D-BSSE News

On 6 May, D-BSSE again opens a lab to the public: On this guided tour through the Single Cell and Lab Automation Facility you will see how tiny details in cells are visualised using state-of-the-art laser microscopes. By immersing ourselves in the fascinating world of the microcosm, we can unlock the secrets of life. We will also show you how automation is finding its way into the laboratory. Registration is open now!

Congratulations to Prisca Liberali, head of the Multicellular Systems Lab, on receiving the Consolidator Grant of the Swiss National Science Foundation for her research on the self-organisation of multi-cellular systems.

As part of a public event series organised by Treffpunkt Science City, Andreas Moor, head of the Systems Physiology Lab, gave a lecture on liver metastases. Researchers recently discovered how bowel cancer cells dock onto the liver: they detach from the initial tumour, enter the bloodstream and settle in the capillary network of the liver. However, the tumour cells need the support of liver cells to grow into metastases. This finding could enable new therapies to prevent tumour metastases.

The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants such as Beta, Gamma, Delta and Omicron is a critical factor for drug development. Researchers around Sai Reddy, head of the Synthetic Immunology lab, now present a computational tool that enables the selection and focused development of lead candidates of antibodies that have the most potential to maintain activity against a rapidly mutating SARS-CoV-2. The deep learning-guided approach identifies antibodies with enhanced resistance to the evolving virus.

A study led by researchers from the group of SNF Ambizione Fellow Nicolas Huguenin-Dezot has found that a protein forms a chain along single-stranded DNA, aiding a bacteriophage in copying its genetic material. Using advanced structural biology, biochemical, and bioinformatics techniques, the team uncovered a previously unknown protein fold binding to DNA in a unique way. This discovery could inspire innovations in medicine and biotechnology.

Not many students find the time to think about founding a startup during the course of their studies. But these six biotechnology students did, during their Master’s at the D-BSSE. They discovered that they had in common an entrepreneurial spirit and, fascinated by the potential of enzymes, they developed the business idea that led to the startup Hephaistos. Here, Jannik Neumann, Lucas Merlicek, Moritz Ullhofen, Ilya Schneider, Lukas Radtke and Arthur Theuer talk about their exciting journey.

On 17 February, scientists from the D-BSSE, the Biozentrum and the Pharmazentrum of the University of Basel were gathering for the Symposium “Science Next Door” to foster interdisciplinary connections between life-science institutions on Campus Schällemätteli.  

A study in Nature co-authored by Tanja Stadler highlights how integrating AI into global health systems over the next five years could save lives by predicting disease outbreaks and improving healthcare resource allocation. The study emphasises the need for collaboration across academia, government, and industry to ensure AI is used ethically and effectively. While AI's potential is immense, experts caution that human oversight and high-quality data are crucial to avoid risks.

On 6 March, the next 'Bench meets Bedside' seminar organised by the Engineering Translational Medicine (ETM) initiative will take place on Campus Schällemätteli. Speakers include Judith Zaugg (UniBas) and Basile Wicky (ETH/D-BSSE), followed by short science talks from Luana Frias Guerra (UniBas) and Paweł Czyż (ETH Zürich). This seminar series builds a platform for researchers and clinicians to connect and collaborate.

Researchers around Martin Fussenegger from the Biotechnology Lab have developed a new gene switch that can be activated using a commercially available nitroglycerine patch applied to the skin. One day, researchers want to use switches of this kind to trigger cell therapies for various metabolic diseases.