Swiss Universities Launch New Wyss Center

Swiss Universities Launch New Wyss Translational Center to Advance Science, Medicine, and Engineering

Scientific, academic, and philanthropic leaders gathered on Monday, December 7th at the University of Zurich for the official inauguration ceremony for the Wyss Zurich Translational Center, a new multi-disciplinary research and development institution development center of the University of Zurich and ETH Zurich (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich). The Wyss Zurich is being made possible by a $120 million donation from the entrepreneur and philanthropist Hansjörg Wyss.

“Breakthrough discoveries in medical and technological fields have to be made available as soon as possible for the benefit of mankind” explained Mr. Wyss.

The center is being established to foster translational research focused on developing treatment protocols and clinical therapies, as well as novel technologies and intelligent systems, in the emerging fields of regenerative medicine and robotic technologies. One of five projects already featured, Liver4Life, seeks to regenerate livers outside of the human body for retransplantation.

“Too much pressure is placed on research projects by venture capitalists who want to see a return on their investment in five or six years. But it often requires more patience and a series of investments before it can be brought into the market,” Mr. Wyss told the audience at the inauguration ceremony.

To learn more about the Wyss Zurich Translation Center: http://www.wysszurich.uzh.ch/

To learn more about the inauguration ceremony: http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/wyss-center_billionaire-s-cash-brings-medical-research-to-patients/41824274