News
New results in the Life Science Research at the University and ETH Zurich emerge regularly. If you want to form an own opinion on a scientific topic or to get the necessary knowledge for a founded decision before an upcoming vote, you need adequate information. Life Science Zurich summarizes the main research findings of the two Zurich universities and publishes them here.
-
After the CRISPR babies, what next?
What the Chinese scientist He Jiankui has done is utterly irresponsible, asserts Jacob Corn in the ETH Zukunftsblog. Nonetheless, we should not vilify germline therapy for good.
-
Turning Up the Heat on Cancer
A new kind of heat treatment could be an effective way of supporting cancer therapy. Caroline Maake heats up tumors using naturally occurring nanoparticles, which has shown to eliminate cancer cells in animal models. Thanks to two funding projects, the UZH professor can continue to develop this promising approach and use it on horses suffering from tumors of the connective tissue.
-
The protein with the starting gun
Whether dormant bacteria begin to reproduce is no accidence. Rather, they are simply waiting for a clear signal from a single protein in the cell interior. ETH researchers have now deciphered the molecular mechanisms behind this.
-
Insect Antibiotic Provides New Way to Eliminate Bacteria
An antibiotic called thanatin attacks the way the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria is built. Researchers at the University of Zurich have now found out that this happens through a previously unknown mechanism. Thanatin, produced naturally by the spined soldier bug, can therefore be used to develop new classes of antibiotics.
-
Inherited Trauma
Traumatic events occurring shortly after birth cause changes to genetic traits that are passed on to offspring over as many as four generations, neuroepigenetics professor Isabelle Mansuy has shown.
-
On the trail of medication intake
Assistant Professor Andrea Burden investigates the safety of medications to improve patient care. For her research, the scientist also uses her expertise in criminology.
-
Animals and us
Language, intelligence, cooperation – the things that supposedly set humans apart are increasingly being discovered in the animal kingdom. Animals hold a mirror up to our own nature and help us understand what makes us human.
-
Biodiversity from Above
Remote sensing expert Michael Schaepman wants to use a new aerial sensing method to investigate the complex interplay between ecosystems, species and genes.
-
Swiss Agriculture Also Depends on Research Progress
Wilhelm Gruissem argues that modern, effective breeding methods are needed to make our agriculture more ecologically friendly and resilient.
-
Vontobel Prize for Aging Research
Andrea Loizeau (Harvard Medical School) and Florian Riese (Psychiatrische Universitätsklinik Zürich) are awarded with the Vontobel Prize for Aging Research. Marcello Ienca (ETH Zürich) and Tenzin Wangmo (University of Basel) receive the Recognition Award.
-
The Wheat Genome Is Five Times Bigger than the Human Genome
Scientists at the UZH, together with international research partners, have been able to sequence the complete genome of common wheat for the first time. The information will enable more effective measures to be taken to combat pests and climate stress in wheat.
-
Rethinking Our Relationship with Nature
Should we protect nature because it provides us with resources, or do so simply for its own sake? Philosopher and biologist Anna Deplazes Zemp wants to look at this question from a new point of view using an argumentation of environmental ethics.
-
Lymphatic Vessels Unexpectedly Promote the Spread of Cancer Metastases
Lymphatic vessels actively contribute to the spread of cancer metastases from various organs.
-
“Our Think Tank Should Be Unavoidable”
Young scientists should participate in direct democracy. To this end, Servan Grüninger founded the think tank ‘Reatch’, which has meanwhile become indispensable in the debate about science policy.
-
Heyday for Plant Researcher
Until recently Cyril Zipfel was head of the prestigious Sainsbury Laboratory in Norwich, Great Britain. Now he’s taken up a role as professor of plant physiology at UZH – armed with an ERC Consolidator Grant as well as a prestigious Japanese award.
-
Transporting Micronutrients More Efficiently
ETH researchers have genetically modified a key variety of rice, making it very efficient at enriching its grains with iron and zinc.
-
Stem-Cell Niche for 10 Billion Colon Cells a Day
UZH Researchers have discovered the identity of the stem-cell niche of the colon. The niche comprises special cells that activate the stem cells.
-
Diving with Dolphins
Marine biologist Angela Ziltener’s most important work is done in El Gouna on the Red Sea. It is here that the UZH scientist conducts her research on dolphins and campaigns to save the habitat of these fascinating creatures.
-
Where Seeds Fall
The city is a living, breathing ecosystem. If one leaves unpaved ground to itself, it begins to sprout even beside the busiest streets. This is the vitality of nature. In summer, the city air is full of plant seeds landing somewhere, germinating there, and becoming a new plant.
-
Malaria Detectable in Olfactory Cocktail
ETH researchers have discovered odour profiles typical of people infected with acute or asymptomatic malaria.
-
Cell Biology: Burned-Out Cancer Cells
Cancer cells are very resourceful when it comes to evading the body’s repair mechanisms. Cell biologist Matthias Altmeyer researches these strategies, paving the way for novel therapies.
-
Protein Analysis for Personalised Medicine
New knowledge about proteins helps researchers develop innovative solutions for clinical practice, for example to the benefit of patients with Parkinsons’s disease.
-
The Million-Dollar Researcher
The ecologist Tom Crowther only recently joined ETH Zurich as assistant professor. Virtually his first achievement was to win a grant offering potential research funding of more than 17 million euros over the next 13 years.
-
Mix of Bacteria Help Treating Intestinal Diseases
When the intestinal eco system is damaged only a fecal microbiota transplant might help. As this method isn’t without risks a ETH spin off company Pharmabiome, an ETH spin-off, is now developing safer alternative.
-
Nobel Laureate Martin Chalfie at the Zurich Life Science Day 2018
At this year's Zurich Life Science Day Martin Chalfie talked about GFP lighting up life. Read more about his recent visit in Zurich and his research on flourescent proteins (in German).
-
Tailing Apes
Anthropologist Carel van Schaik has spent years observing orangutans and tackling the major questions of human evolution. He finds new answers to them time and time again.