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.

Data-based representation of molecular oligodendrocyte diversity in the central nervous system. © Job van der Zwan (Karolinska Institute) with collaboration of La Manno lab (EPFL)

A new model of metabolism draws from thermodynamics and “omics”

Published:15.01.20 — Scientists at EPFL have developed an algorithm that can model biochemical reactions from metabolism down to RNA synthesis with unprecedented accuracy.

Douglas Hanahan appointed Distinguished Scholar of Ludwig

Published:14.01.20 — Ludwig Cancer Research is pleased to announce the appointment of Douglas Hanahan as a Distinguished Scholar at the Lausanne Branch of the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research. A pioneering molecular biologist and renowned cancer researcher, Hanahan has made several seminal discoveries in cancer biology and immunology over the course of his career.

A porous and elastic biomaterial for transplantations

Published:20.12.19 — Researchers from EPFL and UNIGE, in collaboration with the startup Volumina-Medical SA, have developed an innovative technique to allow for the direct transition from controllable in vitro cell culture to in vivo implantation. This technique uses chimeric particles: for in vitro cultures, these materials function like conventional microcarriers, but in part due to their surficial protection, they can come together to form an effective stem cell niche in vivo after subcutaneous injection.

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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