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A team led by Frank Glorius from the Institute of Organic Chemistry has developed a photocatalytic method for producing small, high-quality ring molecules. The method could be of interest for drug development.

At the New Year’s reception held at the Schloss in Münster, around 400 guests attended the presentation of the Rectorate Awards which recognised outstanding teaching, exemplary equality initiatives and exceptional student engagement. In the following, we introduce you to the award winners.

Translational research takes place worldwide in several sequential phases. Nuclear medicine specialist Professor Philipp Backhaus is primarily involved in the early phases of translation, specialising in the imaging and therapy of tumours and inflammation. For months, his team has been contributing to the development of the drug “OncoACP3”, which aims to improve the examination of prostate cancer.

More than 20 years after the last European lunar mission, the University of Münster is participating in a new ESA lunar orbiter. As part of the Twardowski mission, the team at the Institute of Planetology is optimising the observation of resource-relevant rocks and minerals on the lunar surface. The mission to the Moon is scheduled to launch in 2029.

On 24 February 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine. Since then, not only have the Ukrainians suffered from the daily attacks, but science in general has been adversely affected by the war. Professors Christina Clasmeier, Regina Elsner and Ricarda Vulpius, all experts on Eastern Europe, discuss the consequences for their work, the changes in their fields, and internal and external lines of conflict.

Prof. Karin Busch has investigated how the architecture of mitochondria, the ‘power plants’ of cells cells, change with age in the heart muscle. In this interview, she presents her latest research findings.

A Chinese-German research team, including Prof Jörg Kudla from the Institute of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, has shown that salt stress activates a signalling pathway in maize that enhances autophagy in plant cells.

Doctoral student Berit SChlüter from the Institute of Nuclear Physics spent several weeks at the South Pole, the coldest place on earth. In a guest article, she provides insight into her daily routine and the installation of the “IceCube” upgrade for neutrino research.

How does a laboratory discovery become tangible help for patients? Translational research bridges this gap, connecting molecular mechanisms with clinical trials and routine care. In Münster, interdisciplinary collaborations bring together basic research, clinical practice and data science in order to implement new therapies more rapidly and safely, with a stronger focus on patients.

The beginning of new life is medically highly complex. As a clinician scientist, Dr Janice Jeschke bridges clinic and laboratory: she investigates the molecular processes of fertilisation and implantation and feeds clinical observations directly into research. This is how translational research emerges, helping us to better understand female infertility.

Dr. Ahana Aurora Fernandez, who has been working as an Emmy Noether group leader at the Institute of Neurobiology and Behavioral Biology since September 2025, researches the acoustic communication of bats. A portrait.

The end of term and the lecture-free period are marked by written examinations and term papers. Some students react to this with procrastination. To counter excessive procrastination, the AStA (General Students’ Committee) and the Procrastination Outpatient Clinic at the University of Münster support affected students. Answers to important questions on the topic can be found in this text.