Jörg Wenzel elected chair of EADV Task Force on Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus (CLE)
—The European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) has establishment a new Task Force on Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus (CLE), led by ImmunoSensation³ member Jörg Wenzel. CLE, as autoimmune disease of the skin, is a prime example of chronic inflammatory dysregulation, leading to a severe disease burden. The treatment of cutaneous lupus continues to face unresolved clinical challenges. The CLE Task Force is set up to push the boundaries of clinical care, update guidelines, and advance collaborative research across Europe.
Debunking immune-system myths over dinner, at the "Immunsystem Gerüchteküche"
—People who want to do something for their health these days often turn to Instagram, TikTok, and other social media platforms for information. But what’s really behind the posts and trends shared by health influencers? On May 13, the Cluster of Excellence ImmunoSensation3 at the University of Bonn invited the public to join five professors for dinner to explore this question. In a relaxed atmosphere, social media posts on health and the immune system were presented, discussed by the approximately 40 participants, and analyzed together with the experts.
We're Becoming Researchers – Children's Science Workshop in Bonn-Oberkassel
—How do you actually plan an experiment, and what do scientists do all day? These questions and many more were explored firsthand during a two-day children’s science workshop on April 20 and 27, 2026, in Bonn-Oberkassel. In total, 15 children aged 7 to 12 took part.
University of Bonn Exhibit at MS Wissenschaft Parliamentary Reception
—MS Wissenschaft is back on tour through Germany, Austria, and Poland. At the parliamentary reception aboard MS Wissenschaft on May 7 in Berlin, the University of Bonn, a University of Excellence, presented its exhibit to leading representatives from politics, science, and society. The Federal Ministry for Research, Transfer and Space (BMFTR) and the organizer, Science in Dialogue, selected Bonn’s exhibit as one of only three out of the roughly 30 exhibits aboard the exhibition ship for the evening event.
Twin Lancet Publications Highlight Promising New Approach for Lupus Treatment
—A team of international researchers, including ImmunoSensation³ member Prof. Jörg Wenzel, reports promising phase 2 results for enpatoran, a first-in-class oral TLR7/8 inhibitor, in patients with cutaneous and systemic lupus erythematosus (CLE/SLE). In the WILLOW trial, enpatoran significantly improved skin disease activity in a dose-dependent manner and showed favourable safety outcomes. In systemic SLE, treatment also reduced global disease activity and rapidly suppressed the type I interferon gene signature. The twin studies were published in The Lancet and The Lancet Rheumatology.
—Mild traumatic brain injuries can lead to persistent memory problems and an increased risk of dementia. Yet, effective therapies to counteract these long-term consequences are still lacking. Dr. Dr. Sergio Castro-Gomez, Early Career Research Group Leader at the Institute of Physiology II of the University Hospital Bonn has discovered together with colleagues that the ASC protein. The research team hopes to identify new targets for future therapeutic strategies. The study, published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, lays the foundation for upcoming clinical trials.
—The annual "Girls' & Boys' Day" (former "Girls' day") sets out to introduce children and young addults to careers their respective gender is still underrepresented in. To celebrate this special day and offer insights into the work of a biomedical researcher, we welcomed students from all over Germany to our laboratories. Besides hands-on science, career options and perspectives in research were discussed.
Study reveals dynamic interactions between brain tumors and immune cells
—Glioblastoma, the most common and aggressive brain tumor in adults, is difficult to treat because this cancer can invade the surrounding brain tissue and spread far beyond the original tumor mass. Researchers from the DZNE, the University Hospital Bonn (UKB), and ImmunoSensation³ at the University of Bonn have observed this infiltration process in the living brain using high-tech microscopy. Their study is based on research in mice with a form of brain tumor that closely resembles human glioblastoma.
New Findings on Immunotherapy for a Rare Brain Infection
—Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) is a rare but very serious brain disease. It is caused by the reactivation of the widespread JC virus when the immune system is severely weakened. There is currently no targeted antiviral therapy available, which is why new treatment approaches are urgently needed. In recent years, so-called immune checkpoint inhibitors have been increasingly used; these “unlock” the immune system and reactivate the body’s own immune cells. The results were recently published in the journal JAMA Neurology.
