When the human immune system recognizes and attacks infected or abnormal cells, it does so in highly complex, multi-stage processes. Biochemist and structural biologist Robert Tampé from Goethe University Frankfurt's Institute of Biochemistry has already uncovered parts and sequences of these mechanisms. For his project “Unraveling the Supramolecular Architecture of Molecular Machineries in Adaptive Immunity“ (in short: “ImmunoMachines“), he is awarded an ERC Advanced Grant in the amount of 2.5 million euros, enabling him to build on his successful research into the molecular architecture and mechanisms of the cellular immune response.

The consortium of Prof. Dr. Maarten Boonekamp (spokesperson, Institute of Research into the Fundamental Laws of the Universe, CEA, Université Paris-Saclay), Prof. Dr. Jens Erler (Institute of Nuclear Physics, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz) and Prof. Dr. Frank Maas (Institute of Nuclear Physics, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, GSI/FAIR and Helmholtz Institute Mainz) is awarded an ERC Advanced Grant for their “Zeptometry” project. This project aims to combine new precision measurements at the highest LHC energies at the European Organization for Nuclear Research CERN with challenging new precision measurements at very low energies with the upcoming MESA accelerator in Mainz in connection with the theory interpretation of the experimental results.

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Christian Hasse from the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Technical University of Darmstadt has also been awarded a prestigious Advanced Grant for this „A-STEAM“ research project. Renewable energies will need to be stored in huge quantities over longer periods in order to achieve the energy transition. Over the last few years, there has been an increasing amount of research into the use of metals – especially iron – as carbon-free chemical energy carrier. The A-STEAM project focuses on the use of the metal aluminum as an alternative energy carrier and will receive funding of around 2.5 million euros over a period of five years.

ERC Advanced Grants are awarded to researchers in all scientific fields by the European Research Council. The target group for ERC Advanced Grants are established, active researchers who have a track record of exceptional research achievements. In the latest round of funding, the European Research Council selected 255 projects of leading cutting-edge researchers among 1,829 applications submitted from 19 Member States and associated countries. This means that approximately 14 percent of the applications were successful. Among the winners were 50 German researchers, 31 French researchers, 28 British researchers, 22 Italian researchers and an additional 28 researchers from other nations.