Before we dive into the new year, we would like to take a brief look back. Together we achieved a lot over the past year. This is reflected in numerous publications, awards, and grants, as well as in a range of successful events across various formats.
Research and Technology
A broad range of studies provided new insights into muscle degeneration, cellular organization and signaling, microbial behavior, and nervous system function. For example, researchers reported impaired muscle regeneration in LAMA2-related muscular dystrophy, uncovered new mechanisms of proteins folding within condensates and revealed how neurons initiate or suppress motor actions with high precision. Several projects focused on bacteria. The infection biology teams demonstrated that antibiotic treatment can fail even against non-resistant bacteria and revealed that bacteria deploy their secretion systems in response to cell damage.
Scientists also leveraged advanced tools, ranging from AI-guided analysis of RNA regulation in embryogenesis to high-resolution cryo-electron tomography of mitochondrial architecture. Numerous publications in leading scientific journals reflect the important contributions of the Biozentrum to advancing scientific knowledge.
Awards and Honors
Biozentrum researchers were recognized with multiple distinctions. Three principal investigators secured European Research Council (ERC) funding, spanning Starting, Consolidator and Advanced Grants. Prof. Anne Spang received major awards for her work on intracellular transport, and five researchers were named among the world’s most highly cited scientists.
Professorships
A new endowed professorship in Climate Biophysics will strengthen research at the interface of biophysics and climate-relevant environmental biology. Two new Assistant Professors, David Brückner and Claudia Keller Valsecchi, joined the Biozentrum community. Meanwhile, two long-serving professors, Stephan Grzesiek and Markus Affolter, reached emeritus status and said goodbye with well-attended farewell lectures.
Education and Outreach
In the past year, teaching, training and outreach remained core activities. The Biozentrum PhD Fellowships attracted more than 1,800 applicants worldwide; the Research Summer and Summer Science programs offered hands-on science to undergraduate and high school students. At UniKidsCamp and Zukunftstag even the youngest experienced the life of a researcher. Public events, including our well-established "Einblicke Biozentrum" lecture series, strengthened the dialogue between scientists and the public, making complex research accessible and sparking curiosity. Community-building formats such as the Discovery Seminars and the Biozentrum Symposium provided opportunities for scientific exchange.
