The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) can cause certain types of cancer or autoimmune diseases, but how the body controls this common viral infection is largely unknown. Researchers at the University Hospital Bonn (UKB) and the University of Bonn have now identified genetic and non-genetic factors that help the body fight EBV. To do this, they evaluated genome sequencing data, which is actually intended for characterizing the human genome, in a new way. Using the new technique, they were able to estimate the amount of EBV in the blood and find correlations in large health data sets – for example, an increased viral load in people with HIV infections, but also in smokers. There were also indications of new genes that play key roles in EBV immunity. Their findings have now been published in the renowned journal Nature.

During these past two years Marvin has run countless calculations and simulations for us, executing on research ideas that would never have been possible without high-performance computing. Now as the University of Bonn’s high-performance computing cluster turns two years old on March 19, 2026, all researchers who have used Marvin to realize projects are invited to present their work.

Pheno-Inspect GmbH, an AgTech start-up that emerged from research work at the University of Bonn, has successfully closed its first seed financing round. In addition to NRW.BANK and several private investors via the Companisto business angel network, one of the leading agricultural machinery groups, CLAAS, has also joined the company as a strategic investor. Pheno-Inspect GmbH was founded in 2020 as a start-up of the University of Bonn by Dr. Philipp Lottes and Prof. Dr. Cyrill Stachniss (Institute of Geodesy and Geoinformation and Cluster of Excellence 'PhenoRob'). 

Rose Monday is the biggest day of Carnival – especially in Bonn. Because no reveller (“Jecken”) would want to miss the Rose Monday parade. The University of Bonn was there again, too, parading through downtown Bonn in high spirits, creative costumes and lots of throwing material. One carnival booty was once again particularly sought after!

The University of Bonn is acknowledging the International Day of Women and Girls in Science on February 11 by reaffirming its aim of promoting gender equality in academia. Women are still significantly underrepresented in many research fields at university level, and the trend is more marked the higher up the career ladder one goes. The University has launched numerous initiatives and programs to tackle the problem.

For many years, the University of Bonn has combined academic excellence with Rhineland cheerfulness. But will this still be the case in 200 years fromm now? The reigning carnival royalty of the Federal City of Bonn, Prince Roland I (Gerwing) and Bonna Stephanie III (Schulz), found out during their recent visit to the Bonn University of Excellence: this time, the traditional reception of the Prince and Bonna by the Rector took place in the future...

Hypertension in the lungs is a relatively rare but very serious disease that is usually fatal within two years if left untreated. Current therapies can slow down its progression, but no cure exists. Research teams from Bochum and Bonn are shedding light on the underlying mechanisms of the disease, and have discovered a previously unrecognized factor in its development: the protein beta arrestin 1. The teams have shown that this protein plays an important role in transporting signaling molecules involved in regulating blood vessel diameter. The researchers report their findings now in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).

Under the leadership of the University of Bonn, a research team led by Prof. Dr. Pavel Kroupa from the Helmholtz Institute for Radiation and Nuclear Physics has discovered that galaxy clusters are about twice as heavy as previously assumed. The additional mass comes mainly from neutron stars and stellar black holes and also explains the observed quantities of heavy elements.