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Understanding how proteins interact is essential to decoding cellular processes and communication. In a groundbreaking study, researchers at the Friedrich Miescher Institute (FMI) have explored how every possible mutation in a protein affects its ability to bind with its partners, shedding light on how mutations influence cellular functions and the evolution of proteins.

How do people evaluate the performance of an AI system? New research results from a group of sociologists at the University of Lucerne show that even non-human actors are subject to social prejudices. Imagine two doctors with identical skills and impeccable performance: Would your judgment of their actions change if one worked in a world-class hospital or was male or female?

The discovery that an unexpected brain region is crucial for walking recovery in mice with spinal cord injuries has led a deep brain stimulation therapy in humans. The approach restored enough leg control in two individuals with partial spinal injuries to walk unaided and even climb stairs. Researchers at EPFL and Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), led by professors Grégoire Courtine and Jocelyne Bloch, have achieved a major milestone in the treatment of spinal cord injuries (SCI).

A study from EPFL reveals that the effectiveness of brain stimulation on motor skills is determined by an individual's learning ability rather than age, highlighting the need for a more personalized approach to neurorehabilitation. As we age, our cognitive and motor functions deteriorate, which in turn affects our independence and overall quality of life.

New research from the University of Zurich, based on data from more than 28,000 caregivers in three countries, shows that the longer individuals spend caring for loved ones, the more their well-being suffers, regardless of the caregiving context. These findings underscore the need for policy discussions to alleviate the burden of informal care.

A team from the University of Geneva and the HUG has revealed that the majority of tweets published about obesity between 2019 and 2022 convey negative feelings.

Scientists at the FBM-UNIL have identified a new role for the locus coeruleus in sleep and sleep disorders. This brain region enables the transition between sleep states and the maintenance of essential unconscious vigilance. Stress disrupts its functions and impacts sleep quality. Sleep disorders affect a growing number of people, with potentially serious consequences for their health.

Researchers at the Friedrich Miescher Institute (FMI) have developed an innovative tool that maps how proteases—enzymes that process proteins—interact with their targets. This tool sheds light on the highly selective nature of proteases, which were previously thought to be indiscriminate in their function.

Researchers at ETH Zurich have discovered a mechanism behind the yo-yo effect: fat cells have a memory that is based on epigenetics. Anyone who has ever tried to get rid of a few extra kilos knows the frustration: the weight drops initially, only to be back within a matter of weeks - the yo-yo effect has struck.

A UNIGE study has uncovered an unexpected mechanism used by the protein interleukin-38 to form condensates, major drivers of skin renewal. The mechanisms underlying skin renewal are still poorly understood. Interleukin-38 (IL-38), a protein involved in regulating inflammatory responses, could be a game changer.

Researchers at ETH Zurich have combined two gene editing methods. This enables them to quickly investigate the significance of many genetic mutations involved in the development and treatment of cancer. In recent years, scientists have created a range of new methods based on CRISPR-Cas technology for precisely editing the genetic material of living organisms.

Using new wearable devices, a team from UNIGE, CHUV, HUG, UNIL and EPFL identifies persistent dysfunctions in glucose regulation in women who have had gestational diabetes. A common complication linked with pregnancy, gestational diabetes increases the risk of developing metabolic disorders, such as type 2 diabetes.

A research team from the University of Basel has succeeded in synthesizing simple, environmentally sensitive cells complete with artificial organelles. For the first time, the researchers have also been able to emulate natural cell-cell communication using these protocells - based on the model of photoreceptors in the eye.

Glioblastoma is the most common kind of malignant brain tumor in adults. So far, no treatment has been able to make this aggressive tumor permanently disappear. The tumor cells are too varied, and the microenvironment is too tumor-friendly. Researchers at the University of Basel and University Hospital Basel have now developed an immunotherapy that not only attacks the tumor-it also turns its microenvironment against it.

Università della Svizzera italiana (USI) contributes to research on sleep and related issues through the work and publications of Prof. Emiliano Albanese, Full Professor at the Faculty of Biomedical Sciences at USI, and Prof. Mauro Manconi, Full Professor of the Faculty of Biomedical Sciences at USI.

Researchers at the University of Bern, in collaboration with international partners, have discovered that a 'gene desert' section of the genome plays an important role in the development of the embryo and the heart in both mice and humans. The study provides further evidence for the significance of gene-free DNA segments in gene regulation and offers approaches for early detection of cardiac diseases.

The CRISPR tool is capable of repairing the genetic defect responsible for the immune disease chronic granulomatous disease. However, researchers at the University of Zurich have now shown that there is a risk of inadvertently introducing other defects. The CRISPR molecular scissors have the potential to revolutionize the treatment of genetic diseases.

Disfigured faces, impressively deformed. Wrinkles, swellings, parts of the lips that are no longer there, mouths and noses that have almost disappeared. These are the slow but inexorable effects of cocaine. Professor Matteo Trimarchi, Professor of Otorhinolaryngology at the Faculty of Biomedical Sciences of Università della Svizzera italiana (USI) and Head of Otorhinolaryngology Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale (EOC ), spoke about these severe effects, even among the youngest, in an interview with La Domenica.

The hepatitis E virus affects the liver. But infected liver cells secrete a viral protein that reacts with antibodies in the blood and may form complexes that can damage the filter structure of the kidneys, as researchers from the University of Zurich and the University Hospital Zurich have proven for the first time.

Researchers have combined virtual reality, non-invasive brain stimulation and advanced brain imaging techniques to improve spatial navigation in healthy participants. The study is a first step in addressing dementia in an aging population without medication or surgery. As we age, it becomes more difficult to remember where things are-whether it's recalling where we left the keys or where we parked the car.