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.

Reconstructed dendrite from a neuron previously imaged in the visual cortex in vivo. | Method: Electron microscopy | © EPFL G. Knott & S. El-Boustani

CRISPR – beyond genetics

Published:20.03.19 — CRISPR-Cas9 is a tool that enables the genome to be edited, like word processing, enabling us to cut or cut-and-paste genes. Easy to use, highly efficient and quick, CRIPSR has revolutionized genetics. But by modifying human embryos, a Chinese scientist has opened Pandora’s box. In the following article, published in the March 2019 issue of EPFL Magazine, EPFL researchers explain.

Vitamin B3 analogue boosts production of blood cells

Published:07.03.19 — Scientists from EPFL and the UNIL/Ludwig Cancer Research have found that supplementing diet with nicotinamide riboside, an analogue of vitamin B3, boosts the production of blood cells by improving the function of their stem cells. This can help overcome problems in stem cell-based therapies that treat leukemia and aggressive lymphomas.

CRISPR reveals the secret life of antimicrobial peptides

Published:26.02.19 — Using CRISPR, scientists at EPFL have carried out extensive work on a little-known yet effective weapon of the innate immune system, antimicrobial peptides.

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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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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