Department of Biomedicine

🌷 Empowering Women and Girls in Science: A Workshop on Mental Health Last Friday, in celebration of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, the Department of Biomedicine organized a meaningful workshop on mental health. We had the privilege of welcoming psychologist Silvia Mancini Gasparini (Msc UZH), Psychologin, Autorin, who guided participants in exploring their own perceptions and resilience. Through a short guided meditation and practical strategies for daily life, we gained valuable insights on managing workplace pressures and overcoming life’s obstacles. At the heart of it all is the ability to tap into our inner peace and strength, while also recognizing and acting on the changes that lie within our control. One key takeaway? Written and mental visualization can make personal and professional goals much more achievable. ✨ We hope our participants found the session inspiring and left with practical tools to support their well-being. Thank you to everyone who joined us! #WomenInScience #MentalHealth #Resilience #Visualization #InnerStrength

Have you ever wondered how cells maintain their identity throughout our lives? A new study has uncovered a crucial piece of the puzzle. Co-first author Aryan Kamal from the Judith Zaugg lab Department of Biomedicine and EMBL in collaboration with co-first author Bryce Lim from the Moritz Mall group at DKFZ Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum and Zentralinstitut für Seelische Gesundheit have identified a group of proteins that act as cellular safeguards, preventing cells from changing their identity. By studying the liver, the researchers discovered that a protein called PROX1 is essential for maintaining the fate of liver cells. This protein not only helps liver cells regenerate after injury but also blocks tumour formation and progression. The DBM congratulates the Zaugg lab for this groundbreaking discovery. These findings offer exciting new possibilities for understanding and treating liver disease and cancer. Find out more: https://lnkd.in/dNF3jv4W Publication Link in comments. #CellFate #Plasticity #CancerResearch #LiverRegeneration #GeneRegulation #PROX1 #Hepatocytes #LiverCancer #TumorSuppression #Transdifferentiation

Durable Lymphocyte Subset Elimination to Decipher Immune Control of Chronic Viral Infection In her recent work, Anna Lena Kastner of the Daniel Pinschewer Lab in the Department of Biomedicine and colleagues developed an innovative AAV-based tool for the long-term depletion of lymphocyte subsets in mice. Unlike traditional methods, these depletion-AAVs enable the durable elimination of lymphocyte subsets while avoiding key limitations that are inherent to genetically modified mouse models, thus offering a powerful alternative to genetically modified mouse models and monoclonal depletion antibodies. Using this approach, the team unveils how B cells and CD8+ T cells synergize in controlling chronic viral infection: while CD8+ T cells are essential for eventual viral elimination, they only succeed provided that antibodies suppress viral loads. These finding underscore the intricate synergy and interdependence of humoral and cellular immune responses in the fight against persistent infections. Congratulations to first author Anna Lena Kastner and the Pinschewer lab! Find out more: https://lnkd.in/dMsHfiNB Publication Link in comments. #Immunology #ViralInfection #AAV #Bcells #Tcells #ChronicInfection

🌟 Happy International Day of Women and Girls in Science! 👩🔬🔬 Did you know that only 33% of the world's researchers are women? There are still many barriers in STEM that limit innovation and progress for everyone. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, and to celebrate, we are featuring 20 incredible women from our Institute—from students to group leaders—in a special collage.✨ They share their journeys, motivations, and visions for the future of women in science. Please take a look: https://lnkd.in/eTfke7jf 💙A huge thank you to these inspiring women for being part of this initiative! We hope their stories will encourage the next generation of scientists, regardless of gender. 🔬Science thrives on diversity. Join us in celebrating, sharing, and supporting a future where talent—not gender—defines success in research. 📢We invite everyone to watch and share our video and collage! Prof. Aimée Zuniga Anna-Friederike Marx Anne Geng Christine Bernsmeier Dr. Christine Blume Darja Hessel Eileen Haring Federica Valigi Zsófia Sziber Janhavi Apte Joana Gomes Judith Zaugg Karen Leal Fischer Karoliina Pelttari Maria Rafaeva Pauline Hanns Simona Stivala Tania Rinaldi Barkat Vanesa-Sindi Ivanova #WomenInScience #InternationalDayofWomenandGirlsInScience #IDWGS #STEM #February11 #TeamDBM

How to tackle overt activation of the immune system and related adverse effects during immune checkpoint inhibitor treatment In a recent study led by Petya Apostolova and Robert Zeiser, researchers including first author Lukas Braun explored extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) as a treatment for immune-related adverse events (irAE) in patients receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI). Published in Cancer Cell by Cell Press, the study found that ECP demonstrated a strong safety profile and high response rates while preserving anti-tumor immunity. Notably, their findings highlight an unexpected role of adiponectin in mediating the effects of ECP, providing new insights into immune regulation. This work, made possible through collaboration across institutions in Germany, Switzerland, and the USA, represents a step forward in managing irAE and improving patient outcomes. The Department of Biomedicine congratulates Petya Apostolova, Robert Zeiser, and the entire research team on this important contribution! Find out more: https://lnkd.in/euV2F7Tz Publication Link in comments. #CancerResearch #Immunotherapy #Collaboration #ECP #ICI #irAE

New Links Between Immune Dysfunction & Lymphoma Uncovered In their latest work, Christoph Schultheiß and Paul Schmidt-Barbo of the Mascha Binder Lab at the Department of Biomedicine and colleagues have identified how genetic mutations in DADA2—a rare inflammatory disease—disrupt immune balance and may contribute to lymphoma risk. Their study, published in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, reveals low antibody levels, loss of memory B and T cells, and persistent inflammation in DADA2 patients. A key finding was a skewed B-cell profile (IGHV4-34 rearrangements), which is associated with autoimmunity and lymphoma. The team also developed a machine learning tool that accurately distinguishes DADA2 patients from healthy individuals based on their adaptive immune receptor architecture alone. These findings open new paths for early disease detection, treatment, and prevention. 🔬 Congratulations to the Binder Lab! Find out more: https://lnkd.in/dJSzE2vw 🔗 Publication Link in comments. #Immunology #Lymphoma #Genetics #DADA2 #Research

OPEN POSITION 💡 A position (80-100%) in Scientific Collaborator for setting up Spatial Omics Technologies is available at the Department of Biomedicine. The research group led by Judith Zaugg is seeking a highly motivated and skilled collaborator to drive innovation in spatial omics technologies and advanced imaging approaches. The successful candidate will work on optimizing spatial multi-omics protocols, developing imaging pipelines, and leading technology implementation in collaborative projects. The ideal candidate should have strong expertise in spatial omics technologies, multiplex immunostaining, in situ sequencing, and advanced imaging approaches. Experience in antibody bioconjugation and tissue handling (FFPE and fresh-frozen), and histology will be a plus. We offer you the opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge research in a dynamic, interdisciplinary environment, with access to state-of-the-art platforms for imaging, genomics, and computational biology. This is an exciting position in a culturally and scientifically rich city. Located in the vibrant city of Basel, the Department of Biomedicine is an internationally recognized hub for basic, translational, and clinical research. We look forward to receiving your application! Link to the job offer in the comments. ⏬ #Job #Opportunity #ScientificCollaborator #OpenPosition #SpatialOmics #Technologies #AdvancedImaging #DBM

OPEN POSITION 💡 A Finance Clerk position (50%) is available at the Department of Biomedicine. We are looking for a dedicated and detail-oriented finance clerk to support our central services. This role involves processing invoices, issuing accounts receivable, assisting in quarterly and annual closing activities, and supporting various controlling tasks. The ideal candidate must have a background in commercial education, further training in finance is a plus. Furthermore, the successful candidate should be fluent in both German and English. Work experience in public administration or a university is an advantage. This is an excellent opportunity to contribute to a dynamic, innovative environment while collaborating with a great team. Located in the vibrant city of Basel, the Department of Biomedicine is an internationally recognized hub for basic, translational, and clinical research. We look forward to receiving your application! Link to the job offer in the comments. ⏬ #Job #Opportunity #Finance #Clerk #OpenPosition #DBM #Administrative

📢 The Department of Biomedicine is now on Bluesky! 🚀 We’re committed to sharing the cutting-edge research, scientific insights, and innovations that are shaping the future of biomedicine. Join us on Bluesky at @biomedizin.unibas.ch to stay informed. 🧬🔬 🔗 https://lnkd.in/dXx652m7 #Biomedicine #Science #Innovation #Translational #Research #DBM

Join us for the upcoming Athena’s Journey on February 13th, featuring special guest Prof. Dr. Janet Hering. Athena's Journey is a "Women in Science" organization, endorsed by the Department of Biomedicine and in collaboration with TWIST: Towards more Women in Science and Technology. Every Month, Athena’s Journey hosts female speakers from academic and industry-based institutions from around Switzerland for a unique series of life and career advice for progressive scientists. 🧬Remember, every female scientist has a story that can inspire you. 🧬 Date: 13.02.25 Time: 5.00 pm Venue: D-BSSE, Schanzenstrasse 44, 4056 Basel, Room K-58 Speaker: Prof. Dr. Janet Hering (Director Emerita, Eawag) We hope to see you there! Vanesa-Sindi Ivanova (FG Tzankov) Lena Siewert (FG Pröbstel) Janhavi Apte (FG Martin) Franziska Bosch (FG Finke) Eileen Haring (FG Apostolova) #network #career #womeninscience #research #event #science