Translational Research - Université de Genève

HUG – Geneva University Hospitals
FMH – Swiss Medical Association
SNSF – Swiss National Science Foundation
Microbiology at the Medical Faculty of the University of Geneva
Microbes have always accompanied human beings either by positively influencing our health
through stimulation of the immune system and providing essential nutrients, such as certain
vitamins, or by causing various diseases. Although several diseases can now be treated
effectively or are even on the point of being eradicated, some infectious pathogens persist or
reappear in the headlines and new emergent diseases threaten our health. The rapid
development of medicine has increased our life expectancy and quality of life considerably.
However, some of the treatments themselves, together with an aging population, constitute
new challenges as patients become more susceptible to infections. Global trends such as rapid,
mass long-distance travel and climate change greatly influence the steadily changing picture
of infectious diseases. Moreover, the appearance of multi- and fully-resistant pathogens poses
serious challenges to treatment and is of particular concern in long-lasting persistent infections
which represent a heavy burden to the individual and society.
It is for these reasons that research in microbiology at the Faculty of Medicine of the University
of Geneva is very broad, ranging from basic to clinical research and diagnostics. The
microorganisms studied in the different contexts are very diverse; several different bacteria,
eight classes of viruses, two apicomplexa parasites and yeast, are actively studied from
different perspectives. Inherent to this diversity is a wide range of approaches from classical
genetics to molecular techniques including state-of-the-art nucleic acid analysis, proteomics,
and imaging. Taking advantage of the medical environment, research in microbiology with a
strong translational component is intrinsically linked to immunology and pathology, other
strong research directions at our Faculty.
Prof. Patrick Linder
Vice-President of the Fundamental Medicine Section
Université de Genève • Faculté de médecine
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