Topics range from the exploration of extraterrestrial life to the paper applications of the future / Approximately €170 million in funding for the first funding period

The Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) is establishing 13 new Collaborative Research Centres (CRC) to further support top-level research at German universities. This was decided by the responsible Grants Committee in Bonn. The new CRCs will receive a total of approximately €170 million in funding for an initial period of three years and nine months as of October 2026. This includes a programme allowance of 22 percent for indirect project costs. Three of the new Centres are CRC/Transregios (TRR), each of which is made up of multiple applicant universities.

In addition to the establishment of the 13 new groups, the Grants Committee also approved the extension of another 25 existing CRCs for an additional funding period, including eight CRC/Transregios.

Collaborative Research Centres allow researchers to tackle innovative, challenging and long-term research projects as a group, thereby supporting the further development of priority areas and structures at the applicant universities. This means that a total of 260 of such Centres will be in receipt of DFG funding as of October 2026. 

The new Collaborative Research Centres in detail

(in alphabetical order of host university, with information on the spokesperson as well as the other applicant universities):

Mechanochemistry describes the principle of chemical reactions triggered by mechanical stimuli. Macromolecules containing so-called mechanophores respond to mechanical stimuli, for example by means of a change in colour, a chemical reaction or the release of components. The possible applications of such mechanophores are diverse, yet little is known about the general principles governing the functioning of mechanoresponsive polymers. The CRC Polymer Mechanochemistry aims to close these knowledge gaps by investigating fundamental processes in large molecules triggered by mechanical forces. One particular focus is the use of mechanochemical principles in biomedicine. Under ultrasound stimulation, these polymer-based drug carriers can be controlled spatially and temporally, enabling them to release pharmacologically active molecules. (RWTH Aachen, Spokesperson: Professor Dr. Andreas Herrmann)

Bone tissue is constantly remodelled to prevent ageing and ensure that bones can continuously fulfil their function. If this dynamic metabolism in the jawbone – known as periodontal remodelling – becomes imbalanced, it can lead to severe periodontitis and tooth loss. This is a widespread disease that particularly affects older people. The CRC Soft tissue-alveolar bone crosstalk – Impact of systemic diseases on mechanisms of periodontal remodelling investigates how systemic diseases, such as liver and kidney diseases and cardiovascular disorders affect the health of the tooth-supporting apparatus, and vice versa. Recent research findings suggest that bone loss in the oral cavity is not caused solely by poor hygiene, trauma or excessive forces in the masticatory system, but is also significantly influenced by systemic diseases. (RWTH Aachen, Spokesperson: Professor Dr. Michael Wolf)

People around the world have recently witnessed a growing number of space missions conducted by a range of international actors. Some of the datasets collected in the course of these and future missions will feed directly into the work of the CRC Habitability as a fundamental planetary process: Towards a paradigm shift away from our perception of the uniqueness of Earth. In the long term, this CRC aims to answer the question of whether theoretically habitable places exist beyond Earth. The focus here is not on the search for Earth-like habitats, but rather on the general planetary conditions required for habitability and potential life as defined by astronomy, physics, chemistry and geology. The CRC also addresses the ethical questions that the discovery of extraterrestrial life and extraterrestrial settlement would raise in terms of humanity’s understanding of the world and of itself. (FU Berlin, Spokesperson: Professor Dr. Lena Noack)

As currently practised, agriculture has considerable negative impacts on the environment and climate, thereby hindering progress in areas such as food security for billions of people. For this reason, comprehensive measures are needed to make food systems more sustainable. One possible approach is diversification at all levels – in fields, on farms, across agricultural landscapes, in local and international markets and ultimately on people’s plates.  The CRC Food System Diversification for Sustainable Nutrition (FoodDiverse) seeks to investigate how different forms of diversification influence key aspects such as environmental protection and human health. In addition, the CRC will seek to determine what appropriate levels of diversification look like and how they can be implemented across the different levels of food systems. To this end, the researchers will focus on food systems in Germany and Ghana in order to identify differences both within and between the two countries. (University of Bonn, Spokesperson: Professor Dr. Matin Qaim)

Paper is widely used because of its versatility. It is highly recyclable and biodegradable, making it a very sustainable material. Due to limiting material properties, however, its potential for innovative applications remains far from fully exploited. Starting from this premise, the CRC Paper – With tailor-made properties toward new applications aims to develop paper as an advanced, functional and customised material of the future. Examples include lightweight materials for structural applications, electrochemical and biosensors, and paper-based soft robots. Achieving such applications requires targeted improvements in the material properties of paper based on a deeper understanding of how fibre surface properties, fibre morphology and manufacturing processes interact – knowledge that is still partially lacking. (TU Darmstadt, Spokesperson: Professor Dr. Markus Biesalski)

Diabetes and cardiovascular disease are closely linked and mutually reinforcing. Half of all patients with acute myocardial infarction also show disorders of glucose metabolism. The interdisciplinary CRC CARDDIAB – CARDio-DIABetes-Crosstalk focuses on key organs involved in this interaction, including the intestine, adipose tissue, liver and bone marrow. Using state-of-the-art methods such as magnetic resonance imaging, metabolite tracing and multi-omics analyses, the researchers aim to characterise how the transition occurs from healthy metabolism to prediabetes and ultimately overt type 2 diabetes. At the same time, they will seek to investigate how dysfunctions in these organs also damage the heart and the coronary vasculature. (University of Düsseldorf, Spokesperson: Professor Dr. Maria Grandoch)

Despite recent advances in oncology, it is still not possible to prevent tumours from developing resistance to treatment and forming metastases. For this reason, it is essential to predict therapy resistance at an early stage and ideally prevent it altogether. The CRC Immediate tumor dynamics in melanoma therapy (DYNAMO) focuses on malignant melanoma. Melanoma is particularly well suited to the systematic investigation of genetic and non-genetic resistance mechanisms. The participating researchers aim to determine how interventions can be made during the early phase of systemic treatment, when resistance development may still be capable of modification. By combining preclinical basic research, patient-based omics analyses, biomarkers and computer-assisted modelling approaches, the CRC will seek to establish the foundation for therapeutic strategies targeting resistance mechanisms. (University of Duisburg-Essen, Spokesperson: Professor Dr. Alexander Rösch)

Ribonucleic acids (RNA) are essential building blocks of life, forming part of the flow of information from the genetic code to cellular function. Messenger RNA (mRNA) and its precursor (pre-mRNA) have a key role to play in regulating protein synthesis during this process. The CRC/Transregio smART: specific mRNA targeting aims to exploit the unique ability of mRNA (and pre-mRNA) to form functional three-dimensional structures. A universally applicable toolkit is to be developed that enables the modulation of any RNA molecules within the cell, the goal being to draw on research into the structural plasticity of mRNA to target individual RNA molecules, thereby gaining a better understanding of the relationship between RNA structure and cellular function. (University of Frankfurt/Main, Spokesperson: Professor Dr. Harald Schwalbe; also applying: University of Marburg)

People have always told stories. Across all eras and cultures, narratives have been essential for social cohesion. The CRC/Transregio Historical and Transcultural Narratology examines premodern narratives from antiquity, the Middle Ages and the early modern period, and originating from different cultural contexts, with the aim of systematically and comparatively investigating the dynamics and functions of storytelling. In doing so, the project adopts a comparative perspective that is historically and culturally sensitive. In this way, the goal is to develop a new historical-transcultural narratology capable of overcoming the bias of so-called classical – and still dominant – narrative theory, with its narrow focus on Western and modern/postmodern traditions. Ultimately, new avenues are to be pursued for comparative, interdisciplinary literary and cultural studies on a global scale. (University of Freiburg, Spokesperson: Professor Dr. Eva von Contzen; also applying: University of Bochum, University of Bonn)

Emerging and re-emerging viruses pose major challenges to societies, as demonstrated by the COVID-19 and HIV pandemics, Ebola outbreaks in African countries and monkeypox infections in individual world regions. The problem is that viruses evolve rapidly and display enormous diversity in genome organization, structure and replication strategies. The CRC VirusREvolution: Decoding tools for virus research brings together the three fields of virology, bioinformatics and photonics in order to gain more in-depth insights into viral genomes and the morphology of viruses and their target cells, as well as viral adaptation strategies, evolution and virus-host interactions. The goal is to systematically integrate laboratory research, data-driven bioinformatic analysis and photonic technologies so as to improve risk prediction associated with specific viruses, including their virulence and pathogenicity. In this way, a faster and more effective response to outbreaks is to be enabled in the future. (University of Jena, Spokesperson: Professor Dr. Manja Marz)

The CRC/Transregio Dynamics of immune, glial and neuronal network interaction investigates the brain as an integrated system of neuronal, glial and immunological networks that jointly regulate brain function and dysfunction. The researchers plan to decipher the complex interactions that both stabilise brain homeostasis and regulate the transition from health to disease. The aim is to improve the prediction of disease progression and, based on a deeper understanding of network interactions, to enable better treatment of neurodegeneration, cognitive decline and mental impairment. (University of Mainz, Spokesperson: Professor Dr. Stefan Bittner; also applying: University of Münster)

The complex interplay between the immune system and the coagulation system in which inflammatory reactions and thrombus formation can reinforce one another is known as thromboinflammation. It is caused by dysregulated activation that can result in tissue damage and severe vascular occlusions. Although thromboinflammation plays a crucial role in many cardiovascular diseases, myocardial infarction and stroke, there are still numerous gaps in knowledge surrounding the condition. The CRC The Interplay of Thrombosis and Inflammation – Translating molecular mechanisms into Clinical applications (InTraC) seeks to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the interaction between thrombosis and inflammation. In the long term, the aim is to enable improved diagnostics as well as the targeted prevention and treatment of thromboinflammatory diseases. (LMU Munich, Spokesperson: Professor Dr. Steffen Massberg)

Geometry is a highly versatile branch of mathematics traditionally based on insights gained from analysis, algebra and topology. Yet recent breakthroughs have primarily resulted from combining general abstract concepts with concrete calculations. One example is the use of motivic methods in algebraic geometry, which has led to applications in number theory. The CRC Generalised Motivic Methods in Geometry extends the established abstract concept of motivic methods to areas of mathematics where it has previously been of little significance. Based on the concept of “motivic thinking,” guiding principles are to be established for formulating and solving highly diverse geometric problems. The CRC draws on such areas as Riemannian geometry, topology, homotopy theory, arithmetic geometry and higher category theory. (University of Regensburg, Spokesperson: Professor Dr. Clara Löh)

The Collaborative Research Centres with their funding extended for an additional period 

(in alphabetical order of host university, with information on the spokesperson as well as the other applicant universities, and with references to the project descriptions in the DFG’s online database GEPRIS):

• CRC In vivo Visualization of Extracellular Matrix Pathology “Matrix in Vision(externer Link) (Charité – FU and HU Berlin, Spokesperson: Professor Dr. Matthias Taupitz)

• CRC Intervening Arts(externer Link) (FU Berlin, Spokesperson: Professor Dr. Karin Gludovatz)

• CRC Mechanisms and disturbances in memory consolidation: From synapses to systems(externer Link) (HU Berlin, Spokesperson: Professor Matthew Larkum Ph.D.)

• CRC Metaphors of Religion. Religious Meaning-Making in Language Use(externer Link) (University of Bochum, Spokesperson: Professor Dr. Volkhard Krech)

• CRC Virtuelle Lebenswelten(externer Link) [Virtual Living Environments] University of Bochum, Spokesperson: Professor Dr. Stefan Rieger)

• CRC Cosmic Interacting Matters – From Source to Signal(externer Link) (University of Bochum, Spokesperson: Professor Dr. Julia Tjus)

• TRR Heterogeneous Oxidation Catalysis in the Liquid Phase – Mechanisms and Materials in Thermal and Electrocatalysis(externer Link) (University of Bochum, Spokesperson: Professor Dr. Kristina Tschulik; also applying: University of Duisburg-Essen)

• TRR Brown and Beige Fat – Organ Crosstalk, Signaling and Energetics (BATenergy)(externer Link) (University of Bonn, Spokesperson: Professor Dr. Alexander Pfeifer; also applying: University of Hamburg / TU Munich)

• CRC Iron, upgraded!(externer Link) (TU Darmstadt, Spokesperson: Professor Dr. Ulrike Ingrid Kramm)

• TRR Digital twin of the road system – Physical-informational representation of the future road system(externer Link) (TU Dresden, Spokesperson: Professor Dr.-Ing. Michael Kaliske; also applying: RWTH Aachen)

• TRR Nucleic Acid Immunity(externer Link) (TU Dresden, Spokesperson: Professor Dr. Min Ae Lee-Kirsch; also applying: University of Bonn, LMU Munich)

• TRR Immune-Epithelial Communication in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases(externer Link) (University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Spokesperson: Professor Dr. Christoph Becker; also applying: (Charité – FU Berlin and HU Berlin)

• CRC Damage control by the stroma-vascular compartment(externer Link) (University of Frankfurt, Spokesperson: Professor Dr. Ralf P. Brandes)

• CRC Protein Assemblies and Machineries in Cell Membranes(externer Link) (University of Frankfurt, Spokesperson: Professor Dr. Robert Tampé)

• CRC Molecular Circuits of Heart Disease(externer Link) (University of Heidelberg, Spokesperson: Professor Dr. Johannes Backs)

• CRC High Performance Compact Magnetic Resonance – HyPERiON(externer Link) (KIT Karlsruhe, Spokesperson: Professor Dr. Jan Gerrit Korvink)

• CRC Elucidation and targeting of pathogenic mechanisms in B cell malignancies(externer Link) (University of Cologne, Spokesperson: Professor Dr. Michael Hallek)

• TRR Plant Ecological Genetics(externer Link) (University of Cologne; Spokesperson: Professor Dr. Juliette de Meaux; also applying: University of Düsseldorf)

• CRC Chemical Biology of Epigenetic Modifications(externer Link) (LMU Munich, Spokesperson: Professor Dr. Thomas Carell)

• TRR Neutrophils: origin, fate and function(externer Link) (University of Münster, Spokesperson: Professor Dr. Oliver Söhnlein; also applying: University of Duisburg-Essen, LMU Munich)

• CRC Light-Matter Interactions at Interfaces (LiMatI)(externer Link) (University of Rostock, Spokesperson: Professor Dr. Dieter Bauer)

• CRC Molecular Heterogeneous Catalysis in Confined Geometries(externer Link) (University of Stuttgart, Spokesperson: Professor Dr. Michael R. Buchmeiser)

• CRC Aging at Interfaces(externer Link) (University of Ulm, Spokesperson: Professor Dr. Hartmut Geiger)

• TRR Light-driven Molecular Catalysts in Hierarchically Structured Materials – Synthesis and Mechanistic Studies(externer Link) (University of Ulm, Spokesperson from 1 July 2026: Professor Dr. Sven Rau; also applying University of Jena)

• CRC Cardio-Immune Interfaces(externer Link) (University of Würzburg, Spokesperson: Professor Dr. Stefan Frantz)

Further Information

For further information about the funding programme and the funded Collaborative Research Centres, see: www.dfg.de/sfb/en(interner Link) 

Further information is also available from the spokespersons of the Collaborative Research Centres.