The Wyss Institute's Geneva Rebirth
In the shell of a shuttered pharmaceutical research center, a new model for scientific innovation is being built, one that could reshape the future of medicine and environmental sustainability.
In 2012, the scientific community in Geneva faced a major setback. Merck KGaA announced it was shutting down its Merck Serono R&D facility, leaving 1,250 researchers and staff in a state of uncertainty 1 . The brain drain began almost immediately, with employees scattering to other Merck sites, finding new employers, or taking early retirement 1 .
Researchers and staff affected by closure
Initial funding commitment
Academic partners (EPFL & University of Geneva)
The closure followed a string of research failures, most notably the decision not to pursue approval of Movectro (cladribine), an oral treatment for multiple sclerosis 1 . Where many saw only a failure, Swiss billionaire Hansjörg Wyss saw a unique opportunity. He envisioned transforming this vacant research shell into something revolutionary—a new institute modeled after the successful Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University 1 .
Through his foundation, Wyss committed CHF 125 million (approximately $135 million) over six years to establish this new public-private partnership in collaboration with École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) and the University of Geneva 1 . This marked the beginning of an ambitious endeavor to create a European hub for bioinspired innovation.
Merck Serono announces closure of Geneva R&D facility
Hansjörg Wyss commits CHF 125 million for new institute
Establishment of Wyss Institute in former Merck facility
Development of bioinspired research projects and innovations
The Wyss Institute operates on a philosophy of "biologically inspired engineering," which involves studying how nature solves complex problems and applying those principles to human challenges. Unlike traditional academic or corporate research models, the Institute functions as what they describe as a "research and development engine for disruptive innovation" .
Teams work across fields that traditionally remain separate, breaking down silos between biology, engineering, computer science, and materials science.
Focus on translating discoveries into real-world applications through startup formation and corporate partnerships.
This approach has proven remarkably successful at the original Wyss Institute at Harvard, where interdisciplinary teams work across fields that traditionally remain separate:
Biology & Medicine
Engineering & Robotics
Computer Science & AI
Materials Science & Chemistry
The Geneva institute, rising from the Merck Serono shell, was designed to extend this collaborative, impact-driven model into Europe, creating a bridge between academic research and real-world applications through startup formation and corporate partnerships 1 .
The true measure of the Wyss Institute's unique model lies in the groundbreaking projects emerging from its collaborative environment. These initiatives demonstrate how the Institute is working to solve some of humanity's most pressing challenges in healthcare and environmental sustainability.
| Project Name | Field | Lead Faculty | Potential Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| TIB: Tolerance-Inducing Biomaterials | Immunotherapy | Dave Mooney, Georg Duda | Safer, longer-lasting treatments for autoimmune diseases and tissue injury |
| PFASense | Environmental Monitoring | Not specified | Rapid, on-site detection of harmful "forever chemicals" in water sources |
| GeneSkin | mRNA Therapy | Not specified | Regenerative treatments for skin and hair disorders addressing biological causes |
| NeoSense | Medical Diagnostics | David Walt | Faster, more accurate sepsis diagnosis in newborns using saliva instead of blood |
| NERVE | Neurodegenerative Disease | David Walt | Early detection of Alzheimer's and ALS through abnormal RNA splicing in blood |
| REFINE | Sustainable Manufacturing | Not specified | Scalable production of high-performance bioplastics to replace petrochemical plastics |
| EnvAI | CAR-T Therapy | George Church | In vivo programming of T cells to treat autoimmune disorders like Lupus |
| Covodutide | Trauma Medicine | Samir Mitragotri | Life-saving treatment for internal bleeding through targeted clotting |
Uses specially designed biomaterials to deliver regulatory T cells to specific tissues, potentially offering safer treatments for autoimmune conditions without the need for broad immunosuppression 2 .
Development Progress: 75%Addresses environmental contamination by creating protein-based biosensors that can detect forever chemicals with unprecedented speed and accuracy in field conditions 2 .
Development Progress: 60%To understand how the Wyss Institute turns bold ideas into tangible solutions, we can examine the NERVE project in greater detail. This initiative addresses one of medicine's most challenging frontiers: the early detection of neurodegenerative diseases like ALS and Alzheimer's.
The NERVE team is developing the first ultra-sensitive technology to detect abnormal RNA splicing molecules inside extracellular vesicles—tiny particles circulating in blood that can carry signals from the brain 2 . These abnormal splicing events are a key driver of neurodegenerative disorders but have remained invisible to current diagnostic tools.
The methodology represents a significant advancement because it eliminates the need for invasive brain tissue sampling while potentially detecting diseases years before symptoms become apparent. For patients, this could mean earlier interventions and the ability to monitor treatment response through simple blood tests 2 .
| Step | Procedure | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sample Collection | Collect blood samples from patients and healthy controls |
| 2 | EV Isolation | Separate EVs from other blood components |
| 3 | RNA Extraction | Break open EVs and extract their RNA content |
| 4 | Target Detection | Use proprietary technology to identify abnormal RNA molecules |
| 5 | Data Analysis | Apply machine learning algorithms to interpret results |
| Aspect of Care | Current Limitations | NERVE Project Potential |
|---|---|---|
| Diagnosis | Often occurs late in disease progression | Early detection before severe symptoms emerge |
| Monitoring | Limited ability to track disease progression | Regular monitoring through blood tests |
| Clinical Trials | Difficulty identifying right patients | Precise patient selection and measurement |
| Treatment Development | Limited insights into disease mechanisms | New insights into RNA splicing defects |
The groundbreaking work happening at the Wyss Institute depends on a sophisticated arsenal of research tools and technologies. These resources enable scientists to bridge the gap between biological inspiration and practical engineering solutions.
Specially engineered materials that can deliver regulatory T cells to specific tissues and maintain their function over extended periods. These materials can also help transform destructive immune cells into pro-regenerative ones at disease sites 2 .
Engineered proteins designed to detect specific environmental contaminants like PFAS "forever chemicals" with high sensitivity and specificity, enabling rapid on-site testing previously not possible 2 .
Viral envelope proteins redesigned using artificial intelligence to target specific cell types in the body. These proteins help deliver therapeutic instructions directly to T cells for in vivo CAR-T therapy 2 .
Advanced sensing platforms capable of detecting individual biomarker molecules in biological samples, enabling diagnosis of conditions like sepsis from saliva or neurodegenerative diseases from blood 2 .
Innovative drug discovery tools that can measure weak drug-target interactions while simultaneously identifying the involved chemical compounds, potentially unlocking previously "undruggable" targets 2 .
The story of the Wyss Institute rising from the Merck Serono shell represents more than just the repurposing of a physical space—it symbolizes a transformative approach to scientific research itself. By creating an environment where biologists work alongside engineers, clinicians collaborate with computer scientists, and academics partner with entrepreneurs, the Institute has established a powerful formula for accelerating innovation.
The Geneva institute continues a nearly century-long legacy of industry-academic collaboration that organizations like Merck have fostered 9 .
Such partnerships are increasingly recognized as essential for addressing complex scientific challenges that transcend traditional disciplinary boundaries.
These bioinspired approaches demonstrate the power of learning from nature's 3.8 billion years of research and development 2 .
From rewiring the immune system to combat autoimmune diseases and regenerate damaged tissues, to creating sustainable manufacturing processes that could reduce our dependence on petrochemical plastics.
The vacant labs that once represented lost potential have become fertile ground for a new generation of practical dreamers—those who see not just what is, but what could be.
As we look to the future, the work emerging from the Wyss Institute and similar organizations offers hope for tackling some of humanity's most persistent challenges.
References to be added here.