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Innate Immunity, Cell Death, Infectious Diseases

Characterization of autoinflammation in health and diseases

Participation of CDK4 in the lipids biology in cancer cells

The successful candidate will work within the framework of the project entitled: Phototropism in green seedlings: studying its regulation in open versus shaded environment

We study gene insulation - a process by which a family of "insulator proteins" regulate the communication between regulatory elements and gene promoters, for example by regulating their arrangement in 3D space. We combine genetics, biochemistry, imaging and genomics.

Investigation of circadian clock regulation by upstream open reading frames (uORFs).

High-throughput genetic analyses in either yeast or cultured cell lines, depending on the interest of the student. Please have a look at the lab website.

Targeting pathway vulnerabilities induced by epigenetic disturbance in glioblastoma

Role of the gut-brain axis in driving multiple sclerosis

Study of multisensory-motor interactions around the body and the self in healthy and clinical populations using behavioral, neuroimaging and computational approaches

Gamified and immersive closed-loop approaches for cognitive assessment and neurorehabilitation

Population pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic modelling and computer tools for the therapeutic monitoring of medicinal drug concentrations and response markers. 

Reconciling molecular and histological tumor heterogeneity to predict cancer evolution

Combining ancient and modern DNA to characterize the peopling of the Aegean

The project will use evolutionary modeling and the generation of new genomic data to get new insights into the origin the marine adaptive radiation of clownfishes

Dysregulation of immune pathways during targeted treatments of autoimmune diseases

Using high-throughput sequencing and computational modelling, we attempt to identify the transcriptionactors/ epigenetic regulators of non-melanoma skin cancers. 

Multiparametric imaging of joint disease

Origin and evolution of a supergene controlling ant social organization

Assessing the spatial spread and potential impact of alien invasive species on biodiversity and ecosystem functioning

Network of interactions in ants

Effects of variation in symbiotic microorganisms on plant growth

Experimental Epidemiology in Ant Societies (currently under review for ERC St and Eccellenza grants; outcome will be known in August and November, respectively)

How do we best exploit genomics data to reach new levels of depth and detail in our understanding of biology?

Evolutionary Conservation Biology

Roles of Keap1/Nrf2 signaling in thyroglobulin regulation: impact on goiter and thyroid carcinoma.

To explore the link between objective nutrition biomarkers (blood or urine measurements) with genetic variants and cardiometabolic phenotypes in the general Swiss adult population. 

Machine learning approaches to help stratification and decision making in IBD

Epigenetic control of the bacterial cell cycle

Flexible; Area 1: Crosstalk between the human lung microbiota and the host immune system. Area 2: Ecology and evolution of the gut microbiota of social bees.

The interplay of two highly conserved systems (ParABS and SMC) in chromosome segregation and cellular regulation in bacteria.

Plant disease and pest control by beneficial soil bacteria: molecular and ecological mechanisms

How cells detect and orient cell polarization along gradients of chemo-attractants

A synthetic morphology toolbox for engineering bacterial self-organising populations

Systems and synthetic biology in the opportunistic human pathogen Streptococcus pneumoniae

Developmental Neuroscience and Disease

The PhD student will use Cre-Lox recombination, in vivo microdialysis, FACS sorting, in-utero and ex-utero electroporation, transcriptome sequencing, cell biology and imaging approaches and analysis (EM, TIRF and confocal). Parts of the project will involve the study of behavioral and cognitive phenotypes of transgenic mice models.

Lactate as a novel neuromodulator in several  brain regions: role for neuronal circuit modulation and behavior and its implications for the pathology of epilepsy.

Molecular mechanism of neuronal secretion

Autophagy, cell death and neuroprotection against perinatal brain injuries

Involvement of different classes of non-coding RNAs in Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes development

Analysis of single-cell RNA-Seq data in tumor immunology

Metabolic reinvigorating exhausted T cells for effective cancer immunotherapy

1. Mechanisms of resistance to  immune and chemotherapies in colorectal  cancer

2. Organ- and cancer-specific functions of vessels

Mechanisms of hepatitis E virus replication

Study the longitudinal behavior of biomarkers and microbiota indicative of preterm birth trhoughout the pregnancy

Less than 10 years ago, the term trained immunity (innate immune memory) was coined to reflect that the innate immune system recalls or adapt to a challenge to mount a robust response to a secondary challenge by a similar or dissimilar microbial stimulus. Trained immunity involves metabolic, epigenetic and transcriptional shifts in monocytes. We will analyze trained immunity on several angles including: 1) the breath of protection conferred, 2) the underlying mechanisms, and 3) the transgenerational effects

Decision making processes in the human and the small rodents, thalamocortical interactions, neural networks dynamics

- Intergenerational transmission of stress- and trauma-related consequences in the perinatal period

- Development of early psychological interventions

Dynamics of HIV latency at bulk and single-cell resolution

An interdisciplinary approach for healthier joints and movement

- Intergenerational transmission of stress- and trauma-related consequences in the perinatal period

- Development of early psychological interventions

1. Fast and straightforward Fluorine-18-labeling of proteins for PET imaging of clinically relevant targets in immunotherapy

2. Development of targeted probes for molecular imaging of chemokine receptors

1. Loss of vision increases our reliance on other senses, including touch. What are the neural correlates of this alteration? This project will use brain imaging and robotics to understand the effects of low vision on the neural re-weighting of touch

2. Eye-Hand Coordination is an apparently simple but indeed neurally demanding ability. How does visual impairment affect motor skills? This project combines Virtual Reality and Brain Stimulation to address this point in healthy and visually impaired adults and children/adolescents

Investigation of the molecular pathogenesis of pediatric myelodysplasia

Our main goal is to investigate the role of epigenetics as driver of aging and develop novel therapeutic approaches based on epigenetic reprogramming to slow down or reverse aging

To identify new molecular actors and pathways involved in mitochondria fate in aging muscle and myopathies, going from the subcellular level to the whole organism (zebrafish)

Intramuscular adaptations to high intensity interval training

Development of the Plant Vasculature

Characterization of the role of CASPL-like proteins in the formation of the cell wall-cuticle continuum

Comprehensive prediction model of Suicide Attempts derived from a large community sample followed up over 10 years.

Role of the transcription coactivator CRTC1 in depression and co-morbid obesity.

Regulation of neural stem cell proliferation by astrocytes in the context of anxiety and depression

1.  Advanced image processing for the quantitative analysis of the invivo thalamic nuclei from magnetic resonance imaging

2. Towards a personalized eye model for the study of ocular tumors based on Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Brain mechanisms of pediatric amblyopia and its rehabilitation with VR

Inference of causal biomarker network to boost drug repositioning and minimize side effects

Biomarkers to predict allograft rejection and outcome after kidney transplantation