Tumor-targeted IL2 therapy promotes CD8+ T cells functions to eliminate B-cell lymphoma
A study published in the Journal of Experimental and Clinical Cancer Research investigates the L19IL2 immunotherapy mechanism of action against B-cell lymphoma. This study reveals that L19IL2 slow tumor growth by enhancing intratumoral CD8⁺ T cell priming and cytotoxicity, and dynamically boosting tumor-directed motility. B cell lymphoma is a common blood cancer affecting thousands of […]
IRB scientists awarded SNSF research grants
Bellinzona, 17 April 2026 Several research groups at the Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB) in Bellinzona, Switzerland (affiliated to Università della Svizzera italiana), have been awarded prestigious grants from the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF), supporting innovative projects across immunology, cancer biology and therapeutic development. Below is a brief overview of the four awarded […]
The Dangerous Effect of Tattoos on the Immune System
Are you aware that when you tattoo your skin, you are also tattooing your immune system? A groundbreaking study by a Swiss the research group led by Prof. Santiago F. González, published today in the prestigious journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), raises new questions about the safety of tattoos. The study by […]
Immunemap, an open intravital microscopy atlas for systematic analysis of immune cell motility
A new study mapping immune cell motility across organs and conditions is published in EMBO Journal. This work is a collaboration between the González Group at the Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB, an Institute affiliated with USI Università della Svizzera italiana) and the Pizzagalli and Krause Group at the Euler Institute and supported by […]
Mechanistic answer to how CAG expansion arise in Huntington’s disease
Published in Nature Communications, the work from the Cejka laboratory reveals how MutSβ-MutLγ-driven trinucleotide expansion arise in neural cells and how FAN1 safeguards the genome. This mechanism clarifies Huntington’s disease biology and points to therapeutic targets. Huntington’s disease is driven by the gradual expansion of CAG repeats in the HTT gene in brain cells. How […]
A new study published by the Monticelli lab characterizes an immunoregulatory receptor
Image Caption: FCRL3 expression is sufficient to modulate T cell responses through the engagement with negative regulators of signaling (image by Elena Foli). A new study is published in the Journal of Experimental Medicine by the Molecular Immunology lab. This study characterizes the FCRL3 receptor as an immunoregulatory molecule that modulates human T cell responses. […]
Castelgrande Lecture 2025 press-release
The sixth edition of the Calstelgrande Lecture, a scientific outreach event that brings distinguished figures in the field closer to the general public, was a great success. This year’s theme was “How microbes can help tackle climate change”, Prof. Rino Rappuoli. Bellinzona, 30 September 2025. As is now tradition, the sixth edition of the Castelgrande […]
Artificial Intelligence designs miniproteins to control brain inflammation
Researcher from the Computational Structural Biology group at the Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB, Università della Svizzera italiana), have shown that artificial intelligence (AI) can design a potent novel miniprotein for lipocalin-2 (LCN2), a protein linked to neuroinflammation. Their study, published in Frontiers in Immunology and titled “AI-assisted design of ligands for lipocalin-2” by […]
Greta Guarda nominated President of the Swiss Society for Allergology and Immunology
Professor Greta Guarda, Director of the Laboratory of Immune System Mechanisms at the Institute for Research in Biomedicine affiliated with USI, and Full Professor at the Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, has been elected President of the Swiss Society for Allergology and Immunology (SSAI) until 2027. The handover of the presidency took place in Lausanne on […]
Prof. Federica Sallusto elected member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences
On May 3, 2022, Federica Sallusto has been elected, member of the U. S. National Academy of Sciences (NAS), one of the most significant and highest honors given to academic researchers. The NAS announced on May 3, 2022 the election of its members in recognition of their distinguished and continuing achievements in original research. The […]
