HEINRICH-HEINE-UNIVERSITAET DUESSELDORF

Their core work

Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf is a German research university with deep strengths in neuroscience, molecular biophysics, and computational biology. Their teams contribute to large-scale brain mapping and simulation efforts (Human Brain Project), develop precision molecular measurement techniques, and investigate liver disease mechanisms at the cellular level. They also maintain active research lines in plant biology (genome editing, photosynthesis) and advanced imaging using fluorine-based nanomaterials.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In their early H2020 period (2014–2018), UDUS was heavily invested in large-scale neuroscience (Human Brain Project phases, brain reconstruction, neuroinformatics) and marine biocatalysis (INMARE). From 2019 onward, their focus shifted markedly toward plant molecular biology — genome editing and plasmodesmata research became dominant keywords — alongside a new line in fluorine-based diagnostic imaging (19F MRI, perfluorocarbons, nanomaterials). The university's physics groups also matured, with ambitious precision measurement projects (PREMOL) securing large ERC grants.

UDUS is expanding from computational neuroscience toward applied molecular biology (plant engineering) and translational imaging, making them increasingly relevant for agri-biotech and diagnostic partnerships.

How they like to work

UDUS balances leadership and partnership almost evenly — 26 projects as coordinator vs 32 as participant — indicating a university that both drives its own research agendas and integrates well into larger consortia. With 652 unique partners across 42 countries, they operate as a well-connected hub rather than a closed network. Their strong ERC and MSCA portfolio (11 grants combined) shows significant individual investigator strength, while their RIA participation (18 projects) demonstrates comfort in large collaborative efforts.

With 652 unique consortium partners spanning 42 countries, UDUS maintains one of the broader collaboration networks among German universities in H2020. Their partnerships are pan-European with no narrow geographic concentration, reflecting their involvement in flagship initiatives like the Human Brain Project.

What sets them apart

UDUS combines an unusually wide disciplinary range — from ultra-precise atomic physics to plant genome editing to liver cancer biology — under one institutional umbrella, making them a versatile consortium partner who can fill multiple roles. Their sustained involvement in the Human Brain Project gives them rare expertise in neuroinformatics infrastructure and large-scale brain data. For consortium builders, their high coordinator rate (43%) signals a reliable lead partner with proven project management capacity at the EU level.

Highlights from their portfolio

• PREMOL
  EUR 2.5M ERC Advanced Grant for ultra-high-precision molecular physics — their single largest coordinated project, pushing fundamental measurement science.
• HBP SGA2
  Part of the EUR 1B Human Brain Project flagship, contributing to brain atlas reconstruction, neuroinformatics, and neuromorphic computing across multiple grant phases.
• PhaseControl
  EUR 1.8M ERC grant tackling fatty liver disease progression to cancer — connects their molecular biology and clinical research strengths in a high-impact health area.