2024 YEAR IN REVIEW
Cover:
Front of the new FMI building on the Novartis Campus in Basel
Foreword
ThisyearmarkedanewchapterfortheFMIaswemovedfromour longtimehomeinKleinbaseltoanewcutting-edgeresearchfacility ontheNovartiscampus.Novartistransformedaformerproduction buildingintoamodernspacetailoredtotheFMI’sneeds.Now,all ourresearchgroups,alongwithourtechnologyplatforms,animal facility,andadministrativeteamsareunderoneroofinabrightand spaciousbuildinglocatedintheheartoftheNovartiscampus.
Repurposinganexistingbuilding,insteadofconstructinganew one,significantlyreducedCO2emissions.Therenovationincluded eco-friendlymeasuressuchasenhancedthermalinsulation, summerheatprotection,solarpanels,greenroofs,andarainwater collectionsystem.
OurnewlocationbringsusclosertocolleaguesatNovartisBiomedicalResearchandtheUniversityofBasel,withwhomweare affiliated.Welookforwardtostrengtheningthesecollaborations andcontinuingtoproudlyadvancebiomedicalresearchand traininginournewspace.
Welcome to our two new group leaders
Selma Dahmane joined the FMI in June as a Junior Group Leader in the Genome Regulation research area. Prior to this, she was a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Medical Chemistry and Biophysics at Umeå University, Sweden. She brings a wealth of expertise in structural biology to the FMI, where she leads a research group dedicated to investigating the structural and molecular mechanisms underlying the interactions between RNA viruses and the host innate immune system.
Anupama Hemalatha joined the FMI in December as a Junior Group Leader in the Multicellular Systems research area. Previously, she was a postdoctoral researcher at Yale School of Medicine, USA, where she developed innovative methods to track the metabolic state of mouse skin stem cells in vivo over time.
At the FMI, she leads a team that explores how growth-factor signaling interacts with cellular metabolism in both cancer and normal development, using advanced live-imaging techniques.
Cracking the secrets of virus ‘uncoating’ may help fight infections
Influenza and other viruses pack their genetic material into a protein shell, which must be disassembled for the viruses to efficiently replicate. But how viruses ‘uncoat’ their genes remains largely unknown. FMI researchers have identified crucial features of this uncoating process — work that may inform the development of new antiviral treatments.
Artcibasova, Wang & al., Cell Reports
Largest study of developmental microRNA dynamics uncovers mechanism of their regulation
Gene expression is controlled by numerous small RNA molecules called microRNAs, or miRNAs. However, specific functions of most miRNAs remain poorly understood. Working in worms, FMI researchers created an encyclopedia of miRNA dynamics during development, uncovering mechanisms of their regulation. The findings help to better understand typical development and may reveal how these tiny molecules contribute to disease when they become dysfunctional.
Nahar, Morales Moya & al., Nucleic Acid Research
‘Mini-placentas’ shed light on early events that are key for a successful pregnancy
The placenta provides oxygen and nutrients to a growing baby, but its early interactions with a mother’s uterus remain an enigma. Working with lab-grown versions of developing placentas, FMI researchers have shed light on some of the mechanisms underlying the earliest stages of gestation, which are crucial for a successful pregnancy. Understanding how the placenta develops and interacts with the inner lining of the womb may inform future treatments for conditions such as pre-eclampsia — a dangerous pregnancy complication that can put at risk both the mother and her baby’s health.
Magistrati & al., Cell Stem Cell
Awards and joint position for Prisca Liberali
In March, FMI senior group leader Prisca Liberali received the 2024 International Suffrage Science Award for Life Sciences, which recognizes the exceptional contributions of female scientists worldwide. Later in the year, she received another accolade, the City of Basel Science Prize, celebrating her groundbreaking work in understanding the principles of tissue organization. In the second half of 2024, while continuing her appointment at the FMI, Liberali joined the Basel-based Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering (D-BSSE) of ETH Zurich as a Professor of Multicellular Systems. This year she has also been awarded a prestigious Consolidator Grant from the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF). Liberali’s research is focused on decoding the principles of tissue organization and spans multiple disciplines, from fundamental chemistry to in vivo tissue regeneration.
Prisca Liberali with Conradin Cramer, President of the governing council of Basel-Stadt, at the Basel Science Prize Award Ceremony
Across the Rhine to a new home
After years of planning and months of careful preparation, the big moment finally arrived: time to pack up — and just days later, unpack. In March and April, the FMI made its move across the Rhine to its new home on the Novartis campus. The process was a massive undertaking, requiring great effort from everyone involved. Yet in the end, there was a profound sense of accomplishment as we settled into our new space and resumed our groundbreaking research.
New small molecule helps scientists study regeneration
Regenerating damaged tissues or organs has been a dream of scientists for decades. Researchers at the FMI and Novartis Biomedical Research have discovered a new molecule that activates a protein involved in regeneration. The tool holds promise for advancing our understanding of how organisms repair damaged tissue.
Namoto, Baader, Orsini & al., Cell Stem Cell
FMIandNovartislaunchAppliedTissue ModelsCenter
TheFMIandNovartisBiomedicalResearch(BRjoinedforcestoestablishtheFMI-BRAppliedTissueModelsCenter,buildinguponthesuccessfulexampleofthejointlyoperated Cryo-EMcenter.Thenewcenteraimstofostercollaborationbetweenthetwoorganizationsandadvancebiomedicalresearchwithcomplexcellularmodelssuchasorganoids powerfultoolstomimicbiologyanddiseaseprocesses.Sinceworkingwiththese modelsrequiresspecializedinfrastructureandknow-how,theFMIandNovartishave investedinsharedlabswherescientistscanex-changeknowledgeandusestate-of-theartequipment.
Eurovision celebrationin FMI’snewhome
Onceeveryonesettledintothenew building,sociallifeattheFMIquickly resumed.Thefirstinstitute-wide HappyHour,whichtookplaceinthe spaciousnewcafeteria,embraceda Eurovisiontheme—anditwasnʼtjust thoseexcitedaboutSwitzerlandʼs recentvictoryinthecontestwho enjoyedtheevent.
Inspiring the next generation of scientists
As part of its annual “Tage der Genforschung” (Days of Genetic Research), the FMI welcomed more than 100 high-schoolers from northwestern Switzerland and neighboring regions in Germany. The students had the opportunity to learn about biomedical research, explore potential career paths in science, and engage in fun hands-on activities, all guided by enthusiastic FMI scientists.
Inspiring speakers at the FMI: Bridging science and society
At the FMI, we welcome renowned scientists from around the world to share their research through seminars and talks. This year, we had the privilege to host Thomas Cech, recipient of the 1989 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, for his seminar RNA Science for the Non-Scientist, which was held in the iconic Gehry building on the Novartis campus in Basel. Cech shared insights from his latest book and discussed the transformative potential of RNA in medicine and how to bridge the gap between scientists and the public.
Supporting women in science
The FMI hosted an event titled “What’s next? Navigating your career life”, organized by TWIST (Towards More Women in Science and Technology). Our brand-new seminar room was filled with an engaged audience, reflecting the growing importance of career navigation in science. The event featured a thought-provoking panel discussion and speed-mentoring sessions with scientists from academia, industry, and startups.
Reaffirming its commitment to nurturing talent and advancing scientific innovation, the FMI also continued to support successful applicants in the feminno program — an initiative dedicated to promoting female innovation and career development in science.
PhD retreat in Strasbourg
This year’s FMI PhD retreat took place in Strasbourg, France. Our students took part in engaging activities and learned about leadership, industry transitions, and conflict management from experts in pharma and consulting.
Decoding psychosis
The brain constantly makes predictions about the world around us to process sensory information more efficiently. When these predictions are wrong, the brain adjusts. This process, known as predictive processing, might also explain symptoms of mental health conditions like schizophrenia, where the brain struggles to update its internal model of the world correctly. A review authored by researchers from the FMI and the University of Basel highlights recent progress made in how specific brain circuits are involved in predictive processing and how antipsychotic medications affect these circuits. The authors also propose future research directions and emphasize the importance of studying brain circuits to advance treatments for psychotic disorders.
Keller & Sterzer, Annual Review of Neuroscience
“Life’s
Journey” exhibition – DNA and Friedrich Miescher in the spotlight
The DNA molecule, which contains the information that shapes our traits, has a fascinating scientific story. This summer, the Novartis Pavillon hosted a temporary exhibition that brough this story to life through an interactive DNA experience. The FMI played a key role in the exhibition, contributing to a panel that spotlighted Friedrich Miescher — the Basel-born scientist who first isolated the “molecule of life”.
FMI Grand Opening
On August 23, the FMI celebrated the opening of its new research facility on the Novartis Campus, welcoming around 100 guests from politics, business, and the life sciences sector. The event featured opening speeches and the symbolic cutting of a “DNA ribbon”, followed by an insightful panel discussion, in which the panelists discussed the factors behind Basel’s success as a life sciences hub, the key challenges it faces, and its future potential. After the panel, guests had the opportunity to explore the new building and learn about FMI’s three research areas. Our researchers presented current projects from the fields of Genome Regulation, Multicellular Systems, and Neurobiology.
From left to right: Andrea Schenker-Wicki (Director of the University of Basel), Jörg Reinhard (Chairman Novartis), Martina Hirayama (State secretary for Education, Research and Innovation), Dirk Schübeler (Director of the FMI), Fiona Marshall (President Novartis Biomedical Research), Conradin Cramer (President of the governing council of Basel-Stadt)
From left to right: Dirk Schübeler. Andrea Schenker-Wicki, Conradin Cramer, Michaela Kneissel (Head Diseases of Aging and Regenerative medicine at Novartis), Christoph Klöpper (CEO of Basel Area), Brigitte Guggisberg (host)
DNA access to factors that regulate gene activity. Large protein complexes called chromatin remodelers help move nucleosomes to make DNA accessible to these factors. FMI researchers found that a component of a specific family of chromatin remodelers is important for placing nucleosomes in the right spots to keep certain areas of the DNA open.
Iurlaro, Masoni & al., Nature Genetics
FMI Annual Meeting
More than 200 FMI scientists, joined by Novartis colleagues, came together for three days of insightful talks, engaging poster sessions, and fun activities. The event also welcomed members of the FMI Scientific Advisory Board, who conducted their annual institute review during this time. This year’s Annual Meeting took place in the cloud-shaped Gehry building on the Novartis campus in Basel. In his keynote talk, Rui Costa from the Allen Institute shared his research on the neural circuits involved in movement — an important contribution to our understanding of the brain.
Yeast chit-chat:
How
microorganisms talk food shortages
To grow and survive, tiny organisms such as yeast must sometimes adapt their nutrient sources in response to changes in the environment. FMI researchers have found that yeast cells communicate with each other to use less favorable nutrients if they foresee a shortage of their favorite food. This communication is facilitated by secreted molecules that interact with a protein in mitochondria, the cells’ energy factories. The findings reveal a crucial mechanism that allows microorganisms to choose the right menu.
Ohsawa & al. EMBO Journal
FMI hosts TriRhena Gene Regulation Club
More than 100 scientists from TriRhena — the region where the borders of Switzerland, Germany, and France converge — gathered to present and discuss the latest advances in gene regulation. Co-organized by the FMI, this yearly event aims to inspire and foster new research collaborations.
ERC Synergy Grant for Rainer Friedrich
FMI senior group leader Rainer Friedrich is part of a team of three research groups awarded an ERC Synergy Grant — a highly sought-after grant awarded by the European Research Council — for their project, “Neuronal implementation of cognitive maps for navigation.” The €10 million grant will fund a six-year study into how zebrafish represent their environment internally, a project that could reshape our understanding of intelligence.
FMI Alumni Scientific Symposium
This year, for its annual alumni and alumnae event, the FMI invited four former PhD students and postdoctoral researchers who have since become research group leaders. These speakers shared insights into their research and career journeys with current early-career scientists.
Children become researchers for a day
During National Future Day, 13 children aged 10 to 13 had the opportunity to become scientists for a day and dive into fascinating activities — from observing mice play video games to marveling at blue and red baby worms. The event was made possible by FMI researchers who volunteered to showcase their work and inspire future careers in science.
Celebrating diversity
OnNovember18,tomarkthe InternationalDayofLGBTQ+ peopleinSTEM(Science, Technology,Engineering,and Mathematics),theFMIproudly displayedthePRIDEflaginthe lobbyandhandedoutmini rainbowstickers.Thedaywasan opportunitytocelebrateLGBTQ+ achievementsinSTEMandreflect ontheworkstillneededtoensure thatnoonefacesdiscrimination atworkforbeingLGBTQ+.
TheFMI’scommitmentto diversityextendsbeyondsupportingLGBTQ+individuals.We strivetocreateaninclusive environmentwhereeveryone, regardlessoftheirgender,culture,ethnicity,orbackground, canthrive.Thismissionisdriven byourEquality,Diversity,and Inclusion(EDI)Board,EDI Committee,GuidanceCounselor, and externalconsultant. Together,theyworktopromote inclusivityandequityacrossevery aspectofourorganization.
Decoding protein interactions: A step toward personalized medicine
Investigating how proteins interact is key to understand how cells work and communicate. In a new study — the first of its kind to examine the effects of all possible mutations in a protein across interactions with its partners, FMI researchers have provided key insights into how protein interactions are governed and how mutations influence cellular functions.
Bendel & al., Nature Communications
Afewimpressions ofthe winterand Christmasspirit thatfilledthe NovartisCampus andthe FMIthroughout December
FMI Staff (December 1, 2024)
Visiting scientists and temp (29)
Administration, Building, Services (23)
Research Associates (39)
Research group leaders (20)
325 PEOPLE NATIONALITES of 44
Postdoctoral fellows (69)
PhD students (75)
Technical Platforms
Associates (56)
Undergraduates (14)
Research Groups
GENOME REGULATION
Marc Bühler
Jeffrey A. Chao
Selma Dahmane
Guillaume Diss
Luca Giorgetti
Dirk Schübeler
Nicolas Thomä*
* transitioning to the EPFL
MULTICELLULAR SYSTEMS
Helge Großhans
Anupama Hemalatha
Prisca Liberali
Patrick Matthias
Antoine H.F.M. Peters
Charisios Tsiairis
Margherita Yayoi Turco
NEUROBIOLOGY
Silvia Arber
Johannes Felsenberg
Rainer W. Friedrich
Georg Keller
Andreas Lüthi
Filippo Rijli
Friedemann Zenke
Awards, Grants and Fellowships 2024
STUDENTS & POSTDOCS
Alexandra Bendel → FMI Ed Fischer Prize
Vladyslav Bondarenko → SNSF Postdoctoral Fellowship
Andres De Vincente → Boehringer Ingelheim Fonds PhD Fellowship
Julia Gygax, Tengjun Liu, Julian Rossbroich → FMI Ruth Chiquet Prize
Alexander Hanzl → SNSF Postdoctoral Fellowship
Joag Hiranmay → SNSF Spark
Luke Isbel → FMI Max Burger Prize
Johannes Kappel → EMBO Postdoctoral Fellowship
Adi Kol → EMBO Postdoctoral Fellowship → HFSP Postdoctoral Fellowship
Pia Mach → Faculty of Science Prize, University of Basel
Verena Mutzel → EMBO Postdoctoral Fellowship
Sriram Narayanan → EMBO Postdoctoral Fellowship
Si Hoon Park → National Research Foundation of Korea Fellowship
Ana Petracovici → EMBO Postdoctoral Fellowship
Arnau Ramos Prats → SNSF Postdoctoral Fellowship
Nora Rier → Boehringer Ingelheim Fonds PhD Fellowship
Mattia Ubertini → EMBO Postdoctoral Fellowship
GROUP LEADERS
Silvia Arber → Doctorat Honoris Causa, Medical Faculty, University of Geneva
Marc Bühler → SNSF Project Funding Grant
Guillaume Diss → SNSF Project Funding Grant
Rainer Friedrich → ERC Synergy Grant → SNSF Project Funding Grant
Prisca Liberali → SNSF Consolidator Grant → International Suffrage Science
→ Award for Life Sciences; City of Basel Science Prize
Andreas Lüthi → SNSF Project Funding Grant
Antoine Peters → SNSF Project Funding Grant
PhD Thesis presented in 2024
Julian Hinz (Lüthi group)
→ Transformation of sensory signals and dynamic value assignment in the basolateral amygdala
Tobias Hochstöger (Chao group)
→ Distinct roles of LARP1 and 4EBP1/2 in regulating translation and stability of 5′TOP mRNAs
Bo Hu (Friedrich group)
→ Function and organization of an autoassociative olfactory memory network
Maurice Kahnwald (Liberali group)
→ Dynamics and plasticity of stem cells in the regenerating human colonic epithelium
Pavel Komarov (Peters group)
→ The placentalia specific histone H3.4 variant promotes germ cell development and reproductive fitness
Francesca Masoni (Schübeler group)
→ On the interplay between chromatin remodelers and transcription factors in mammalian genome organization
Franziska Moos (Liberali group)
→ Open-top multisample dual-view light-sheet microscope for live imaging of large multicellular systems
Seraina Steiger (Peters group)
→ Characterizing proteomic changes during spermiogenesis in mice
Jana Tünnermann (Giorgetti group)
→ Enhancer control of transcriptional activity via modulation of burst frequency
Carolin Warnecke (Felsenberg group)
→ Reward re-exposure driven memory re-evaluation in Drosophila melanogaster
Michaela Woelk (Großhans group)
→ A transcription factor network driving gene expression oscillations during C. elegans larval development
Wenbin Yang (Felsenberg group)
→ Creating true and false memories from forgotten information in Drosophila
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