3D Matter Made to Order

Inspiring Young Minds at Girls’ Day 2026

This year, the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology brought together curious and motivated participants for an inspiring, hands-on STEM experience at Campus South and Campus North for Girls’ Day. The program featured interactive workshops on topics ranging from virtual reality in chemistry and AI applications to bioinformatics, electron microscopy, advanced 3D printing, and creative X-ray imaging. Participants had the opportunity to explore scientific concepts, build mini tomography systems, and learn about cutting-edge research fields. This event was made possible thanks to the dedication of our cluster members, including Pascal Friederich, Simone Mayer, Yolita M. Eggeler, Venera Weinhardt, and Christopher Barner-Kowollik. Their dedication helped create a dynamic and engaging environment that encouraged young talent to discover their interest in science and technology. The day’s success highlights the importance of early STEM outreach, and we look forward to welcoming the next generation of scientists again next year.

A new study, including Cluster Doctoral Researchers Lizia Branco and Daria Andreeva, Postdoctoral Researcher Federico Colombo, and Principal Investigators Christine Selhuber-Unkel and Simone Mayer, explores how the antiepileptic drug valproate (VPA) affects early human brain development. The researchers used stem cell–derived organoid models for their analysis. Through a combination of gene, cell, and protein analyses, the research team demonstrated that VPA disrupts the organization of early brain tissue, reduces the growth of neural precursor cells, and alters their maturation over time. These findings provide important insights into why prenatal exposure to VPA is associated with an increased risk of neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism spectrum disorder. Overall, this research highlights the value of human organoid systems for understanding brain development and developing safer therapies.

© Yentür et al., Molecular Psychiatry (2026), CC BY 4.0

A new paper, co-authored by Cluster Principal Investigators Eva Blasco, Pavel A. Levkin, Yolita M. Eggeler, and Pascal Friederich and published in Nature Machine Intelligence, explores how artificial intelligence can help identify new research directions in materials science. The team analyzed more than 200,000 scientific abstracts using large language models (LLMs) to extract key concepts and build a large-scale “concept graph” of the field. They then trained machine learning models to predict novel combinations of scientific concepts that could lead to future discoveries. Interestingly, evaluations with domain experts revealed that a significant proportion of these AI-generated suggestions were found to be interesting and potentially valuable. This work highlights the potential of AI as a tool that can support researchers in navigating complex knowledge spaces and accelerating innovation.

© Marwitz et al., Nature Machine Intelligence (2026), CC BY 4.0

On March 26, 2026, the NeuroConnect Organoid Neurophysiology Workshop was held at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT). The workshop brought together over 80 researchers from the fields of neuroscience, bioengineering, medicine, and ethics. Hosted by Cluster Principal Investigators Prof. Dr. Simone Mayer and Prof. Dr. Jasmin Aghassi-Hagmann and organized in collaboration with the University of Freiburg, the event focused on enhancing in vitro models of the human brain. Participants explored advances in engineered neural tissues, including activity-dependent plasticity and integrated electrophysiological recording within organoids. Discussions emphasized the growing convergence of technological innovation and neuroscience, as well as the ethical implications of increasingly complex, brain-like systems. The workshop concluded with a poster session that highlighted emerging ideas and the strong engagement of early-career researchers.

A few weeks ago, members of our Cluster gathered in Karlsruhe for our annaul Winter Cluster Meeting, which marked the first in-person meeting of our second funding period. This event was an important opportunity to reconnect, exchange ideas, and set the tone for the years ahead. Christine Selhuber-Unkel and Martin Wegener opened the meeting with welcoming remarks. A highlight of the program was introducing some of our new Principal Investigators, who presented their research and shared their scientific visions, contributing new ideas to the Cluster. Additionally, a poster session provided lively discussions and interdisciplinary exchanges among researchers at various career stages. Participants engaged in conversations about future projects, potential collaborations, and new research directions, thereby strengthening connections across the Cluster. Overall, the meeting fostered an open and collaborative atmosphere, laying a strong foundation for continued innovation and cooperation in the second funding period.

The 3DMM2O Conference 2026 brought researchers together at Schöntal Monastery for three days of discussions about the future of 3D additive manufacturing. The event focused on the intersection of theory, computation, and design in advanced 3D materials. Participants explored topics such as metamaterials, advanced fabrication techniques, machine learning, simulation, and bio-inspired systems. Through keynotes, contributed talks, flash talks, and poster sessions, the conference fostered strong connections between theoretical and experimental research. In addition to the scientific program, attendees enjoyed networking opportunities, informal discussions, and a vibrant social program, which included a conference dinner. We sincerely thank all participants who helped make this event a great success. Explore some of the conference highlights and key moments here!