CellNanOs | Center for Cellular Nanoanalytics Osnabrück

Welcome to the Research Center for Cellular Nanoanalytics!

The Center for Cellular Nanoanalytics Osnabrueck (CellNanOs) brings together scientists from the Schools of  Biology/Chemistry,  Human Sciences and  Mathematics/Informatics/Physics to drive interdisciplinary method development at the interface of nanoscience and cell biology. Its central mission is to enable researchers to unveil the dynamic molecular architecture of living cells with exceptional spatial and temporal resolution. Availability of cutting-edge methodologies in this field are vital to the Collaborative Research Center  SFB 1557 “Functional Plasticity Encoded by Cellular Membrane Networks”. Further methodological advancement is fostered by the Research Training Group  RTG 2900 “nanomaterials@biomembranes”, qualifying the next generation of interdisciplinary scientists. The dedicated CellNanOs Research Building provides state-of-the-art infrastructure, creating a vibrant environment where innovative techniques are developed, shared, and applied.

A microscopic image, with the words ‘Frontiers in Light Microscopy’, ‘Technology Driving Discovery’ and ‘Osnabrück, 11–12 March 2026’ written in front of it
© CellNanOs | Osnabrück University

Experts in advanced light microscopy convene at the CellNanOs

The concluding meeting of the DFG-funded Major Instrumentation Initiative  Innovative Experimental Optical Microscopes for Research was hosted by the iBiOs in the CellNanOs Building. During a lunch-to-lunch symposium, members of the consortium presented their experience with cutting-edge light [...]

Four men and a woman are standing in front of the entrance to CellNanO; a sign bearing the building number ‘38’ inside a red circle can be seen.
© Hermann Pentermann

Visit by the head of government: Minister President Olaf Lies visits the CellNanOs

With its state-of-the-art imaging infrastructure, the CellNanOs offers unique opportunities to both researchers and students at Osnabrück University. Now, the Minister President of Lower Saxony was able to see this for himself during a guided tour. 

Chemical structural formulas and red and blue symbols
© Osnabrück University - Daniella Hübner

How can red light trigger chemical reactions in water?

Sensitized triplet–triplet annihilation upconversion (sTTA-UC) can convert two low-energy photons into one of higher energy, but its use in water is often limited by the poor solubility of the required chromophores. Researchers from the RTG2900 overcome this challenge by encapsulating a red-to-blue [...]

Pupils stand crowded together, with posters and information material bearing the Osnabrück University logo visible in the background.
© Niklas Kästner | Osnabrück University

Insights into the science of life: The 2025 University Information Day at the Biology department

Once again this year, the Biology department offered interested pupils exciting insights on the University Information Day with presentations, hands-on stands, taster lectures and guided tours of the Center for Cellular Nanoanalytics (CellNanOs). 

A man and a woman talking at a trade fair stand
© Mirco Imlau

Special insights: CellNanOs virtual research building at the BMFTR in Berlin

Newly developed physical microscopy methods with nanomaterials for cell biology were demonstrated at the open day of the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR). Federal Science Minister Dorothee Bär was one of the first to take the opportunity to see the interdisciplinary [...]

A group of people are standing in front of a building. They are all smiling at the camera
© Niklas Kästner

CellNanOs: Special workshop for experts from all over Germany

On July 21 and 22, around 25 specialists visited the state-of-the-art, interdisciplinary CellNanOs Research Center to undergo further training in the field of electron microscopy. 

A colorful molecular structure
© Jan-Hannes Schäfer

How to make ceramides: Structural insights into the function of yeast ceramide synthase

Ceramides are an essential class of lipids found in all eukaryotic cells, playing a crucial role in maintaining the structure of the plasma membrane. Researchers from the Möller and Fröhlich labs have resolved the structure of the enzyme responsible for ceramide synthesis in yeast.

A microscopic image, with ‘Conventional’ written on a blurred area and ‘New microscope’ on a sharp area; above it is written ‘Receptor dynamics on a living cell’.
© iBiOs | Osnabrück University

Resolving fast dynamics at the plasma membrane: New microscope opens up exciting possibilities

Researchers of the iBiOs Facility at the CellNanOs developed a new microscope combining quantitative single-molecule imaging (SMI) with structured illumination microscopy (SIM). The work has been published in “Nature Communications”.

A collage of three elements; left: a green glowing cell against a black background; centre: a schematic representation of clumping tau proteins; right: a microscopic image showing elongated structures.
© Neurobiology division

What helps in the fight against Alzheimer's? New method allows drug screening in living cells

A team led by Osnabrück biologist Prof. Dr. Roland Brandt (Neurobiology division) has developed a method that can be used to identify promising substances for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease in living cells.

A group of people are standing in front of a building and smiling cheerfully at the camera.
© private

Nanomaterials meet membrane biology: Interdisciplinary research training group granted

Great success for CellNanOs researchers: the German Research Foundation (DFG) will fund the research training group "nanomaterials@biomembranes" with 6.9 million euros starting in October 2023.

A group of nine people smiles happily at the camera
© SFB 1557

Cutting-edge research at Osnabrück Biology: DFG approves Collaborative Research Center

Osnabrück University will receive more than €11.5 million for the new Collaborative Research Centre (CRC) 1557. The DFG is thus funding joint research by numerous researchers around biochemist Prof. Dr Christian Ungermann.

A graphic representation of a blue-green molecule against a dark blue background.
© Arne Moeller | Osnabrück University

First structure from "Elenor" published in eLife

After years of tedious work, the Ungermann and the Möller labs together solved the structure of the multiprotein HOPS complex, uncovering key mechanistic features of endosomal vesicle tethering and fusion.

A colourful microscopic image
© Heiko Harten | Osnabrück University

Keeping the heart in the right rhythm

How does the heart stay in rhythm? A study published in the renowned journal Nature Communications by researchers around Heiko Harten from the Zoology division shows that the enzyme ‘neprilysin 4’ plays a crucial, previously unknown role.