LS2: Life Sciences Switzerland
· In 2024, we awarded two LS2 Honorary Memberships - Prof. Ernst Niggli (University of Bern), nominated by the LS2 section Physiology and Prof. François Verrey (University of Zurich), nominated by the LS2 section Ion Channels & Membrane Transporters.
· 53 prizes were given in LS2 conferences to young researchers.
· 18 travel grants to PhD students supported by SCNAT.
· 12 scientific conferences organized by our sections and collaborators.
· 1 social event – “Science Hike” the hiking trips to Blausee.
· 4 days of continuous education in the field of animal experimentation were distributed in different meetings
· Two working groups were formed to discuss fundraising challenges and AI usage guidelines in Life Sciences.
· 2 National Awards were given under the umbrella of LS2: Friedrich Miescher Award 2024 (supported by FMI and Novartis Foundation) to Dr. Claudia Keller Valsecchi (Institute of Molecular Biology, Mainz, DE) and Prof. Dr. Li Tang (EPFL) for their outstanding achievements in biochemistry; Lelio Orci Award 2024 (supported by Lelio Orci Found and UNIGE) to Prof. Dr. Anne Spang (Biozentrum, University of Basel) for her pioneering work in intracellular organization.
· The LS2 Annual Meeting 2024 – “Exploring the Wonders of Life”, 14-15 February, was held in Lausanne and organized by Prof. Emi Nagoshi (University of Geneva), was a great success. We enjoyed the conference with 340 participants.
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· 33rd Cytomeet, 16 January, Bern.
Organized by board members of the LS2 Section Molecular and Cellular Biosciences.
Co-organized meeting with the Section Molecular & Cellular Biosciences. The Cytomeet is a one-day meeting for the Swiss scientific community interested in mechanisms of cell polarity, cytoskeletal rearrangement and cell migration, where PhD students in particular, but also young postdocs and outstanding Master students, are given the opportunity to present their own research projects and exchange ideas in an informal setting. The conference has been organized for more than 30 years and it is still a success and an important point of networking and career develop for young researchers in the field. The best presentation by a junior scientist is honored with the "best junior presentation award". This activity received support from SCNAT.
· Cardiovascular Research Meeting, 16-17 January, Bern. Organized by board members of the LS2 Intersection Cardiovascular Biology.
The Annual Cardiovascular Research Meeting was organized this time in a one-day format, with two sessions on Cardiac Physiology and Vascular Physiology.
We awarded 7 prizes:
Daniele Reggio (UNIBA) - Best Talk
Stefano Ministrini (UZH) - 2nd Best Talk
Greta Scherler (UNIL) - 2nd Best Talk
Andrea Addorisio (UNIL) - Best Poster, category cardiac
Selianne Graf (UNIBE) - 2nd Best Poster, category cardiac
Luis Miguel Cardoso dos Santos (UNIGE) - Best Poster, category vascular
Yustina Maria Puspitasari (UZH) - 2nd Best Poster, category vascular
· Nanofluidics Conference, 21-25 January, Lenzerheide. Organized by LS2 Section Biophysics.
Nanofluidics, the study and manipulation of fluids at the nanoscale, has emerged as a vital interdisciplinary research area with far-reaching applications in fields such as energy, healthcare, materials science, and environmental sustainability. This small focused GRC-style conference aims to foster collaboration and the exchange of ideas, providing an unparalleled platform for attendees to present their cutting-edge research, learn from others, and forge invaluable connections. The 2024 edition of the International Nanofluidics Conference took place in Lenzerheide, in the breathtaking alpine region of Grisons, Switzerland, from January 21st to 25th 2024, bringing together renowned scientists, engineers, and researchers from around the globe to share the latest advancements and innovations in this rapidly evolving field. This activity received support from SCNAT.
· Worldwide Sodium Channel Conference, 31 January – 2 February, Grindelwald. Organized by LS2 Section Ion Channels and Membrane Transporters (ICMT).
This meeting gives every participant (senior or junior ) a chance to present in topic focused sessions. Selected meeting format gives room for discussing the best of world wide ongoing Nav science.
Organizers: Prof. Angelika Lampert (RWTH Aachen University, Germany) and Prof. Hugues Abriel (University of Bern, Switzerland) are currently the two co-organizers of the Worldwide Sodium Channel Seminars. Co-organizers: Dr. Jannis Körner, Pauline Kinny (RWTH Aachen University, Germany), Dr. Oksana Iamshanova, Dr. Jean-Sébastien Rougier and Dr. Ana Stojiljkovic (University of Bern, Switzerland). This activity received support from SCNAT.
· LS2 Annual Meeting 2024: “Exploring the Wonders of Life”, and the Young Scientists’ Satellite (YSS) – 13-15 February, Lausanne. Chaired by Prof. Emi Nagoshi (University of Geneva).
The LS2 Annual Meeting brings together scientists from all nationality and backgrounds to explore the large spectrum united under the umbrella of Life Sciences. The chair of the meeting was Prof. Emi Nagoshi (University of Geneva).
The meeting included 107 posters, which was well accepted by the participants. Additionally, we had short talks selected from abstracts in plenary session and many student volunteers helping on site. These actions benefited young researchers.
The meeting had 3 plenary lectures, a symposium organized by and for young scientists (https://annual-meeting.ls2.ch/2024/specials/young-scientists-satellite) with a Career Workshop and short talks selected from abstracts, our already famous PIs of Tomorrow session (https://annual-meeting.ls2.ch/2024/specials/pis-of-tomorrow, the lectures from 2 Swiss awards (Lelio Orci Award and Friedrich Miescher Award), 9 scientific symposia with 12 international invited speakers (https://annual-meeting.ls2.ch/2024/program/symposia) organized by our sections and partners.
The conference and its satellite gathered 340 participants and exhibitors. More details can be read on its website: https://annual-meeting.ls2.ch/2024
· Theory Across Biology, 14 June, Bern. Organized the board members of the LS2 Section Systems Biology.
The "Theory across Biology" workshop focused on mathematical approaches to biology. It highlighted shared concepts and mathematical principles that underly the complexity of biological systems from molecular scale to the scale of entire ecosystems. All presentations were given as chalk talks. In addition, flip chart presentations, replaced the traditional poster session. This format fostered facilitated cross-disciplinary exchange and created an interactive atmosphere of mutual learning. This activity received support from SCNAT.
· Swiss Drosophila Meeting, 20 June, Lausanne. Event organized by Beat Suter, board member of the LS2 Section MCB.
The conference brought together biophysicists and neuroscientists to discuss the concepts that underlie brain function, such as membrane biophysics, synaptic vesicle diffusion, ions and neurotransmitters, chromatin architecture and the function of the receptors of neurotransmitters and ion channels. This activity received support from SCNAT.
· Swiss Proteomics Meeting, 20-21 May, Yverdon-les-Bain. Organized by board members of the LS2 Section Proteomics.
The Swiss Proteomics meeting is an annual event gathering proteomic / life science researchers from Switzerland and neighbouring countries. In 2024, more than 107 participants enjoyed a program with Dr. Kirti Sharma (Kymera Therapeutics, US) and Dr. Fabian Costa (Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, DE) as keynotes and many more selected talks from abstracts. Thibault Courtellemont (EPF Lausanne) won the Best Oral Presentation prize, sponsored by Preomics. Yong-Qi Gao (EPF Lausanne) won the Best Flash Talk, sponsored by Shimadzu and Ramon Pfaendler (ETH Zurich) won second Best Flash Talk prize, sponsored by MS WIL. https://meetings.ls2.ch/proteomics-2024
· 12th Cell Migration Retreat. 30 -31 October, Champéry. Organized by LS2 Section Molecular and Cellular Biosciences (MCB).
The Cell Migration Retreat is a two-day meeting for PhD students and their PIs with one overnight stay. The meeting is intended as a network for the Swiss scientific community working on molecular mechanisms of cell migration in immune cells, lymphomas and mesenchymal tumors (metastases). The meeting is opened by an international keynote speaker. Each student gives a talk on his/her PhD project and receives personal feedback on presentation and research and can build up and extend her/his scientific network. Traditionally, this retreat facilitates exchange of ideals, lab rotations and collaborations. This activity received support from SCNAT.
https://www.tki.unibe.ch/continuing_education/phd_program_cellmigration/events/phd_program_cell_migration_retreat_2024/index_eng.html
· Swiss Physiology Meeting, 3 September, Fribourg. LS2 Sections Physiology. Organized by board members of the LS2 Sections Physiology.
Annual Meeting of our Physiology Section. 67 participants. Two Keynote speakers: Prof. Karine Clement. (Sorbonne Université / INSERM. NutriOmique Research group. Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital) and Prof. Joachim Fandrey (Institut für Physiologie. Universität Duisburg-Essen). Talks for the Young Investigator Award supported by the "Stiftung Physiology" (former Oetliker Foundation) and 27 posters.
Winners’ category PhD students:
Giulia Mazzini (University of Zurich) - Best oral presentation
Malaury Tournier (University of Geneva) - 2nd best oral presentation
Mélanie Fourgeaud (University of Geneva) - Best poster
Winners’ category Postdocs:
Paul Bigot (University of Geneva) - Best oral presentation
Etienne Delangre (University of Geneva) - 2nd best oral presentation
Carina Osterhof (University of Fribourg) - Best poster
This activity received support from SCNAT. https://meetings.ls2.ch/physiology2024
· Swiss Autophagy Meeting. Lausanne. 12-13 September 2024. Biannual meeting (former Autophagy Workshop) organized by our Autophagy Section.
100 participants. 12 invited speakers, talks selected from abstracts and poster sessions. 3 prizes for best talk/poster.
Prize Winners:
Best Short Talk - Erin Wosnitzka (EPF Lausanne)
Best Poster - Marco Fabbro (IRB Bellinzona)
Best Poster - Duran Suheda (KOÇ UNIVERSITY)
Sponsors of meeting prizes: Club Francophone de l'Autophagie, Journal Autophagy Reports and LS2 Section Autophagy. This activity received support from SCNAT.
https://meetings.ls2.ch/autophagy-workshop-2024
· Biophysics and ICMT joint meeting, 20 November, Lausanne. LS2 Sections Biophysics and Ion Channels and Membrane Transporters (ICMT).
For the first time the Section Biophysics and the section Ion Channels and Membrane Transporters (ICMT) organized a joint meeting, and it was focused on science exchange among the scientists of the two LS2 sections. With a one-day meeting format and four keynotes and 36 posters.
Four prizes were distributed:
Best Talk - Melanie Arndt (UZH)
Best Talk - Benjamin Vermeer (Unibas)
Best Poster - Jennifer Earp (University of Zurich)
Best Poster - Anand Vaithia (PSI) – Sponsored by Nikon and LS2.
This activity received support from SCNAT.
· On behalf of SNCAT Platform Biology, LS2 is the national contact point for the following International Unions:
1) The International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology - IUBMB. Representative: Prof. Torsten Ochsenreiter (UNIBE), board member of the LS2 MCB Section.
2) International Union of Physiological Sciences – IUPS. Representative: Prof. Thomas Lutz (University of Zurich), president of LS2 Physiology Section.
3) International Union of Pure and Applied Biophysics (IUPAB). Representative: Prof. Beat Fierz (EPFL), president of LS2 Biophysics Section.
· Swiss Society of Cardiology Meeting 2024, 19-21 June, Lausanne. Marie-Luce Bochaton-Piallat – President - LS2 Intersection Cardiovascular Biology.
· Federation of European Biochemical Societies (FEBS) GA and Congress, Milano, 29 June- 3 July. Torsten Ochsenreiter – Board Member - LS2 Section MCB.
· Extraordinary GA of FEBS, 2 February. Marcus Thelen - Board Member - LS2 Section MCB.
· FEPS Council Meeting 5 September, Granada, Spain. David Hoogewijs - Board Member - LS2 Section Physiology.
· 103rd Annual Meeting of the German Physiological Society. 19 – 21 September, Viena. Joint meeting with the Austrian Physiological Society (APS) and LS2 Section Physiology. Christine Peinelt – President - LS2 Section Physiology.
· 26th IUBMB Ordinary General Assembly 2024, 24 September 24, hybrid event. Daniel Legler (President) and Marcus Thelen (Board Member) - LS2 Section MCB.
· EuPA General Council Meeting, 23 October, Dresden. Bernd Wollscheid - Board Member - LS2 Section Proteomics.
· HUPO2024, 20-24 October, Dresden. Bernd Wollscheid - Board Member - LS2 Section Proteomics.
· Young Scientists’ Satellite as part of the LS2 Annual Meeting 2024 – Lausanne. 13 February 2024. The YSS aims to promote the participation of young researchers to the e-meeting, and the networking among young, non-professorial scientists. With the support from SCNAT.
· PIs of Tomorrow – Postdoc Competition. as part of the LS2 Annual Meeting 2024 – Lausanne. 14 February 2024. This session offers an opportunity for postdocs and senior researchers interested in pursuing an academic career to present a talk similar in format to a professorship application interview. With the support from SCNAT. The winners of the 2024 edition were: Dr. Madalena Madeira Reimão Pinto (Harvard University / University of Basel) and Dr. Sandhya Manohar (ETH Zurich).
· Young investigator Award during the Swiss Physiology Meeting. Fribourg. 3 September 2024. This Award is supported by the Stiftung für Physiologie and includes 6 awards: 3 for PhD students and 3 for junior Postdocs in 3 different categories, Bets oral presentation, 2nd Best oral presentation and Best poster.
Winners’ category PhD students:
Giulia Mazzini (University of Zurich) - Best oral presentation
Malaury Tournier (University of Geneva) - 2nd Best oral presentation
Mélanie Fourgeaud (University of Geneva) - Best poster
Winners’ category Postdocs:
Paul Bigot (University of Geneva) - Best oral presentation
Etienne Delangre (University of Geneva) - 2nd Best oral presentation
Carina Osterhof (University of Fribourg) - Best poster
· LS2 PhD travel grants to visit conferences abroad and online. 18 travel grants supported by SCNAT: https://www.ls2.ch/funding/travel-grants
· LS2 Sonderpreise. Supported by SCNAT, LS2 sponsored 6 “Sonderpreis” to the winners of Geneva Biochemistry Days 2024 winners of Swiss Biology Olympics 2024 and the winner of the “Nationalen Wettberwerb” 2024 of “Schweizer Jungend Forscht”. The prize was: free entry to the LS2 Annual Meeting 2024, travel cost reimbursement and accommodation.
· Supported events for young scientists and more: UNIGE Postdoc Day, 6 June, Geneva; Basel Postdoc Retreat, 9-11 October 2024, Klosters; Rigi Workshop 2024, 28-30 January, Hotel Rigi Kulm (Schwyz); Swiss Young Immunologist Society (SYIS) webinar series.
· Swiss Microscopy Core Facility Day, 14 September, Zurich. Organized by the LS2 Intersection Microscopy and collaborators.
The Swiss Microscopy Core Facility Day aims at bringing together researchers related to microscopy, image analysis and of particular interest to core facilities. It is a meeting point of staff of Swiss Core Facilities to network and exchange of ideas. This was a yearly occurring event concentrating on the actual trends and latest developments in microscopy but at the same time discussing important practical aspects of operating microscopy core facilities. With kind support from SCNAT.
· Mailchimp-based newsletter.
With all relevant info of LS2 and general life sciences events and activities, newsletter archive at: https://www.ls2.ch/about-us/ls2-newsletter-archive
· Supporting calendar on website:
https://www.ls2.ch/events/other-events with a focus on scientific conferences in Life Sciences
· Job board:
Window on our website where members of LS2 and collaborators can post new open positions: https://www.ls2.ch/links/job-board
· Member database, open to all members, allows to enter areas of expertise and fosters exchange.
· Active social media channels: @LS2Switzerland
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