Hannover Medical School (MHH), Germany’s only purely medical university, has taken a decisive step in the nationwide competition for top-level research. To this end, the MHH submitted its declaration of intent to the German Council of Science and Humanities to apply to become a University of Excellence. The aim is to achieve the prestigious title as part of the Excellence Strategy of the German federal and state governments, which is associated with annual funding of up to 15 million euros.

The MHH positions itself as a unique institution that integrates research, teaching and patient care at the highest level. The campus combines excellent basic and translational biomedical research with patient-oriented medicine, supported by a close integration of science and clinical practice. As a supramaximal care provider, the MHH stands for innovative, science-based medicine that is characterized by translational teaching and interprofessional collaboration between all healthcare professions. This structure makes it possible to quickly translate research findings into clinical application and to combat serious illnesses in a targeted manner.

MHH ‘s application is based on its scientific strength, particularly in the key research areas of Infection & Immunity, Transplantation & Regeneration and Biomedical Engineering & Implant Research, in which the university is one of the leading international institutions. A decisive milestone for the application was reached in May 2025, when MHH was awarded two Clusters of Excellence: RESIST, which focuses on infectious diseases and immune responses, and Hearing4all, which focuses on researching and improving hearing. These clusters fulfill the requirement that applicant universities must have at least two Clusters of Excellence in order to compete.

The next step in the process is to submit the complete application by November 12, 2025. The decision on which universities will be allowed to carry the status of excellence from 2027 will be made in autumn 2026. The title would not only further strengthen the MHH’s scientific reputation, but also sustainably expand its capacities for cutting-edge research and innovative teaching through the generous funding. The additional funds could flow into new research projects, the expansion of infrastructure and the promotion of interdisciplinary collaboration in order to further accelerate the translation of research findings into patient care.

The MHH’s application is strongly supported by the state government of Lower Saxony. Science Minister Falko Mohrs emphasized the university’s outstanding position in biomedical research and its focus on the needs of patients of all age groups. The MHH has established itself as one of the leading medical universities in Germany, whose work contributes to the alleviation and cure of serious diseases. This support underlines the importance of the MHH not only for the region, but also for the international research landscape.

The MHH sees the application as an opportunity to further expand its unique position as a pure medical university and to consolidate its role as a pioneer in translational medicine. With its integrative approach, which combines science, clinics and teaching, the university is ideally positioned to meet the high requirements of the excellence competition. The coming months will be decisive in setting the course for a successful application and establishing the MHH as a university of excellence in top international research.

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