wire - news in brief

Sounds provide a safer login
A start-up formed by a group of IT specialists at ETH has come up with a simple and user-friendly way to enhance network security.

Action Required: Invasive Fungus Is Killing European Salamanders
The situation is alarming: The invasive Asian fungus has recently led to mass mortality of fire salamanders in the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany.

Roche to present new data at AAN reinforcing efficacy and safety of newly FDA-approved OCREVUS? (ocrelizumab) in two types of multiple sclerosis
Roche to present new data at AAN reinforcing efficacy and safety of newly FDA-approved OCREVUS? (ocrelizumab) in two types of multiple sclerosis Data presentations will include platform sessions and

FDA grants Roche’s TECENTRIQ (atezolizumab) accelerated approval as initial treatment for certain people with advanced bladder cancer
FDA grants Roche's TECENTRIQ (atezolizumab) accelerated approval as initial treatment for certain people with advanced bladder cancer First and only cancer immunotherapy approved in advanced bladder

FDA approves Roche’s Lucentis (ranibizumab injection) for diabetic retinopathy, the leading cause of blindness among working age adults in the United States
FDA approves Roche's Lucentis (ranibizumab injection) for diabetic retinopathy, the leading cause of blindness among working age adults in the United States First and only medicine approved to treat

Chaining up diarrhoea pathogens
Researchers have clarified how vaccinations can combat bacterial intestinal diseases: vaccine-induced antibodies in the intestine chain up pathogens as they grow in the intestine, which prevents disease and surprisingly also hinders the spread of antibiotic resistance. Vaccinations are known to protect against pathogens such as bacteria or viruses.

Novartis CAR-T cell therapy CTL019 receives FDA Breakthrough Therapy designation for treatment of adult patients with r/r DLBCL
Designation prioritizes investigational CTL019 (tisagenlecleucel) as a potential treatment for adult patients with relapsed/refractory (r/r) diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL)   R/r DLBCL, an aggressive cancer with limited options, is the second indication for CTL019 to receive Breakthrough Therapy designation   Advances in CTL019 result from collaboration with the University of Pennsylvania; regulatory submissions for r/r DLBCL are expected

Novartis expands development programs for NASH through clinical collaboration with Allergan
Phase IIb clinical trial to evaluate a combination of a Novartis FXR agonist and Allergan's cenicriviroc for NASH, a progressive  form of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease   There are currently no ap

Successful for 20 years: Probing materials with particles
Whether they study materials for the electronics of the future, batteries, or swords from the Bronze Age — for 20 years researchers from a range of disciplines have been using the Swiss Spallation Neutron Source SINQ of the Paul Scherrer Institute PSI for their investigations. At a symposium on 18 April, researchers looked back on the facility's successes and presented plans for modernisation.

Synthetic Carbohydrates against Autoimmune Diseases
Researchers are developing an innovative approach for the treatment of a rare autoimmune disease of the peripheral nervous system, using a type of molecular sponge consisting of carbohydrates to remove pathogenic antibodies from the bloodstream. Developed to treat anti-MAG neuropathy, the approach also has potential applications for the treatment of other autoimmune diseases.

Roche announces positive interim results for emicizumab in phase III study of children with haemophilia A
Roche announces positive interim results for emicizumab in phase III study of children with haemophilia A Emicizumab prophylaxis reduced the number of bleeds in children with haemophilia A and inhibi

The double agents
They have two e-mail addresses, two offices, and two filing cabinets in two locations: Around 60 of the researchers at PSI are at the same time professors or lecturers at a Swiss university.

A lifelong fascination with planets
Watching Star Trek as a child first inspired Judit Szulágyi's fascination with planets and galaxies.

Relocation of Proteins with a New Nanobody Tool
Researchers at the Biozentrum of the University of Basel have developed a new method by which proteins can be transported to a new location in a cell. The novel tool enables scientists to study the function of proteins depending on their position by using nanobodies. The tool can be used for a wide range of proteins and in various areas of developmental biology.

Roche’s Alecensa was superior to crizotinib in a specific type of lung cancer
Phase III study shows Roche's Alecensa was superior to crizotinib in a specific type of lung cancer Second Phase III head-to-head study that showed that Alecensa helped people with advanced ALK-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) Results showed that people treated with Alecensa lived significantly longer without their disease progressing compared to crizotinib when given as initial (first-line) treatment Data will be submitted to global

A better understanding of nanomaterials
In the past six years, the National Research Programme "Opportunities and Risks of Nanomaterials" (NRP 64) intensively studied the development, use, behaviour and degradation of engineered nanomaterials, including their impact on humans and on the environment. Twenty-three research projects on biomedicine, the environment, energy, construction materials and food demonstrated the enormous potential of engineered nanoparticles for numerous applications in industry and medicine.

Second beamline for SwissFEL
This year the first pilot experiments are starting at the free-electron X-ray laser SwissFEL. This new large-scale research facility of the PSI will generate very short pulses of X-ray light with the characteristics of laser light. With this X-ray light, researchers can carry out a broad spectrum of experiments.

Prehistoric alpine farming in the Bernese Oberland
Media releases, information for representatives of the media Media Relations (E) The people in Switzerland were on the move in the High Alps and running alpine pastures 7,000 years ago and therefore much earlier than previously assumed. A study by the University of Bern that combines archaeological knowledge with findings from palaeoecology comes to this conclusion.

Number theory has no gender
Özlem Imamoglu has been fascinated by the hidden properties of numbers since she was a child. The ETH professor is also committed to helping more women pursue careers in mathematics.

Novartis to strengthen R&D pipeline by in-licensing ECF843 for ophthalmic indications
Novartis exercises an option to in-license ECF843, a recombinant form of human lubricin from Lubris LLC, for ophthalmic indications worldwide (outside Europe) Dry eye is an area with high unmet medic

Federal Council approves public law agreement on innovation park and provides initial funding guarantees
Bern, 05.04.2017 - On 5 April 2017 the Federal Council entered into agreements with the Switzerland Innovation Foundation and approved guarantees for an initial CHF 150 million of funding for the Swiss Innovation Park.

Federal Council sets strategic goals for the ETH Domain for 2017-2020
Bern, 05.04.2017 - On 5 April 2017 the Federal Council approved the strategic goals for the ETH Domain for 2017-2020.

Persistently high pesticide levels found in small streams
Dübendorf, 04.04.2017 - Small watercourses are contaminated with large numbers of herbicides, fungicides and insecticides. A study commissioned by the Federal Office for the Environment and published today shows that the legal requirements specified for water quality are not met in any of the five Swiss streams investigated.

Less Fear: how LSD Affects the Brain
Scientists at the University of Basel have shown that LSD reduces activity in the region of the brain related to the handling of negative emotions like fear. The results, published in the scientific journal Translational Psychiatry, could affect the treatment of mental illnesses such as depression or anxiety.

Novartis drug combination Tafinlar + Mekinist receives EU approval for BRAF V600-positive advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)
New indication of Tafinlar and Mekinist in advanced NSCLC provides only therapy approved in the EU for BRAF V600-positive NSCLC Approval based on data showing more than 60% overall response rate in b

Phase III ALUR study supports the use of Roche’s Alecensa for people with advanced ALK-positive lung cancer
Phase III ALUR study supports the use of Roche's Alecensa for people with advanced ALK-positive lung cancer Results from the global, phase III ALUR trial showed that Alecensa significantly improved progression-free survival (PFS) in people with advanced ALK-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who had progressed following platinum-based chemotherapy and crizotinib, compared with chemotherapy Roche today announced that the phase III ALUR s

A computed tomography scanner for objects
Micro computed tomography scanners deliver very high-resolution images of the internal structure of materials.

Science responds to industry
At the symposium ‘The Global Energy Challenge - A Corporate View', representatives of international companies will present their energy strategies and visions for the future, while researchers from ETH Zurich evaluate the strategies from a scientific point of view.

Facilitating innovation in space

Observing chemical reactions in real
At Empa's Electron Microscopy Center, a new transmission electron microscope has recently been used that offers completely new opportunities for the physical and chemical analysis of very small samples. It can be used, for example, to observe the growth of nanocrystals in real time - and to record it on video.

Spark Award for fundamental research
ETH Professor Sabine Werner and her team won the Spark Award 2017 yesterday for their groundbreaking new approach to combating viral diseases. If their results can be confirmed, they could lead to the development of better treatments for viral diseases such as herpes.

Kidney Transplants: White Blood Cells Control Virus Replication
Certain white blood cells play an important role in bringing a harmful virus under control after kidney transplantations. The results of a research group at the Department of Biomedicine at the University of Basel and University Hospital Basel could contribute to improving control of immunosuppression, avoiding transplant rejection and developing relevant vaccines.

Federal Councillor Schneider-Ammann meets British Minister of State Jo Johnson
Bern, 29.03.2017 - On 29 March Federal Councillor Johann N. Schneider-Ammann, the head of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research (EAER), met his British counterpart, Jo Johnson, the Minister of State for Universities.

Novartis announces first CAR-T cell therapy BLA for pediatric and young adult patients with r/r B-cell ALL granted FDA Priority Review
Priority review for investigational CTL019 (tisagenlecleucel-T), a novel therapy that is manufactured for each individual patient using their own T'cells Novartis made an early commitment to the emer

FDA approves Roche‘s OCREVUS’ (ocrelizumab) for relapsing and primary progressive forms of multiple sclerosis
FDA approves Roche‘s OCREVUS' (ocrelizumab) for relapsing and primary progressive forms of multiple sclerosis First and only approved disease-modifying therapy for primary progressive form of m

Dominique Derome new Head of Laboratory
On 1 April 2017, Dominique Derome will become the new Head of the Laboratory for Multiscale Studies in Building Physics.

Archival photos offer research value
A crowdmapping project developed by EPFL and HEIG-VD gives volunteers the chance to compare the Switzerland of the 1960s with that of today through archival photos.

Generous donors

What morals do intelligent machines have and need?
Sometimes it's the questions, rather than the answers, that show how the world is changing. For example, questions about the moral consequences of machines and computers becoming more intelligent.

Facilitating innovation in space
The ESA BIC Switzerland  programme is starting its second round with seven additional start-ups. Amongst others, the jury was won over by the ETH spin-off ‘IRsweep'. Using a spectrometer that utilises infra-red laser radiation, the startup wants to make environmental analysis from space more precise.

Nicola Spaldin receives L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science award

Alcon receives US FDA approval for new AcrySof IQ ReSTOR +2.5 Multifocal Toric IOL with ACTIVEFOCUS(TM) design for uncompromised distance vision and presbyopia correction
Alcon receives US FDA approval for new AcrySof IQ ReSTOR +2.5 Multifocal Toric IOL with ACTIVEFOCUS(TM) design for uncompromised distance vision and presbyopia correction The unique optical de

NEST receives SIA Umsicht award

Novartis provides update on Phase III study of RLX030 (serelaxin) in patients with acute heart failure
Phase III RELAX-AHF-2 study did not meet primary endpoints of reduced cardiovascular death or worsening heart failure in patients with acute heart failure   Novartis remains committed to improving and extending the lives of patients with cardiovascular disease and will continue to invest in ways to improve their outcomes Basel, March 22, 2017 - Novartis today announced results from the global Phase III RELAX-AHF-2 study investigating the efficacy, safety and tolerability of RLX030 (serelaxin) in patients with acute heart failure (AHF).

Rare Earths Become Water-repellent Only as They Age
Surfaces that have been coated with rare earth oxides develop water-repelling properties only after contact with air. Even at room temperature, chemical reactions begin with hydrocarbons in the air. In the journal Scientific Reports, researchers from the University of Basel, the Swiss Nanoscience Institute and the Paul Scherrer Institute report that it is these reactions that are responsible for the hydrophobic effect.

Start with the users
An app for building managers - or data glasses that help you learn physics concepts' During the first "SPH Innovation Challenge", ETH students spent a week working on their own project ideas.

Novartis’ Cosentyx is first and only IL-17A inhibitor to potentially modify the course of psoriasis
New data suggests that disease modification with Cosentyx may be achievable for around 20% of patients following one year of treatment   Patients with longer disease duration before treatment with Co

ACE completes its voyage around Antarctica
The Antarctic Circumnavigation Expedition (ACE) reached Cape Town on Sunday, 19 March, completing its three-month voyage around the great white continent. But the scientific adventure has only just begun: it's now time to analyze all the data that was collected. This will improve our understanding of the effects of global warming on the Southern Ocean and the broader implications for our planet as a whole.

The new NEST unit is slowly taking shape
The building work on the new Solar Fitness & Wellness unit is making steady progress. From August onwards, users will be able to enthusiastically indulge their sporting passions and then afterwards no less enthusiastically relax and recover from their efforts.