Department of Biology and Chemistry (BIO)
The department of Biology and Chemistry at PSI is subdivided into three laboratories (
organigram) pursuing research in the areas of cell and structural biology, radiopharmacy, and radiochemistry and environmental chemistry.
The Laboratory of Biomolecular Research (BMR) focuses on basic biological research projects with the emphasis on structure-function analysis of complex biological systems. The laboratory consists of four groups engaged in research projects focussing on Structural Biology of Membrane Proteins, Protein Interaction Networks and Transmembrane Signaling by Receptor Tyrosine Kinases. The laboratory maintains a technology platform for expression vector cloning and protein expression screening and collaborates with scientists at the Swiss Synchrotron Light Source (SLS) developing new methods and hardware for structural analysis of biomolecules. The combination of its activities and its excellent research infrastructure provide an attractive environment for young scientists in the fields of biology and biophysics.
The Center of Radiopharmaceutical Sciences pursues research in the fields of tracer preparation and in vivo imaging of tissues, in particular of disseminated tumors that cannot be removed surgically or by external radiation therapy. The laboratory is operated jointly by ETH Zürich and PSI. The laboratory creates therapeutic molecules by combining particular types of biomolecules, such as for instance antibodies, with radioactive nuclides. These reagents are used to image tumors and to selectively target and destroy tumor cells in animal models. PSI cooperates with universities, hospitals and the pharmaceutical industry to ensure the most effective coordination of its basic research capabilities with clinical applications.
The Laboratory of Radiochemistry and Environmental Chemistry focuses on fundamental research and on education in the field of radiochemistry, atmospheric chemistry and climate research. The Laboratory is a joint activity of the PSI and the University of Bern. The six research groups explore the chemistry of heavy elements, reconstruct palaeoclimate and historic air pollution from ice cores drilled at high-altitude glaciers, investigate the physiochemical interaction of trace gases with surfaces in the atmosphere, study the radionuclide inventory in beam targets of large scale irradiation facilities, provide novel radionuclides for future medical applications, and develop measurement techniques of environmental radionuclides in geoscientific research.
How to get to the Paul Scherrer Institute (description and map)
