News & Events

On 17 September, D-BSSE launches Well-BSSE-ing, a year-long programme promoting physical and mental wellbeing. D-BSSE members can explore a year of talks, workshops, activities and shared experiences that support wellbeing, strengthen connections and foster a culture where everyone can thrive, both professionally and personally. 

Fascinated by the evolution of immune repertoires, the chemical biologist from the San Francisco Bay Area, USA, joined D-BSSE for its world-class research environment and thriving biotech ecosystem. So far, the science has impressed him – and so has summer in Basel.

On 24 November, 6:15 pm, the Bio Engineering Lab led by Andreas Hierlemann and the Cleanroom Facility Basel are inviting the public to a 1-hour guided tour to gain an insight into the fascinating world of micro- and nanotechnology manufacture and applications in biomedical research (tour in German; please register).

On 14 September, we were delighted to welcome 83 new Master students  to D-BSSE: 45 joining our Biotechnology programme and 38 starting Computational Biology & Bioinformatics. We wish you a fantastic start and a rewarding time at D-BSSE!

For the past two years, Sylke Poehling has been enrolled at the department as our first Professor of Practice. Sylke is an experienced leader in the pharmaceutical and biotech industry, with over 25 years of experience. She currently serves in senior leadership roles at Roche, including heading therapeutic modalities and gene therapy. In this interview, she talks about her role as a bridge builder between academia and industry.

Since its beginnings as an ETH Zurich spin-off, InSphero has worked to bring human-relevant 3D in vitro biology into pharmaceutical research. Recent developments mark a new chapter in that journey, expanding the company’s capabilities across spheroids, organoids, imaging, and phenotypic analysis at a time when New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) are gaining momentum across drug development.

Annalisa Bucci, postdoctoral researcher in the Bio Engineering Lab led by Andreas Hierlemann, has received the Swiss OphthAWARD 2026 in the category "Best Experimental Work" at the annual meeting of the Swiss Society of Ophthalmology (SSO) in Lausanne.

On 24 September, the next public seminar organised by the ETH Zürich - Roche partnership Next-gen Bioengineers will take place at the ETH Basel premises. Sascha Fauser, Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Cologne, Germany, and Global Head of Ophthalmology at Roche Pharma Research & Early Development in Basel, will talk about new treatments in ophthalmology. 

The 2026 Young 3Rs Investigators Awards have been awarded to Blandine Clément and Amanzhol Kurmashev, two postdoc-researchers from the Bio Engineering Lab led by Andreas Hierlemann. Their work advances innovative human cell-based models that improve the relevance of biomedical research whilst reducing the need for animal testing. The awards recognise outstanding contributions to the principles of the 3Rs: Replacement, Reduction and Refinement of animal use in research.