Press Releases

An international team has created a detailed molecular map of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, one of the most common forms of heart disease. Their findings, published in “Science Translational Medicine,” identify biological pathways that could pave the way for more precise treatments.

Invaginations of the cell membrane called caveolae protect cells from mechanical stress, allow nutrients to enter the cell, and serve as signaling hubs. The teams of Oliver Daumke and Misha Kudryashev now describe in “Nature Communications” the structure of a protein chain that stabilizes caveolae.

Immunotherapies strengthen the body’s own anti-cancer defenses in a highly targeted manner. In...

Nikolaus Rajewsky and his team have built a search engine that can scan data from millions of single cells from thousands of experiments worldwide in seconds. The tool, described in “Nature,” makes it possible to answer previously impossible questions about RNA biology.

A seven protein “signature” in blood can indicate successful treatment for vasculitis. The Mertins, Forslund and Kettritz labs report in “Nature Communications” how they used proteomics and AI to identify biomarkers, which could enable more personalized treatment with fewer side effects.

As of August 15, 2026, Kirstin Bodensiek has officially taken the helm as Administrative Director of the Max Delbrück Center. She is stepping into the permanent position after leading the center on an interim basis.

Researchers in the lab of James Poulet have uncovered how the nervous system senses cool and warm temperatures. The findings, published in “Neuron” challenge a long-standing view of temperature sensing and could guide future research into pain and sensory disorders.

Reporting in “Nature,” a team led by Gary Lewin at the Max Delbrück Center has found that naked mole-rat queens produce an odorous chemical that ensures that only they can reproduce. The queen odor also prevents rivalry within colonies — even when the queen is not physically present.

Science journalists are invited to the Max Delbrück Center’s first Bioengineering Symposium on July 6, 2026, where leading researchers will explore how bioengineering is advancing precision medicine.

Max Delbrück Center researchers have discovered a previously unknown genetic switch that affects RBM20, an important protein in heart cells. The findings, published in “Nature Communications,” suggest a potential new target for treating cardiomyopathies more precisely in the future.