Biozentrum University of Basel

In 1971, at the time when the Biozentrum was founded, the concept of developing an interdisciplinary biological research facility was unique in Europe.[4] Scientists from academy and industry as well as representatives of the Canton of Basel-Stadt promoted the Biozentrum's development.[5]

In the winter semester 1972/73 the first students enrolled for the new "Biology II" curriculum. It encompassed a two-year foundation course in mathematics, physics and chemistry as well as a cycle of block courses – a new teaching format. In 1976 the first students received their diplomas. In 1978 the Biozentrum became a department of the University of Basel. In the same year, one of the founding professors, Werner Arber, was awarded the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine[6] for his discovery of the restriction enzymes.[7][8]

With the incorporation of the Maurice E. Müller Institute[9][10] in 1986, the Biozentrum became a competence center for high resolution electron microscopy. It also established a platform for nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.[11] Cooperation with the Institute for Immunology[12] (Hofmann-La Roche) [13] and the Friedrich Miescher Institute[14] (Ciba/Geigy) became ever closer and networking more and more important:[15] In 1996, what is now the "Center of Competence and Excellence in Neuroscience" was founded. Then "Neurex",[16] the largest tri-national alliance of neurobiologists, was set up. The "Basel Signalling Alliance", the "Neuroscience Network Basel",[17] and the "Basel Stem Cell Network"[18] followed. And finally, the Basel Translational Medicine Hub was established to further personalized medicine.[19] The major areas of investigation were also extended: whereas into the 1990s the Biozentrum focused on Cell Growth & Development, Neurobiology and Structural Biology, it was at the beginning of the 21st century that Infection Biology and Computational & Systems Biology were added. Building up a range of Technology Core Facilities which offer highly sophisticated methods of investigation and analysis was also a priority during the last decade.

In 2021, the Biozentrum moved into a 73 m high research tower. The new building offers a state-of the art infrastructure that meets the needs of modern-day research as well as enough room for 400 researchers and 900 students.[20][21] The Biozentrum is headed by its director Alexander F. Schier.[22]

Research at the Biozentrum embraces a wide range of topics, however, one main focus all the research groups share is a strong interest to understand the molecular organization of living organisms.[23]

The major areas of research are concerned with the structure and function of macromolecules,[24][25] the wiring of regulatory circuits,[26] and the general principles underlying complex biological systems and their dynamic interactions.[27]

Currently, the research groups of the Biozentrum are grouped into five major areas of investigation: Growth & Development, Infection Biology, Neurobiology, Structural Biology & Biophysics and Computational & Systems Biology.

Modern research increasingly depends on sophisticated technologies, notably in the fields of genomics, proteomics, imaging, and data analysis. To meet this challenge, the Biozentrum has established a number of so-called Technology Platforms.[28] It has facilities for electron and light microscopy, cell imaging and nanoanalytics,[29] proteomics, biophysics, FACS (Fluorescence Activated Cell Sorting) and Research IT. A microarray and a quantitative genomics facility are being shared with other regional research institute

The courses of studies in molecular biology at the Biozentrum are characterized by the early exposure of the students to current research, the offer of all research areas and methods relevant to molecular biology, a modern technical infrastructure and the practical-work-oriented supervision.[30]

The following notable people work or have worked at the Biozentrum:

• Official website

47°33′51″N 7°34′51″E