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.

Axon and dendrite interaction 3D electron microscopy - Knott

Targeting an RNA-binding protein to fight aging

Published:10.01.19 — Researchers at EPFL found that the RNA-binding protein PUM2 contributes to the accumulation of defective mitochondria, a key feature of the aging process. Targeting PUM2 in old animals protects against age-related mitochondrial dysfunction.

Tumors backfire on chemotherapy

Published:02.01.19 — Chemotherapy is an effective treatment for breast cancer, yet some patients develop metastasis in spite of it. Researchers at EPFL have discovered that chemotherapy-treated mammary tumors produce small vesicles that may help them spread to other organs. The study is published in Nature Cell Biology.

Carmen Sandi wins the first Ron de Kloet award for her work on stress

Published:17.12.18 — Professor Carmen Sandi at EPFL's Brain Mind Institute has won the first Ron de Kloet award from the STRESS-NL consortium.

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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.

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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.

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Knowledge transfer

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