Presentation

Biomedical research forms the basis for any progress in the treatment of human diseases. Indeed, a thorough understanding of the functioning of the human body under physiological and pathological conditions is an essential prerequisite for the development of new therapeutic strategies for the treatment of the patients. Resulting from the fusion of the Department of Physiology and the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, the new Department of Biomedical Sciences aims to become a center of excellence in fundamental and translational research and a privileged site of interaction with the Clinical Services of the CHUV.

The scientific mission of this new department, made up of more than 15 research groups and nearly 120 collaborators, is to study the biological mechanisms that govern the function of the human body and are responsible for the appearance of various diseases. Currently, the main research areas of the department are metabolism and cardiovascular diseases, renal function, ageing, brain development and sleep disorders. To achieve their goals, our scientists take advantage of a variety of research models with different complexity levels, ranging from cells, to animal models (worms, fish, rodents), to humans.

In addition to its research mission, the Department of Biomedical Sciences is playing a central role in teaching. Indeed, the department's staff are responsible for teaching physiology, basic pharmacology and toxicology at both the School of Biology and the School of Medicine.

Prof. Romano Regazzi
Director