A new research institute, the Botnar Institute of Immune Engineering (BIIE), is set to launch in Basel, Switzerland. With a focus on developing innovative immune-based diagnostics and treatments, the institute aims to bridge gaps in healthcare technologies, particularly for children and young people worldwide.
Funded by Fondation Botnar with an initial endowment exceeding $1 billion over 15 years, BIIE plans to collaborate with leading institutions like the University of Oxford and ETH Zurich. These partnerships will bolster BIIE’s efforts in developing computational tools, diagnostics, therapeutics, and preventive medicines, while also training the next generation of immune engineers.
One of BIIE’s primary objectives is to prioritize program outputs that benefit the health of young people in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
Strategic partnerships will be established with renowned research institutions globally, with ETH Zurich and the University of Oxford being the first academic partners announced. These partnerships aim to accelerate medical solutions development and complement the goals of BIIE.
BIIE will temporarily operate from ETH Zurich’s Department of Biosystems Science and Systems Engineering (D-BSSE) facility in Basel until it moves to its purpose-built research facility in 2027. This interim arrangement allows for collaboration opportunities in research and training programs between BIIE and ETH Zurich.
In its international partnership with the University of Oxford, BIIE plans to establish the Basel-Oxford Centre of Immune Engineering. This collaboration aims to advance basic and clinical research specific to children and adolescents in LMICs, leveraging BIIE’s strengths in biocomputation and immune engineering.
Governance of BIIE falls under the “Foundation for Immune Engineering for Global Child and Adolescent Health” (FIE) and its Board of Trustees. Notable leaders from academia, biotechnology, and finance comprise the FIE Board, guiding BIIE’s growth into a vibrant institute.
BIIE’s management team includes scientific leaders like Prof. Sai Reddy and Prof. Georg Holländer, with Dr. Stephen Wilson serving as the Chief Executive Officer. The institute’s focus on collaboration and translation of discoveries into real-world solutions is central to its mission.
Immune engineering, an emerging field, integrates advanced technologies to develop immune-based solutions for disease diagnosis, prevention, and treatment. BIIE’s research efforts aim to improve health outcomes for children and adolescents globally, with a particular emphasis on those in LMICs.
Prof. Folasade Tolulope Ogunsola, Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos and FIE Trustee, emphasizes the importance of global engagement in achieving impactful clinical research, especially in LMICs. With BIIE’s establishment, barriers to research that benefits children’s lives are expected to diminish.
