Researchers from the University Hospital of Bonn and the University of Bonn have succeeded in dramatically rejuvenating human cells in a test tube. To do so, they directly reprogrammed red blood cell precursors into stem cells from which neurons can be derived. During this process, the molecular clocks that indicate a cell’s age were reset. For example, blood cells from an 80-year-old were transformed into stem cells with a molecular age of less than 20 years. Since this rejuvenation process occurred very slowly, it is well-suited for a more detailed investigation of the underlying mechanisms. The results have been published in the journal Aging Cell.

According to international studies, taking Acetylsalicylic acid daily can protect people with Lynch syndrome from developing colorectal cancer – even at low doses. Researchers from the University Hospital Bonn (UKB), the University of Bonn, and the Center for Integrated Oncology (CIO) Bonn, in collaboration with the self-help organization SemiColon, have now found that these scientific findings have so far been insufficiently incorporated into clinical practice. The results of the LYNX study have now been published as a letter in the journal *The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology*. 

The relevant assessment panel of the Accreditation Organisation of the Netherlands and Flanders (Nederlands-Vlaamse Accreditatieorganisatie, NVAO) has presented a positive report on the planned European Master in Neurotechnology (EMN), which was developed jointly by the University of Bonn and six of its partners in the NeurotechEU European Universities alliance. The two-year degree program is taught in English, combines elements of medicine, technology and the neurosciences and is set to launch in the 2027/28 academic year.

How can artificial intelligence help diagnose and treat patients with brain tumors? This is the question that researchers are tackling in a Europe-wide collaborative project involving the University of Bonn and the Neuroradiology Clinic at the University Hospital Bonn. The European Innovation Council (EIC) is funding the “EUcanAI” project to the tune of some €3.9 million over the next four years.

The “top predator” from the Jurassic is relatively small in size: Megacauda sungei measures just half a meter from its nose to the tip of its tail. 165 million years ago, the furry ancestor to today’s mammals hunted its prey in water. The cusps of its teeth were also curved backwards to enable it to catch its slippery prey. However, the true evolutionary revolution is its soft palate, which separates the oral cavity from the pharynx while also enabling swallowing and breathing. This is an important requirement for suckling as a survival advantage. The findings by researchers from the Universities of Shenyang, Chicago, and Bonn are now being published in the journal ‘Nature’. 

What is it like going to Canada for research? What can students learn from people who work at higher-education institutions all over the world? And what is the relationship between academia and activism? From October 19 to 21, 2026, the University of Bonn’s sixth International Days will bring students and researchers together with partners from across the globe. Three whole days will be devoted to exploring routes abroad, engaging in academic dialogue, meeting people from other countries and disciplines, and honoring exceptional academic achievements.