News and Highlights
PKI members awarded prestigious European Certified Pharmacologist (EuCP) accreditation.
We warmly congratulate Prof. C. Bourquin and PD Dr. G. Konstantinidou on receiving the prestigious European Certified Pharmacologist (EuCP) accreditation. With this achievement, they join Prof. S. von Gunten, who already holds this distinguished European certification. The EuCP, awarded jointly by the European Federation of Pharmacological Societies (EPHAR) and the European Association for Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (EACPT), recognises outstanding expertise, broad competency, and high professional standards across the full spectrum of pharmacology—from basic research to clinical and therapeutic applications. This recognition highlights the excellence and international standing of our team members and underlines the institute’s strong commitment to high-level pharmacological research and education. Congratulations to all three colleagues on this remarkable achievement! The picture shows the awarded PKI members f.l.t.r.: Georgia Konstantinidou, Carole Bourquin, Stephan von Gunten.
Prof. Patrycja Nowak-Sliwinska (UNIGE) awarded the European Certified Pharmacologist (EuCP) accreditation.
Conferred by the European Federation of Pharmacological Societies (EPHAR) and the European Association for Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (EACPT), this certification recognizes a high level of expertise and competence across the entire spectrum of pharmacology.
This achievement reflects a commitment to the highest professional standards and marks a significant milestone Prof. Nowak's career.
Visualizing cancer research
A recent study led by Prof. Bourquin (Dupuychaffray E. et al, 2025) was featured in the Art and Science project jointly organized by the Faculty of Science at the University of Geneva and the Geneva School of Art and Design (HEAD). This initiative aims to translate complex scientific concepts into a visually compelling image that can engage diverse audiences. As part of this collaboration, Eloise Dupuychaffray, then a PhD student in Prof. Bourquin’s laboratory, presented her research to HEAD students, who were invited to propose original artistic interpretations. The scientific study shows that although obesity is a major risk factor for cancer, it may paradoxically enhance the efficacy of cancer immunotherapy in males with melanoma. Using in vitro models and clinical data, the researchers demonstrate that increased estrogen production in the adipose tissue of obese males is associated with an improved response to anti-cancer immunotherapy. To illustrate these findings, Sophie Hache, a HEAD student, created a narrative drawing that guides the viewer from estrogen production in adipose tissue to immune-cell activation and the destruction of cancer cells. This illustration accompanies a lay summary of the study published in "The Science Breaker", making the research accessible to a broad public audience. Illustration: Sophie Hache - HEAD©.
Prof. Carole Bourquin (UNIBE) - New SNF Grant backs innovative organ-on-a-chip approach to Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
We are pleased to announce the award of a new Swiss National Science Foundation (SNF) Project Grant to support a collaborative research project between Prof. Carole Bourquin (Institute of Pharmacology), Prof. Olivier Guenat (ARTORG Center, University of Bern), and Prof. Cornelia Halin (ETH Zurich). This project aims to advance our understanding of the human lung’s lymphatic vasculature in both healthy and diseased states, with a particular focus on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). By integrating advanced imaging, pharmacological approaches, and innovative microfluidic “organ-on-chip” technology, the interdisciplinary team will investigate lymphatic morphology, function, and immune cell interactions under physiological and pathological conditions. The results are expected to provide new insights into the inflammatory processes driving COPD progression and to pave the way for the development of targeted pharmacological strategies to restore lymphatic function and mitigate disease severity.
Prof. Patrycja Nowak-Sliwinska (UNIGE) awarded GTO 2026 Award from the Translational Research Centre in Oncohaematology.
We are thrilled to announce that a collaborative research team from University of Geneva, has been selected for a prestigious GTO 2026 Award from the Translational Research Centre in Oncohaematology.
The project, titled "Immunogenic Remodeling of the Tumor Microenvironment by a Novel Paclitaxel-Based Drug Combination: Role of cGAS/STING/Type 1 Interferon Signaling," brings together leading expertise to tackle a major challenge in oncology: making "cold" tumors responsive to immunotherapy. This project will be elaborated with Prof. Patrick Meraldi (Faculty of Madicine) and Dr. Aurelie Bornand (HUG).
RECENT PUBLICATIONS
2026
Rohner VL, Curreli S, Lamothe-Molina PJ, Kagiampaki Z, Yee AG, Nardin C, Eschholz L, Dieter A, Foustoukos G, Milanese P, Banterle L, Childs T, Canziani A, Dernic J, Ravotto L, Bhat MA, Sönmez L, Wasielewski LM, Ziebarth T, Molnar MI, Huang G, Masseck OA, Weber B, Reiner A, Lüthi A, Ford CP, Wiegert JS, Ruediger S, Fellin T & Patriarchi T. Next-generation multicolor indicators for in vivo imaging of norepinephrine. Nat Methods (2026). doi: 10.1038/s41592-026-03006-z.
Gubala J, Benamran D, Tsantoulis P, Mieville V, Valerio M, Nowak-Sliwinska P, Cancer-associated fibroblasts in co-culture systems to predict accurate cancer treatments of cancer, Journal of Experimental & Clinical Cancer Research, (2026), doi: 10.1186/s13046-025-03633-y.
2025
Dupuychaffray E, Poinot H, Vuilleumier A, Borgeaud M, Alvarez M, Taskoparan B, Preynat-Seauve O, Voegel CD, Marinari E, Migliorini D, Dutoit V, Bourquin C, Pommier A, Estrogens determine the efficacy of cancer immunotherapy in obese males with melanoma, JCI Insight, 2025 Jun 12;10(14):e189758, doi: 10.1172/jci.insight.189758.
Mieville V, Gubala J, Han S, Ota M, Andreu-Carbó M, Molica F, Benamran D, Kwak BR, Valerio M, Nowak-Sliwinska P, Leveraging Multi-Organ Toxicity Models for Anti-Cancer Combination Therapy Safety, Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy, Volume 193, (2025), 118847, doi.org/10.1016/j.biopha.2025.118847.
Nowak-Sliwinska P, Griffioen AW, Death never dies: increasing impact of programmed cell death, Apoptosis, (2025);30(11-12):2960-2962. doi: 10.1007/s10495-025-02189-8.s.
Schelker C, Trap V, Borchard B, Nowak-Sliwinska P, Development of a liposomal formulation of a TKI: the active loading of erlotinib.HCl, BioRvix (2025), doi:10.1101/2025.06.06.658400.
Miéville V, Gubala J, Fiault M, Ota M, Han S, Urwyler M, Benamran D, Tille J-C, Valerio M, Nowak-Sliwinska P, Rational Design of Non-Toxic Multidrug Combinations Demonstrates Durable and Hypoxia-Enhanced Efficacy Against Renal Cell Carcinoma, Pharmaceutics (2025), 17(10), 1269; doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics17101269.
Schelker C, Monteiro C, Borchard B, Nowak-Sliwinska P, Co-encapsulated liposomal formulations of tubacin and erlotinib.HCl: a comprehensive stability strategy,BIORXIV (2025), doi.org/10.1101/2025.10.08.681158.
amzy GM, Meister I, Boccard J, Rudaz S, Nowak-Sliwinska P, Caracterization of the lipid landscape in FOLFOXIRI-resistant colorectal cancer cells, Int. J. Mol. Sci 26(3), 1169; 2025, doi.org/10.3390/ijms26031169.
Girel S, Galmiche M, Fiault M, Mieville V, Nowak-Sliwinska P, Rudaz S, Meister I, Microflow liquid chromatography coupled to multinozzle electrospray ionization for improved lipidomics coverage of 3D clear cell renal cell carcinoma, Analytical Chemistry, 2025, doi.org/10.1021/acs.analchem.4c06337.
Griffioen AW, Nowak-Sliwinska P, A cellular danse macabre – the choreography of programmed cell death, Apoptosis, 2025, doi: 10.1007/s10495-025-02076-2.
Schelker C, Revaclier L, Borchard G, Nowak-Sliwinska P, Liposomal Tubacin: strategies for the formulation of a highly hydrophobic anticancer drug, Pharmaceutics, 2025 Apr 8;17(4):491. doi: 10.3390/pharmaceutics17040491.
Valbret Z, Lamothe-Molina PJ, Papadogkonaki S, Koehl A, Arafiles JVV, Shapiro Tuchman Z, Fisher NM, Radoux-Mergault A, Canziani A, Huang G, von Zastrow M, Kosloff M, Hackenberger CPR, Manglik A*, Patriarchi T*, Stoeber M*. An engineered nanobody inhibitor for molecular-to-circuit control of opioid receptor function (2025), BioRxiv; doi: 10.64898/2026.01.12.698943.
Böck D, Tidecks L, Wilhelm M, ElGrawani W, Duss S, Trevisan C, Vena D, Reuss AM, Kissling L, Ranucci M, Privitera M, Polzer LK, Economides AE, Ioannidi EI, Mendes R, Weber Y, Leonardi J, Mumenthaler J, Villiger E, Goutagny R, Mathis C, Schmidheini L, Rothgangl T, Janjuha S, Patriarchi T, Bohacek J, Sych Y, Aguzzi A, Winterer J, Kompotis K, Schwank G. (2025) Prime editing of the β1 adrenoceptor in the brain restores physiological REM sleep in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. Nature Communications; doi: 10.1038/s41467-025-65964-w
Sela M, Chen G, Kadosh H, Kagan T, Nicola R, Turutov S, Richtman Y, Zhige L, Menasherov MRA, Kagan S, Schroeder T, Mora-Raimundo P, Kablan R, Egorov E, Odeh A, Abu-Raiya T, Ionita I, Freilich I, Kaneti G, Knani I, Arav Y, Leichtmann-Bardoogo Y, Tadmor K, Shklover J, Patriarchi T, Danino D, Hasson P, Ashery U, Zeisel A, Maoz BM, Laviv T., Radinsky K, Avi Schroeder A. (2025) AI-Validated Brain Targeted mRNA Lipid Nanoparticles with Neuronal Tropism. ACS Nano; doi: 10.1021/acsnano.4c15013.
Volcko KL, Gresch A, Benowitz B, Taghipourbibalan H, Visser M, Stuber GD, Gordon-Fennell AG, Patriarchi T*, McCutcheon JE*. (2025) Histamine dynamics during ingestive behavior measured by the novel biosensor HisLightG. J Neurochem; doi: 10.1111/jnc.70142.
Schnur P, Byron N, Gerasimou S, Clavel AP, Rohner V, Patriarchi T, Sakata S. (2025) Experience-dependent sharp-wave ripple deficits in an Alzheimer's disease mouse model. BioRxiv; doi: 10.1101/2025.06.09.658771.
Sunkavalli PS, Madara JC, Christenson LF, Diaz A, Chen J, Ravotto L, Patriarchi T, Andermann ML, Zhang SX. Slow-Timescale Regulation of Dopamine Release and Mating Drive Over Days. BioRxiv; doi: 10.1101/2025.05.29.656898.
Tesmer AL, Dalla Pola C, Gilli D, Grujic N, Bracey E, Patriarchi T, Peleg-Raibstein D, Polania R, Burdakov D. (2025) Neurometabolic signaling and control of policy complexity. BioRxiv; doi: 10.1101/2025.02.24.639890.
Bathe-Peters M, Sohail I, Sirbu A, Schneider K, Patriarchi T, De Lanerolle P, Annibale P. (2025) Effects of altered gravity on adrenergic-mediated cAMP signalling in intact cells. BioRxiv; doi: 10.1101/2025.03.02.640942.
Tesmer AL, Viskaitis P, Donegan D, Bracey EF, Grujic N, Patriarchi T, Peleg-Raibstein D, Burdakov D. (2025) Orexin population activity precisely reflects net body movement across behavioral and metabolic states. eLife; doi: 10.7554/eLife.103738.1.