Cluster of Excellence ImmunoSensation - University of Bonn

What Cluster of Excellence ImmunoSensation - University of Bonn does

ImmunoSensation3 is a publicly funded Cluster of Excellence at the University of Bonn, established in 2012 and currently in its third consecutive funding phase under Germany's DFG Excellence Strategy. The cluster studies the immune system as a sensory organ for health ("immune sensory system"), with a primary research focus on immune diversity — the variability of immune structures, functions, and dynamics across molecular, cellular, and systemic scales driven by genetic and environmental factors. It links immunology to metabolic and nervous system research, targeting individualized diagnostics, prevention, and therapy for conditions including Alzheimer's, cancer, heart attacks, and rheumatism.

The organization is a research consortium rather than a commercial enterprise. It coordinates 116 members drawn from six disciplines (immunology, neurobiology, systems biology, biochemistry, biophysics, mathematics) across three Bonn institutions: the University of Bonn (Faculty of Medicine and Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences), University Hospital Bonn (UKB), and the German Centre for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE). Core offerings include the interdisciplinary research programs, a 4,775-publication scientific output database, a members database, the Bonn Center of Immunology as a sub-brand, MSc training programs, the annual Cluster Science Days internal meeting, and the International School on Advanced Immunology jointly organized with IFReC at Osaka University (now in its 5th edition). Communications and outreach are delivered via a multilingual website, a 360° virtual laboratory tour, the multimedia report "Beyond the Boundaries," and active social media channels on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Bluesky.

The business model is non-commercial grant-funded research: the cluster does not sell products or services, has no disclosed pricing, and generates no commercial revenue. Its sole disclosed income stream is DFG Excellence Strategy funding, supplemented by institutional support from participating universities and hospitals. Strategic partnerships extend the cluster's reach — most recently through the pan-European PRECISE Consortium for computational cancer vulnerability discovery (with a Nature Genetics commentary in July 2026) and through the recurring IFReC Osaka collaboration. Governance rests with two Co-Speakers (Prof. Dr. Gunther Hartmann and Prof. Dr. Waldemar Kolanus) and a Steering Committee that includes Prof. Dr. Andreas Schlitzer and Dr. Selina Jorch.

Name

Cluster of Excellence ImmunoSensation - University of Bonn

Legal name

Exzellenzcluster ImmunoSensation3

Website

https://immunosensation.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Publicly funded Cluster of Excellence at the University of Bonn researching immune diversity across molecular, cellular, and systemic scales. Coordinates 116 multidisciplinary researchers across University of Bonn, University Hospital Bonn, and DZNE to advance immunology and precision medicine.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Academic Immunology Research

NAICS

Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714)

SIC

Services-Medical Laboratories (8071)

akta.pro primary industry

Antibody Discovery & Engineering Platforms (display tech, bispecifics, Fc engineering) (HLAAAIAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Immunoassay Diagnostics (ELISA, chemiluminescence, serology) (HLAAALAB), Immunology & Autoimmune Specialty Pharmaceuticals (HLAIACAB)

Keywords

• Academic immunology research
• Biomedical research consortium
• Immune system studies
• Graduate immunology education
• Multi-institutional research cluster

Headquarters

HQ city

Bonn

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations

Revenue model

1. German Research Foundation (DFG) Funding: ImmunoSensation3 is funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) as a Cluster of Excellence at the University of Bonn, representing public research funding for scientific research in immunology.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

ImmunoSensation3 is a publicly funded Cluster of Excellence at the University of Bonn conducting fundamental interdisciplinary immunology research. The cluster investigates immune diversity across molecular, cellular and systemic scales, linking the immune system to metabolic and nervous system functions, with the goal of enabling individualized approaches for diagnostics, prevention and therapy. It also delivers graduate-level training, including MSc programs and the International School on Advanced Immunology.

Product overview

ImmunoSensation3 is a Cluster of Excellence at the University of Bonn focused on immunology research. The cluster operates as a research consortium rather than a commercial product company, offering research programs, educational initiatives, and scientific databases. Core offerings include the Members Database (116 researchers), Publications Database (4775 publications), and Immunosensation 360° virtual tour. Educational products include MSc programs and the International School on Advanced Immunology (organized with IFReC). The cluster also hosts the annual Cluster Science Days event for internal scientific exchange.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Bonn Center of Immunology: A center associated with ImmunoSensation focusing on immunology research and collaboration.

Products and services

• Master of Science (MSc) Programs in Immunology Graduate-level educational programs providing structured training in immunology and related biomedical sciences for early career scientists, offered through the University of Bonn network.
• International School on Advanced Immunology Annual international educational program for early-career scientists featuring distinguished speakers and collaborative learning in advanced immunology, co-organized with IFReC at Osaka University.
• Immunosensation 360° Virtual Tour Virtual 360° tour providing guided visits through cluster institutes and laboratories, showcasing immunological research facilities to scientific visitors, students and the general public.
• ImmunoSensation3 Research Programs Core interdisciplinary research activities addressing immune diversity at molecular, cellular and systemic levels, conducted by immunologists, neurobiologists, systems biologists, biochemists, biophysicists and mathematicians across University of Bonn, University Hospital Bonn and DZNE.

Quantifiable outcome

• 4775 publications from cluster members
• +1 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability5 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• IFReC (Immunology Frontier Research Center) - Osaka UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partnership for the International School on Advanced Immunology, entering its 5th round. The program provides training opportunities for early-career scientists and fosters international knowledge exchange in immunology between Osaka and Bonn.
• University Hospital Bonn (UKB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCore institutional partner providing clinical research infrastructure and collaboration in immunological research, particularly in translating basic science findings.
• German Centre for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHelmholtz Association partner contributing expertise in neurodegenerative diseases and connecting immunological research with neurobiology research.
• PRECISE ConsortiummajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPan-European initiative (founding partner with UKB and University of Bonn represented by Prof. Dr. Maximilian Billmann and Prof. Dr. Jonathan Schmid-Burgk) aiming to identify cancer cell vulnerabilities through computational models and laboratory experiments. Scientific vision published in Nature Genetics.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Max Planck Institute for Immunobiology and Epigenetics: German Max Planck Institute focused on immunology and epigenetics with comparable research mission and academic structure, employing similar multidisciplinary scientist teams studying immune system mechanisms.
• Berlin Institute of Health at Charité (BIH): German translational research institute jointly operated by Charité and MDC, focused on translating fundamental research into clinical applications; overlapping mission with ImmunoSensation's translation aspirations from basic immunology to diagnostics and therapy.
• TWINCORE Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research: German joint venture between Hannover Medical School and Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, focused on immunology and infection biology with comparable academic-translational mission.
• La Jolla Institute for Immunology: US-based non-profit immunology research organization focused on fundamental immunology with translational aims, operating at a similar scale and structure with comparable publication output.
• IFReC - Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University: Japan's flagship immunology research center with parallel mission to advance immune system understanding; ImmunoSensation's existing strategic partner, co-organizing the International School on Advanced Immunology, making it the closest peer by mission and structure.
• Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI): German Helmholtz Centre with major immunology and infection biology research programs; DZNE (an ImmunoSensation partner) is also under the Helmholtz umbrella, giving operational and funding parallels.
• German Rheumatism Research Centre Berlin (DRFZ): German Leibniz Institute dedicated to rheumatism and immunology research, with overlapping disease focus (rheumatism is one of ImmunoSensation's named indications) and a comparable public-funding model.
• Yale Department of Immunobiology: Major US academic immunology department with interdisciplinary research programs linking immunity to metabolism and disease, comparable in scope to ImmunoSensation's systems-level approach.

Broad incumbents

• Institut Pasteur: Major global immunology and infectious disease research institution with broader scope (microbiology, epidemiology, virology) but overlapping core immunology research capabilities and educational/training programs.
• MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology (LMB): UK research institute with pioneering work in molecular immunology and structural biology; broader scope than ImmunoSensation but overlapping fundamental immunology and antibody engineering research.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/FISchmidtLab
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCNzqCtwIpKdwPfd2lhzO5jg
• Facebookfacebook.com/immunosensation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/immunosensation
• Instagraminstagram.com/immunosensation3

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Cluster of Excellence ImmunoSensation - University of Bonn