School of Life Sciences

Fosters education, research and innovation at the interface of engineering and biology to advance the understanding of the living world and solve biomedical problems.

3D model of dendritic spines (purple) making synapses with axons containing vesicles (yellow). Background shows electron microscope image of brain tissue. ©EPFL-Graham Knott — 3D model of dendritic spines (purple) making synapses with axons containing vesicles (yellow). Background shows electron microscope image of brain tissue. ©EPFL – Graham Knott

Temporary placements for Ukrainian researchers

The School of Life Sciences offers temporary placements for Ukrainian researchers in the broad life sciences (PhD students, postdocs and group leader) from a Ukrainian University or Research Institution for 3-6 months.

For more information contact the Deputy to the Dean at [email protected]

Breakthrough study of hormone “crosstalk” in breast cancer

Published:16.06.22 — Scientists led by EPFL have successfully engrafted breast cancer cells on mice, allowing them to study in vivo the cross-talk between the estrogen and progesterone receptors that hampers hormone therapies. Their findings suggest that endocrine therapy may need to be personalized, and that abrogating progesterone receptor expression can be a therapeutic option.

Professors Bart Deplancke and Carl Petersen. Credit: Alain Herzog (EPFL)

Two SV Professors awarded SNSF Advanced Grants

Published:15.06.22 — Professors Bart Deplancke and Carl Petersen at EPFL’s School of Life Sciences have been awarded Advanced Grants from the Swiss National Science Foundation.

Streamlining stem cells to treat macular degeneration

Published:14.06.22 — Scientists at EPFL and the Karolinska Institute have tested and confirmed a protocol for growing human embryonic stem cells into retina cells to treat eye diseases such as age-related macular degeneration.

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New 360° Virtual Visit

Discover the splendid labs and facilities of the Schools of Life Sciences (SV) and Engineering Sciences and Technology (STI)

Image of a Fly robot — Illustration of a robot fly © Cornelia Gann / EPFL, 2021

Natural Machines

Read the full story

The robots, machines and smart systems that human beings have developed over the centuries – and with particular fervor in recent decades – have almost always been inspired by nature.

Our 20 years celebration symposium

will honor life sciences in the context of a technical university with long-term supporters and the scientific community

Our Mission

EPFL students working on portable biosensor

Education

We train engineers in Life Sciences with a solid polytechnic foundation. Our students acquire a multi-disciplinary education and study biology jointly with engineering, basic and computer sciences. We offer a Bachelor and Master program in Life Sciences Engineering, as well as four Doctoral programs in biotechnology and bioengineering, computational and quantitative biology, molecular life sciences and neurosciences.

Learn more about our education

Research

Our research groups operate at the interface of biology, basic sciences, computer sciences and engineering. This interdisciplinary environment stimulates innovative research to address essential questions in biological sciences. Cutting-edge core facilities and infrastructure support our scientists to push the boundaries of knowledge in development, neurosciences, immunology, cancer, infectious diseases and bioengineering.

Explore our research

Innovation

We cultivate a climate of exploration and translation of knowledge and technologies to a sustainable benefit of humankind. The life sciences flagship innovation encouragement program, Catalyze4Life, facilitates the advancement of scientific know-how towards applications. We maintain a constructive and open dialogue between science, industry and society.

Discover our innovation initiative