News and Events

Potravitug, a first-in-class monoclonal antibody designed to prevent BK polyomavirus reactivation in kidney transplant recipients, has demonstrated promising results in Phase II clinical trials. Following its acquisition by the French biopharmaceutical company Ipsen, the therapy is now advancing to Phase III trials – the final stage of clinical testing before potential regulatory approval and market launch.

The partnership between CSCS, the Swiss National Supercomputing Centre, and the Botnar Institute of Immune Engineering (BIIE) has led to a promising new approach to drug discovery: a novel AI model architecture that appears capable to predict antibody-antigen binding with unusually high data efficiency. Should the results be confirmed experimentally, the approach could accelerate not only antibody development, but also the discovery of small-molecule drugs.

Researchers across Europe will benefit from Swiss expertise in secure sharing and analysis of health data, with the Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics (SIB) and ETH Zurich joining the EOSC-ENTRUST project of the European Open Science Cloud.

Researchers from D-BSSE, institutions in Basel and their international collaborators show how mechanobiology is evolving – from studying individual molecules to understanding complex cellular systems. This shift helps reveal how physical forces such as pressure and stiffness shape tissues in development, health and disease.

On 9 June, the Multicellular Systems lab of Prisca Liberali opened its doors to the public, offering insights into the organisation and regeneration of intestinal organoids (“mini-guts”) and their significance for the future of biomedical research. After a short introduction by Prisca, three of her team members took the visitors onto a guided lab tour.

The latest Scientific Staff Survey at ETH Zurich – broken down to the level of departments – offers insights into doctoral and postdoctoral experiences. Despite moderate participation rates, the survey remains an important tool for shaping future improvements and guiding institutional priorities.

At its meeting on 20 and 21 May 2026 and upon application of Joël Mesot, President of ETH Zurich, the ETH Board appointed Stephen Quake, currently Professor at Stanford University, USA, as Full Professor of Biophysics and Biomedical Engineering at the D-BSSE and faculty member of the Basel Research Center for Child Health (BRCCH). A warm welcome, Stephen!

A newly funded project led by Na Cai will use advanced statistical and machine learning methods to uncover molecular subtypes of major depressive disorder. By analysing large-scale international datasets, the team aims to identify biological signatures of depression and pave the way for more targeted and effective treatments.

Researchers from the Bio Engineering Lab of Andreas Hierlemann have developed a platform to strengthen or weaken connections between neurons with unprecedented precision. Using high-density microelectrode arrays they built a framework that could guide our understanding of how complex neuronal systems remain stable, resilient, and healthy. Published in Advanced Science, this study marks a step forward in our ability to actively reshape the brain’s fundamental building blocks.