Research news

New broad-spectrum antiviral compounds are seen as an important contribution to pandemic preparedness. A project led by Alexander Titz, professor of organic and pharmaceutical chemistry at Saarland University, and Professor Christian Sieben, research group leader at the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), aims to develop such compounds to fill a gap in pandemic preparedness. [...]

A new research consortium bringing together htw saar, Saarland University and Fraunhofer IZFP is strengthening technology transfer in Saarland with support from the Transformation Fund. The project focuses AI, sensor technologies and ways to apply technology to boost the economy and help society. [...]

The non-profit Klaus Faber Foundation is funding the establishment of a W2 endowed professorship at the Klaus Faber Institute in Neuroimmunology, which is being developed as a part of the Faculty of Medicine on the Homburg campus. The institute aims to systematically decode neuroimmunological mechanisms and develop new approaches to diagnose and treat neuroimmunological diseases – in particular multiple sclerosis. [...]

Continuous monitoring of indoor air to assess health and wellbeing, smart sheets that monitor sleep quality and miniaturized hearing aids – international partners in academia and industry are collaborating on the SensorTech4Health project to develop novel technology that monitors the surrounding environment to continuously gauge health. Whether integrated into a smart home system or as a discreet wearable, these new technologies aim to monitor health and wellbeing and increase quality of life. [...]

Professor Martina Maggio has been awarded an Advanced Grant from the European Research Council (ERC), one of Europe's most prestigious research funding programmes. With funding of up to €2.5 million, Professor Maggio aims to improve the certification of the safety of computer-controlled systems that are subject to timing fluctuations during operation. [...]

Teaching humanoid robots not only to see like humans but also to understand what they see is an immensely complex challenge because in the real world, everything is constantly changing. Jan Eric Lenssen wants to teach machines to see, giving them a visual understanding modelled on human perception. On 22 June, Saarland's Minister of Finance and Science Jakob von Weizsäcker appointed Lenssen to a professorship in computer science at Saarland University. [...]

States and international institutions face the dual challenge of ensuring stability while also enabling change. Dr. Anne Dienelt researches how law can be used as a tool to achieve this, and where its limits lie. On 25 June, she will take up the Chair of Public Law and International Law, with a particular focus on sustainability and resilience research. On 22 June, Minister of Finance and Science appointed her professor of law at Saarland University. [...]

A specialized truck equipped with a complete A&E unit – including an ultrasound, a CT and X-rays – enables ill residents to undergo medical examinations right outside their care home without having to travel long distances. The Saarland pilot project will be presented from 23 to 25 June at the Haupstadtkongress on Medicine and Health in Berlin (Messe, hub27). Beginning in September 2026, the truck equipped with high-tech diagnostics will begin serving patients in Saarland. [...]

The earlier a child masters the national language, the better their chances of succeeding in school. In May 2026, a new app, WUSCHEL, was launched in Saarland as part of the 'Startklar Deutsch' project. The app aims to help assess four-year-olds' language skills and provide individual support for learning German where needed – whether they are acquiring German as their first or their second language. [...]

How do molecules move? What do the interactions within cells look like in real time? How does this activity on a microscopic scale influence the bigger picture – and thus our health? Dr. Fabian Erdel's research aims to tackle these questions. The multi-award-winning molecular and cell biologist is moving from the Centre de Biologie Intégrative in Toulouse, France, to Saarland University. [...]