50 Years Biozentrum Life Sciences
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50 years Biozentrum Life Sciences Foreword ––– 3 Dear readers “Pioniergeist” – pioneering spirit – was the word that defined the launch of the Biozentrum 50 years ago. The groundbreaking idea was to bring together outstanding biologists, chemists and physicists under one roof and trust that they would determine how molecules generate life. Looking back, we can say that the Biozentrum has fulfilled and even exceeded these expectations: The institute has made transformative discoveries, spawned I was seven years old and lived in Birsfelden when the several Nobel Laureates, and trained thousands of Biozentrum was opened, and I still remember the excite- students and scientists to become leaders in academia, ment that surrounded the new institute in our region. biotech, business and society. Now 50 years later I again feel the same enthusiasm and “Pioniergeist”, because the Biozentrum has reinvented Many ingredients have contributed to the Biozentrum’s and rejuvenated itself. The 1971 founders have been success: A visionary mission and the freedom to address followed by a new generation that is as passionate and fundamental questions in biology; the generous support driven as their predecessors. And the move into our by university, government, industry and the public; and brand-new building will support cutting-edge research for Basel’s cosmopolitan culture and belief in the common years to come. In another 50 years the Biozentrum will good. But as you will read in this brochure, the main be renewed once again. In the words of Bob Dylan, the ingredient has been the people who have studied, Biozentrum will stay “Forever Young”. researched and worked here. The Biozentrum became a magical place through creative and ambitious colleagues May your hands always be busy who brought their curiosity and passion from all over the May your feet always be swift world to Basel. So while we celebrate the 50th anniver- May you have a strong foundation sary of the Biozentrum vision or the 50th birthday of the When the winds of changes shift Biozentrum building, we are truly celebrating 50 years of May you build a ladder to the stars world-class Biozentrists – researchers, students and staff. And climb on every rung May you stay forever young Professor Alex Schier Director of the Biozentum, University of Basel Contents 58 Pioneering spirit meets research 60 Biozentrum highlights 1971 – 2021 8 Biozentrum’s golden jubilee 64 It started with a spark 12 A beacon of science 68 “Feuersucher” by Gottfried Schatz 70 Studying phages 72 An eye on the future 16 A fascination 76 A springboard for top researchers for research 22 A quantum of knowledge 25 Unlocking the mystery of life 26 “It’s not just about minor details, but rather about fundamental questions” 30 Tracking virus evolution 32 The greatest challenge remains the 80 Pioneers of new human brain 36 New approaches in the fight against bacteria knowledge 38 A stem cell researcher to the core 82 The pioneer of genetic engineering 40 50 years of research at the Biozentrum 86 The tale of the king and his servants 42 State-of-the-art technology 88 Other prestigious awards for Biozentrum professors 46 Behind the scenes 90 Spectacular moments in evolution 48 Facts and figures 92 “It was an incredibly exciting time” 94 A hisTORic breakthrough 98 A bundle of nerves 50 Between lecture hall and lab 102 In the service 52 Studying at the cutting edge of research of research 54 Nurturing outstanding young researchers 104 Electron beam meets molecule of life 107 What nuclear spin can tell us 108 “A virtually endless domain” 109 Bioinformatics – life sciences in the dry lab “For 50 years, we have been studying the mystery of how molecules and cells create life.” The Biozentrum’s golden jubilee ––– 8 The Biozentrum’s golden jubilee ––– 9 Biozentrum’s Greeting: Andrea Schenker-Wicki, President golden jubilee of the University of Basel Was it the driving force of a handful of Basel personalities? Was it the excellence of the University’s researchers? Or was it the exceptionally healthy public finances that made the opening of the Biozentrum possible 50 years ago? A look at the history of the Biozentrum’s origins offers an answer, which can be expressed very simply: The new Biozentrum building represents a key milestone on the path to the University of Basel’s Life Sciences Campus. It was, without question, a huge stroke of fortune – for Further new buildings are planned in the immediate vicinity of the University Hospital and the University Children’s Hospital on the Schällemätteli Campus. These will provide premises for the Department of Biomedicine, the Natural Sciences and for ETH science, for business, and for the region’s inhabitants. Zurich’s Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering (D-BSSE). Almost 800 million Swiss francs are being invested in cutting-edge infrastructure for the Life Sciences Campus in order to provide the optimal conditions for research and teaching. The late 1960s were a time of great upheaval in biology Between the laboratories of the Faculty of Natural Sci- the region’s prosperity. Year on year, our sponsoring cantons invest many hundreds of millions of Swiss francs in our and medicine. New findings allowed researchers to ences and the University Hospital, a seven-story building University, enabling us to provide higher education of the highest quality and compete among the top hundred research fathom the molecular mechanisms behind life processes. was erected and tailored to the needs of cutting-edge universities in the world. While the US and the UK played a leading role, Basel too biological research: interdisciplinary collaboration, flat was quick to realize that this was an area with great poten- hierarchies rather than empires, and research groups rath- The achievements of the Biozentrum over the last half century have played a key role in cementing our reputation as tial – and one in which it had some catching up to do. er than teaching chairs. And as the Biozentrum attracted one of Europe’s top locations for the life sciences, and broadcasting this reputation to the world. With the new Biozentrum some of the world’s finest researchers, English was building – as controversial as its genesis may have been – our sponsors demonstrate the same courage and belief in the The founding of the Biozentrum can be attributed to adopted as a lingua franca – an unprecedented move in future that distinguished its founders 50 years ago. In the name of the University of Basel, I am grateful for the trust a number of courageous, visionary personalities from the Swiss academic world at the time. placed in our institution, and hope on behalf of us all that this success story will continue for many chapters yet. research, politics and industry who recognized a combi- nation of favorable circumstances: a prevailing spirit of We are immensely grateful to be moving into new prem- optimism in the region, the population’s confidence in ises this year, half a century on from the Biozentrum’s progress and the future, an industrial sector with money foundation. The University of Basel is proud of its spon- to spend on non-profit initiatives, and a generous Basel sors – the cantons of Basel-Landschaft and Basel-Stadt, parliament with a government receptive to new projects. which believe in the University and its importance to The Biozentrum’s golden jubilee ––– 10 The Biozentrum’s golden jubilee ––– 11 Professor Pascale Cossart, Dr. Jörg Reinhardt, Chairman of Novartis, Basel Institut Pasteur, Paris, France “Since its inception half a century ago, the Biozentrum has evolved into a vital part “Participating in the Scientific Advisory of Switzerland’s pharmaceutical and medical ecosystem, both as a research hub as Board has been a fantastic experience. well as a center of educational excellence. As part of our efforts to boost interdis- Science at the Biozentrum is superb ciplinary research and strengthen collaboration with academia, Novartis is proud and so wide open to novelty and new to have established strong ties with the institute in areas such as structural and horizons. The SAB composition was ter- molecular biology as well as fundamental research into diseases such as cancer, Professor Paul Nurse, Nobel Prize rific! Interactions with young and older among others. I am convinced that this spirit of innovation will form the basis of Laureate, Director of the Francis scientists was great. Coming to Basel successful collaborations in the future.” Crick Institute, London, UK was a pure pleasure. I miss it!” “The Biozentrum is a jewel in the crown of Swiss science. It was a powerhouse at the birth of molecular biology and continues to be an outstanding institution of excellent science. Dr. Severin Schwan, CEO of Roche, Basel Happy 50th birthday Biozentrum!” “Many great minds have led to the outstanding success of the Biozentrum since its founding 50 years ago. We’re proud to note that one of the original initiators of the now world-renowned Biozentrum was Alfred Pletscher, Roche’s head of research at that time. Research-driven companies today enjoy the fruits of basic research done decades ago. The Biozentrum and other leading institutes Professor Catherine Dulac, Howard Hughes Medical will remain key to medical breakthroughs in applied research.” Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, USA “The scientific creativity and productivity at the Biozentrum over the last 50 years have been nothing short of extraordinary. The remarkable scholar- ship and motivation of Biozentrum scientists and the outstanding diversity and quality of their scientific endeavors make the Biozentrum a towering institution in Europe and in the entire world. I wish the Biozentrum another 50 years of stellar accomplishments!” Dr. Vas Narasimhan, CEO of Novartis, Basel “Basel and the Rhine Valley have a rich history in life sciences and biomedical innovation, and the Biozentrum has helped carry that legacy forward, taking the visionary step 50 years ago to develop an interdisciplinary research facility.