The IRB receives vital support from individuals, families, institutions, and foundations that share our mission to advance biomedically relevant research. We are particularly grateful to The Helmut Horten Foundation, the Leonardo Foundation, the Gustav & Ruth Jacob Foundation, the Henry Krenter Foundation, the Comel Foundation, the Ceschina Foundation, and all our generous donors.

Philanthropic initiatives are key to advance research and teaching activities, acquire new technologies, support strategic initiatives, and provide competitive fellowships for talented students.

Philanthropists and donors can support us in different ways:

1. Early-career researcher

The IRB seeks to involve benefactors in the creation of a doctoral program, where donors can directly support PhD students selected for their potential to become the scientists of tomorrow. It will be one of only few PhD programs of this kind in Switzerland. To date, doctoral students are covered only by the research grants obtained by the Group Leaders. IRB International PhD program

2. Advanced Technologies

At IRB, numerous state-of-the-art equipment will need to be replaced or upgraded in the near future. These instruments are essential and require, in addition to the initial investment, annual maintenance and the constant support of highly specialized technicians. Among them are microscopes that allow the visualization of cells and tissues, the mass spectrometer, which analyzes cellular metabolism, and instruments that enable the study of interactions between molecules, such as those between antibodies and antigens. Supporting the facilities means contributing to maintaining excellent research at the IRB. Core facilities 

3. Research project or a strategical partnership

Collaborations between immunology and other research fields drive the development of innovative therapies that would be difficult for any single partner to achieve alone. These strategic partnerships chart a path that ranges from high-risk exploratory ideas to long-term, high-impact collaborative projects, including, for example, the co-supervision of doctoral students. Donations in this area can be directed either to specific research projects or to extended programs over time, establishing a direct and lasting relationship between donors and researchers. Partnership with RU

4. Help to construct the IRB Guesthouse

The IRB has commissioned the construction of a building, powered by renewable energy, to host young researchers at the beginning of their Master’s thesis or doctoral training. Thanks to the Guesthouse, it will be possible to accommodate up to 22 researchers. This project increases the attractiveness of the Institute and of Ticino for international talents and facilitates their integration. Supporting the construction of this building means helping to train the researchers of tomorrow.

Science at the IRB can be supported in many additional ways, including:

• One-of-a-kind gifts for a specific disease or area of research (e.g., infectious disease, autoimmunity, DNA repair, cancer, rare diseases, cell and structural biology, computational biology and data science, COVID19);
• Sponsorship of Master’s students and Predoctoral fellows:
• A gift to the institute in honour or memory of a loved one;
• Contributions towards the strategic development of the institute;
• Recurrent contributions, as a durable investment in promising biomedical research.

These are just a few examples of how you can contribute to the IRB’s success. If you want to learn more about how to support the IRB, please reach to the Head of Development, Maryse Letiembre (maryse.letiembre@irb.usi.ch) 

The Fondazione per l’Istituto di Ricerca in Biomedicina benefits from the exemption from the payment of ordinary taxes and from those on succession and donation, as established by the tax authority.

For immediate donations, the bank account of the IRB Foundation is the following:

Fondazione Istituto di Ricerca in Biomedicina
IBAN Account CH80 0076 4187 1924 C001 C
Banca Stato Bellinzona (Clearing: 764; CCP: 65-433-5)

The IRB and its researchers are grateful for your support.

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