed our fundamental modeling concept after a few years. Often, we ended up with lessons learned rather than breakthrough results. Modelica itself has been very successful in other industries (HVAC, automotive, aerospace). Its acausal, object-oriented approach has become a real success story in multi-physics and system simulation. But in process engineering, it was (and still is) far from mainstream. Most people stick to established steady-state tools and black-box simulators, leaving little room for dynamic, equation-based modeling. That gap became our motivation. Step by step, PSL developed into a reliable library for dynamic process simulations, especially for new applications like Power-to-X. Looking back, we smile at the rough start — but we also see how curiosity, persistence, and a willingness to rethink things shaped PSL into what it is today. If you’d like to hear more of this story and see what PSL can do for you, join our upcoming PSL Webinar!

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New Endowed Professorship in Climate Biophysics Strengthens Climate Research at the University of Basel The University of Basel is setting up a new endowed professorship at the Biozentrum to make fundamental discoveries at the interface between biophysics and climate-relevant environmental biology. This will be made possible by the Georg H. Endress Foundation, which is funding the project with a total of up to CHF 17.25 million over a period of approx. 25 years. Climate change is one of the most pressing issues of our time. By endowing a professorship in Climate Biophysics, the Georg H. Endress Foundation is helping the University of Basel expand its research into the biophysical foundations of climate-related processes, leading to new discoveries that will inspire applications towards climate protection and sustainability. The professorship, which will open up a highly topical and promising emerging field of research at the University of Basel’s Biozentrum, will soon be advertised internationally. More: https://lnkd.in/dTewB9iu #professorship #endowedprofessorship #climatebiophysics #biophysics #climateresearch @Biozentrum @University of Basel @Basel @ Georg H. Endress Foundation @Reinach #Switzerland #funding #foundation 

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🚀 5.3 million for DNA virus research! The Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - German Research Foundation) is funding the DFG research unit FOR5200 DEEP-DV for another four years – with a total of €5.3 million! 💡 The goal: to better understand how DNA viruses like herpesviruses, polyomaviruses, and papillomaviruses manipulate host cell gene activity and immune responses – during both acute and chronic infections. 🔬 Why does this research matter? DNA viruses can persist in the human body long after initial infection, sometimes triggering serious diseases years later – including cancer and neurological disorders like dementia and multiple sclerosis. 📍 The research group brings together scientists from #Braunschweig, Hamburg, Hanover, Berlin, Regensburg, Ulm, Freiburg, and Munich. It is jointly led by Prof. Melanie Brinkmann (#TUBraunschweig) and Prof. Nicole Fischer (Universitätsklinikum Hamburg Eppendorf). Read more in our magazine: 👉 https://lnkd.in/eC7gNcZf 📸 Verena Meier/TU Braunschweig

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New Foundation Model Reveals How Cells Are Organized in Tissues Researchers at #HelmholtzMunich and the Technische Universität München have developed #Nicheformer, the first large-scale foundation model that integrates single-cell analysis with spatial transcriptomics. 🧬 Trained on over 110 million cells, Nicheformer offers a new way to study how cells are organized and interact in tissues – knowledge that is crucial for understanding health and disease. 💡 While single-cell RNA sequencing reveals which genes are active in individual cells, it loses spatial context. Spatial transcriptomics preserves this context but is harder to scale. Nicheformer bridges this gap by integrating both approaches, projecting spatial information back onto dissociated single-cell data. The model outperformed existing tools and uncovered biologically meaningful patterns hidden within gene expression data. ✨ This work marks a step toward the concept of a “Virtual Cell” – a digital representation of how cells behave and interact in their native environment. The team now aims to develop a tissue foundation model that learns the physical relationships between cells, with potential applications in cancer, diabetes, and chronic inflammation research. 👉 Read more: https://lnkd.in/dNWvYeiv 🔗 To the original publication in Nature Methods: https://lnkd.in/dsnVS7Yu Fabian Theis Alejandro Tejada Lapuerta Anna Schaar Computational Health Center | Helmholtz Munich Nature Portfolio   #AI #SpatialTranscriptomics #ComputationalBiology #SingleCell #VirtualCell #FoundationModels 

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