“Congratulations, a thousand thanks and a huge compliment, you can be very proud of the result,” said Lower Saxony’s Minister for Science and Culture Falko Mohrs. He visited the MHH on 6 June together with the former Minister President of Lower Saxony and now Member of Parliament Stephan Weil to view the construction site and congratulate the two successful Clusters of Excellence RESIST and Hearing4All in the Senate meeting room on their continued funding from 2026.
In this context, Prof. Förster introduced RESIST to the visitors and a further 15 attendees from the clusters and the presidium. He explained the central question of the research network, why some people are more susceptible to infections or have significantly more severe symptoms than others, as well as the common goal of improving therapies for those affected. He also provided information about the infrastructure, the cohorts and the RESIST database. He emphasised that the proportion of women among the researchers in RESIST-II had been significantly increased and that the average age of the principle investigatores was younger than in the first application.
Prof. Lenarz presented the Cluster of Excellence Hearing4all on the topic of hearing. He reported that the aim of the researchers continues to be to improve the situation for people with hearing difficulties. The number of people affected is increasing because the population is getting older and there are more infections and environmental toxins. The new funding period is also about the influence that can be exerted on development in society – not only in Germany, but also in the partner country Tanzania, for example.
“I find it exciting that both funded clusters have decades of precedence and build on the groundwork that has been done over time,” said Stephan Weil. Falko Mohrs emphasised in praise: “Both clusters have defined a clear question that is at the limit of what is feasible. Let me summarise: You need money, brains, continuity – then excellence can emerge.”
The photo shows (from left): Prof. Cornberg, Prof. Hansen, Prof. Ravens, Falko Mohrs, Stephan Weil, Prof. Förster and Prof. Dölken.