Research, Innovation and Education in Pharma, Medicine and Environment Applications

The FHNW School of Life Sciences (HLS FHNW) consists of four institutes involved in research & innovation (R&I) and education. It cooperates closely with prominent national, EU and international organizations and industries.

The School has applied, industry-driven expertise in health & pharma technology, circular (bio) economy and environmental restoration, as well as biodiversity loss and climate change mitigation, in line with the European Green Deal priorities.

Institute for Medical Engineering and Medical Informatics

The Institute for Medical Engineering and Medical Informatics works with hospitals and industry to carry out R&I in diagnostic and therapeutic systems. It develops patient-oriented devices, implants and methods, as well as advanced tools for medical data processing and analysis. Click here for the Institute's website.

Institute of Pharmaceutical Technology

The Institute of Pharmaceutical Technology maps industrial processes from raw ingredients to the final form of the drug. Its activities cover drug formulation, manufacture and delivery, with specific focus on dosage form design, production processes, quality, pharmacokinetics and personalisation. It has close partnerships with leading European and international pharma firms and start-ups. Click here for the Institute's website.

Institute of Chemistry and Bioanalytics

The Institute for Chemistry and Bioanalytics collaborates with agro, food, pharma and bio-chemical industries on cutting edge research in fields such as sustainable processes, feedstock identification and preparation, advanced (nano)materials and organ function diagnostic systems. It has expertise in various areas, such as the analysis of large data sets (data science), and the ability to develop and implement processes up to pilot scale, including safety assessments. Click here for the Institute's website.

Institute for Ecopreneurship

The Institute for Ecopreneurship conducts lab and pilot scale interdisciplinary R&I in the circular (bio)economy and environmental restoration. It creates innovative solutions for waste stream conversion into marketable products and for treatment, detoxification and regeneration of contaminated water and soil. Sustainability is assessed with comprehensive ecotoxicological studies and life cycle analyses. It has close partnerships with leading EU biobased and bioremediation industries and start-ups. Click here for the Institute's website.

Strategic Equipment, Technologies & Infrastructure

Fully equipped laboratories and pilot plants with state of the art technologies for medical, industrial and environmental (bio-)engineering; equipment, infrastructures for wastewater treatment, biomonitoring and in vitro testing for industry. Click here for the Process Technology Center website.

2/7
Chemical process development and process safety

7/7
Environmental plant - for the wastewater management of tomorrow

Pilot scale facilities

Fully automated chemical, biochemical and fermentation facilities for down- and up-stream processes
Wastewater management system equipped with online biomonitoring (e.g. online toximeters and cell based in vitro test systems).
Solid sterile containment and cleanroom pharmaceutical manufacturing, including individual technologies: semiautomatic filling-finishing, dispersion, comminution, freeze and spray drying, extrusion, compression.

Specific equipments and tools

Additive Manufacturing: 3D-Bioprinters for toxicological and environmental applications as well as 3D-printers for medical engineering applications (Ti, Shape memory NiTi, Ti6Al4V, Ti6Al4V ELI, CoCr 316L, plastics, ceramics)

Medical Engineering: implant surface functionalization, (Micro) CT, DVT, c-arm, REM, tribometry, static and dynamic mechanical testing stands, removal-torque-system, medical 3D-scanning /tracking, ultrasound, IR, movement and gait analysis, high speed camera, EMG, EEG, ECG, endoscopy. Medical Engineering: implant surface functionalization, (Micro) CT, DVT, c-arm, REM, tribometry, static and dynamic mechanical testing stands, removal-torque-system, medical 3D-scanning /tracking, ultrasound, IR, movement and gait analysis, high speed camera, EMG, EEG, ECG, endoscopy.

Micro and nano scale particle technology: in micro and nano scale, solid state and surface characterization, light scattering, dispersed systems, rheology.Micro and nano scale particle technology: in micro and nano scale, solid state and surface characterization, light scattering, dispersed systems, rheology.

Microscopy platform: SEM, ESEM, TEM, AFM, confocal microscopy.

Chemical synthesis & analyses: DNA- & peptide synthesizer, electro- and photo-chemistry, NMR, GC-MS; HPLC-MS (Ion Trap, qTOF, QqQ, LA-ICP-MS); ICP-MS (QqQ); LC-OCD-OND (drinking water analysis); LDIR chemical imaging system; µXRF, Radioisotope Lab (C-14, H-3); high precision isotopic carbon analyzer, surface plasmon resonance etc.

Single cell analysis and sequencing: Flow cytometers and FACS, TenX system, next generation sequencers (MiSeq and Nextseq 550) & qPCR.

Flyer Research, Innovation and Education an the Interface of Nature, Medicine and Environment

Cooperation with prominent industries and research organizations and institutions

Previous and current large, European and Lighthouse Projects

The FHNW School of Life Sciences in Horizon 2020 Projects

As a coordinator

As a partner

The FHNW School of Life Sciences in Horizon Europe Projects

AgriLoop, MAR2PROTECT, CUMERI, NEXUS

In addition, researchers from the FHNW School of Life Sciences are engaged in nationally and internationally funded projects:

Projects funded by EU beyond H2020

EU JPND project: “Multinational research projects on Personalised Medicine for Neuro-degenerative Diseases” (ORGTHERAPY) (EUR 98’490.–)
Eurostars project 113627: “Suppressing Tremor to A Bearable Level” (STABLE) (EUR 198’300.–)
Eurostars project 113479: “3D cell culture platform for personalized ovarian cancer therapy selection” (EUR 223’240.–)

Projects funded by INTERREG (Funding Program by France, Germany & Switzerland for the Upper Rhine Region)

SPIRITS: Smart 3D-printed interactive robot for interventional radiology and surgery (EUR 299’258.–)
PERSONALIS: Platform for personalized medicine for autoimmune diseases (EUR 335’362.–)
TRIMABONE: 3d printing for resorbable implants (EUR 200’000.–)

Projects funded by International Foundations and Organizations

Wellcome Trust (UK), a renowned global charitable foundation: “Discovery of anti-DENV Antibodies Using Artificial Intelligence” (EUR 897’535.–)
Adalbert-Raps Stiftung: “Effizienzsteigerung von Algenkultivierungsprozessen” (EUR 131’050.−)
UNIDO: Provision of Eco-lndustrial Park related services in Peru (EUR 85’000.–)

Projects funded by Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF)/BRIDGE

Structural and Functional Characterisation of the Primer Synthesis of Archaeoeukaryotic Primases (SNSF) (EUR 457’721.–)
The underestimated role of the human omentum in metastatic spread (SNSF) (EUR 532’760.–)
Efficient colonic drug delivery (Bridge – Discovery) (EUR 684’000.–)
Implemention of Adverse Outcome Pathway in a «plug&play» Microfluidics System. Liver Fibrosis as a Proof of Principle (Bridge – Discovery) (EUR 705’696.–)

Projects Funded by Other Swiss Foundations

Botnar Research Centre for Child Health (BRCCH): “DAVINCI: Development and Validation of a Lateral Flow Test to Detect COVID-19 Antigens and Immunity in Saliva (EUR 473’000.–)

Projects funded by Swiss Governmental Institutions

BAFU Project: Review study on the use of biotests for the assessment of industrial wastewater and proposal of an evaluation concept (EUR 175’200.–)

Projects funded by Innosuisse (Swiss Innovation Agency)

Development of a dual mode marker system for X-ray and optical stereoscopic camera tracking (17077.2 PFLS-LS) (EUR 405’033.–)
Development of a Nanoporous Antibacterial Surface for Titanium Implants by reverse-pulse electrochemical Copper deposition (NANTI) (14293.2;9 PFNM-NM) (EUR 111’933.–)
Targeted vitamin delivery to the microbiome for improved gut health; in collaboration with DSM Nutritional Products (46093.1 IP-LS) (EUR 626’490.–)
Automated LADME Assay platform Based on Advanced Microphysiological Arrays (ALABAMA) (44386.1 IP-LS) (EUR 790’994.–)
Lyopan technology for orally dispersible tablets (18800.2 PFIW-IW) (EUR 433’222.–)
Drugs for wound healing (25840.1 PFLS-LS) (EUR 698’050.–)
Topical antiinfectives against leishmaniasis (34227.1 IP-LS) (EUR 397’351.–)

Involvement in prominent R&I Networks

European Federation of Biotechnology: Vice Presidency, Chair-manship of Environmental Biotechnology division and Vice-Chairmanship of the division Plant, Agriculture and Food
Biotechnet: Executive Board member
EHEDG: Swiss Regional Presidency
PERSEO AG: Board member
Biotechnet: Presidency
Swiss Tox: Board member
SCAHT: Foundation Council member
NSF: Swiss Expert assessor
IUPAC: Session member
SCAHT - Swiss Centre for Applied Human Toxicology; member of the council
BRIDGE Swiss National Science Foundation-Innosuisse: board member
Sefunda AG: Board of Directors
European partnership for the assessment of risks from chemicals (PARC) CH National Hub
European Alliance for Medical and Biological Engineering and Sciences: Council member
Swiss Society for Biomedical Engineering: Board member
Wallenberg Foundation: Scientific Advisory Board member
CSEM: Scientific Advisory Board member
IFMBE: Swiss Delegate