Host labs

Allergy and Immunology

Neutralizing antibodies and host-pathogen interaction for vaccine design against Toxoplasma gondii

Involvement of the natriuretic peptides (C-type natriuretic peptide, CNP) in the development and progression of the cardiovascular alterations developed by Marfan patients

- percutaneous treatment of mitral valve regurgitation

- surgical treatment of heart failure

Genetic of autosomal recessive intellectual disability and developmental delay

Systematic analysis of genetic interactions: “Monogenic” diseases often show diversity in disease severity across patients, which can be due to the presence of modifier mutations. Using genetic screens in cultured human cells, we aim to identify such modifier genes, to better understand differences in disease severity.

Establishment of an autologous in vitro human model of neuro-inflammatory diseases, using human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC)

Clinical Neurosciences (DNC)

Epileptic seizure detection and forecasting using wearable devices and machine learning

Clinical Neurosciences (DNC)

Fundamental, Translational, healthy participants, patients, psychophysics, neuropsychology, fMRI, EEG, neural networks / computational modeling, virtual reality: Understanding and quantifying deficits of body representations following brain (stroke) or body (amputees, CRPS) damage, via a multimodal (psychophisics, neuroimaging, computational) approach 

Genetics and Pathogenesis of congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (CHH) and other disorders of puberty

Role of odixative stress in thyroid pathophysiology

Modelling of treatment appropriateness in chronic diseases: the example of inflammatory bowel diseases:  Using data collected in the Swiss IBD cohort study for 15 years on therapies and outcomes, the objective would be to model appropriateness of treatment using reinforcement learning techniques

Laboratory of Systems Biology & Genetics: 1) Development of new single cell technologies to study tumor cell heterogeneity 2) Uncovering the molecular mechanisms underlying unhealthy fat mass expansion in the context of obesity

Protein turnover in human neurons

Frontiers in drug discovery & mode-of-action research in disease-subtype-specific targeted therapies;  Innovation and application of bioengineering & chemical biology tools 

Endocrine control mechanisms in breast carcinogenesis

Cell and developmental biology: Modulating centriole assembly in proliferating systems Mechanisms of asymmetric cell division

The complexity of schizophrenia: Classically, schizophrenia research focuses on one paradigm, thought to be representative for the disease, in great detail. We have shown that many paradigms are much less representative than thought. We propose to use a plethora of tests and analysis methods to understand the disease rather than single tests.

Epidemiology of chronic diseases, nutritional epidemiology

Systems and synthetic biology approaches to better understand the biology of Streptococcus pneumoniae with the overal goal to identify new treatment strategies: Development and spread of vaccine evasion and antibiotic resistance in Streptococcus pneumoniae

Neuronal circuits and plasticity mechanisms for motivation and related pathologies: Understanding the neuronal dynamics of reward and aversion processing

Mechanism of neurodegeneration in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster

Immunometabolic regulation for modulating anti-tumor immunity

Molecular virology and pathogenesis of hepatitis C and E

Velin Dominique

Harnessing the funcions of the gut microbiota to modulate the host immune responses:

1. Role of the gut microbiota in cancer immunotherapies

2. Role of the gut microbiota in Eosinophilic Esophagitis

Mechaninsm of aging and age-related diseases: Maintaining Immune and Mitochondrial functions in Old adults with SAfe nutrition: the MIMOSA study

Immunotherapies for hematologic malignancies: Development of engineered T cell therapies for hematologic malignancies. Mored detailed project information is available upon request.

Harnessing innate immune training to improve sepsis management.

Mindscope: Bridging the gap between functional Near Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) and neuronal dynamics during decision making

Neuromuscular plasticity to exercise: We use various techniques to investigate muscle plasticity in response to exercise and disease, from cell culture to non-invasive (e.g. evoked force, surface electromyography) measurements in exercising humans / patients. The specific topic for a potential MD/PhD will be discussed with the candidate. Potential projects : - Muscle adaptations to high intensity exercise in clinical populations - Adaptations to neuromuscular electrical stimulation - Mechanisms of muscle fatigue - ...

Cardiovascular epidemiology: Research on cardiovascular epidemiology, focusing on the associations between polygenic risk scores, metabolomics, diet, physical activity and the development of cardiovascular disease. Also research on quality of management of cardiovascular risk factors and the association between psychiatric and cardiovascular diseases. For more details contact the PIs at the website.

Bhuiyan Zahurul Alam

Unit of Cardiogenetics Research, SGM: Genetics of Inherited Cardiac Arrhythmias

Molecular imaging & therapy using PET/CT or SPECT/CT in oncological, cardiovascular or neurological pathologies, also in collaboration with the Translationnal Radiopharma-ceutical Science Laboratory of Prof. M. Schottelius

Study of the cell envelope in Gram negative bacteria and the mechanisms of antibiotic resistance

Vascular reactivity in physiological and pathological conditions: Investigation of alterations in the human umbilical circulation in case of intrauterine growth restriction

Neonatal innate immunity and sepsis: Host-pathogen interactions in group B streptococcal sepsis

Burden of occupational cancers in Switzerland: Burden of asbestos-related cancers in Switzerland (BARCS)

Precision oncology: Discovery of prognostic and predictive biomarkers for precision oncology

Head and neck cancer research: Assessing clonal evolution in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and its contribution to tumor progression and treatment resistance

Pediatric Hematology-Oncology: investigation of the molecular pathogenesis of cancer and inherited blood disorders in children

Aging and muscle metabolism from the whole organism to organelle contact sites. Translational and mechanistic studies understanding cellular metabolism underpinning insulin resistance and aging. 

Impact of the pulmonary microbiome and host-gene interactions on respiratory function post-COVID19 infection

Neurobiology of Anxiety and Fear: The role of the basolateral amygdala - prefrontal cortex axis in social cognition, hierarchy and collaboration: a cross species approach

Adult neurogenesis and depression: The goal of this project is to study the role of blood-cirvulating molceules on the regulation of adult hippocampal neuroegensis and its role in depression

Immuno-radiation Therapy in Gynecological Cancers

1. We recently discovered that in rheumatoid arthritis, fibrin deposition on cartilage is a direct trigger of cartilage damage. Fibrin seems to trigger joint stiffness by chondro-synovial adhesion, direct catabolic processes and enhanced calcification. Similar to atherosclerosis, fibrin plaques trigger degeneration in chronic inflammation. In this project we aim to target fibrin-associated mechanisms in vitro and in animal models to prevent secondary cartilage damage in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.  

2. Digital therapeutics and biomarker is a new field in rheumatology. In previous projects we have developed algorithms for disease prediction and clustering in rheumatoid arthritis be deep learning. We also developed (and patented) a digital biomarker to monitor joint swelling using automated recognition of dorsal finger folds of the hands. In this project we aim to test the new digital biomarker (DETECTRA) in a larger patient cohort, to further develop the algorithm and to deploy the biomarker in form of an app.

Movement biomechanics and imaging: The Swiss BioMotion Laboratory runs various projects aiming at improving the understanding, prevention and treatment of joint pathologies

Biomechanics of the joints, prevention and treatment of osteoarthritis with intelligent systems, conservative or arthroplasty: The Swiss BioMotion Laboratory runs various projects aiming at improving the understanding, prevention and treatment of joint pathologies

Role of T- and B-cell subsets in rejection and tolerance after solid organ transplantation: Immune profiling of rejection episodes and outcome after kidney transplantation

Understanding tumor immunity in bladder cancer patients to develop new treatment

Modulating oxidative stress as a strategy in the treatment hepatocellular carcinoma

Research aiming to decrease health iniquities among populations with vulnerabiities (e.g., homeless individuals, migrant populations, frequent users of emergency departement, Dead and hard of hearing populations).