2019

The Heinrich Emanuel Merck Award for Analytical Science 2019 was given to Prof. David Alsteens (UC Louvain) on Sep 3, 2019, in Istanbul. David received the award for his work on investigating receptor-ligand / virus interactions in cell membranes using an approach that combines force-distance curve AFM (FD-AFM) and confocal microscopy. David introduced this approach when he was postdoc in our laboratory.

Our group enters the world-renowned Locarno Film Festival from August 7–17, 2019. NCCR members Daniel Müller, biologist Barbara Treutlein, and ethicist Ralf Stutzki will discuss "The ethical challenges of engineering life and the effects on human identity". The event will also be broadcast live on the internet and traditionally attracts considerable media attention. Participating in the festival, Selen, from our group will participate in the ‘BaseCamp laboratory of ideas’.  

From 16-18 November 2020 our group together with the NCCR Molecular Systems Engineering (www.nccr-mse.org), the pontifical academy of life (PAL) of the Vatican, and the Babino Gesu Children Hospital, organizes an international conference on the engineering of molecular and cellular systems for a better life. Internationally outstanding experts will discuss the topic from scientific, social, historic, ethical, legal and religious perspectives.

Congratulations to Estefania Mulvilhill for receiving the 2019 Swiss Nanotechnology PhD Award. Estefania recieved the award at the 2019 Swiss Nanoconvention (SNC) in Lausanne for her outstanding work on imaging the human inflammatory protein Gasdermin forming lytic transmembrane pores in membranes.

Daniel Müller has received the Marsilius Medal from the Marsilius Kolleg of the University of Heidelberg. Every semester the Marsilius-Kolleg organizes a Marsilius Lecture in which renowned scientists from different fields speak on cross-disciplinary topics. Associated to the lecture, the Marsilius Medal has been awarded for merits in the dialogue between scientific disciplines.

Enjoy our newest review in the first issue of Nature Reviews Physics. The review, co-written by young scientists Michael, Gotthold, David & Benjamin (& some older ones), describes how AFM-based approaches can contribute to address pertinent problems in mechanobiology at the crossroads of medicine, biology, biophysics and engineering. It describes how the responses of proteins, cells, tissues and organs to mechanical cues contribute to development, differentiation, physiology and disease.