Biozentrum University of Basel
Switzerland · Europe
About
Research at the Biozentrum of the University of Basel is dedicated to the central question of how molecules and cells create life − from atom to organism, and from the physics of life to the dynamics of multicellular systems. Accordingly, the scientists at the Biozentrum are active in a wide range of research fields. These disciplines are not strictly separated from each other, but often overlap, thus leading to new questions and collaborations. With 529 employees, the Biozentrum is the largest department at the University of Basel's Faculty of Science. It is home to 32 research groups with scientists from more than 40 nations who investigate how molecules and cells create life.
In 1971, at the time when the Biozentrum was founded, the concept of developing an interdisciplinary biological research facility was unique in Europe. Scientists from academy and industry as well as representatives of the Canton of Basel-Stadt promoted the Biozentrum's development. In the winter semester 1972/73 the first students enrolled for the new "Biology II" curriculum. It encompassed a two-year foundation course in mathematics, physics and chemistry as well as a cycle of block courses – a new teaching format. In 1976 the first students received their diplomas. In 1978 the Biozentrum became a department of the University of Basel. In the same year, one of the founding professors, Werner Arber, was awarded the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine for his discovery of the restriction enzymes. With the incorporation of the Maurice E. Müller Institute in 1986, the Biozentrum became a competence center for high resolution electron microscopy. It also established a platform for nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Cooperation with the Institute for Immunology (Hofmann-La Roche) and the Friedrich Miescher Institute (Ciba/Geigy) became ever closer and networking more and more important: In 1996, what is now the "Center of Competence and Excellence in Neuroscience" was founded. Then "Neurex", the largest tri-national alliance of neurobiologists, was set up. The "Basel Signalling Alliance", the "Neuroscience Network Basel", and the "Basel Stem Cell Network" followed. And finally, the Basel Translational Medicine Hub was established to further personalized medicine. The major areas of investigation were also extended: whereas into the 1990s the Biozentrum focused on Cell Growth & Development, Neurobiology and Structural Biology, it was at the beginning of the 21st century that Infection Biology and Computational & Systems Biology were added. Building up a range of Technology Core Facilities which offer highly sophisticated methods of investigation and analysis was also a priority during the last decade. In 2021, the Biozentrum moved into a 73 m high research tower. The new building offers a state-of the art infrastructure that meets the needs of modern-day research as well as enough room for 400 researchers and 900 students. The Biozentrum is headed by its director Alexander F. Schier.
Research at the Biozentrum is dedicated to the central question of how molecules and cells create life − from atom to organism, and from the physics of life to the dynamics of multicellular systems. Accordingly, the scientists at the Biozentrum are active in a wide range of research fields. These disciplines are not strictly separated from each other, but often overlap, thus leading to new questions and collaborations. Modern research increasingly depends on sophisticated technologies, notably in the fields of genomics, proteomics, imaging, and data analysis. To meet this challenge, the Biozentrum has established a number of so-called Technology Platforms. It has facilities for electron and light microscopy, cell imaging and nanoanalytics, proteomics, biophysics, FACS (Fluorescence Activated Cell Sorting) and Research IT. A microarray and a quantitative genomics facility are being shared with other regional research institute
Adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA). Photography via Wikimedia Commons.