Translating groundbreaking neuroscience research into solutions that transform lives.
A growing public health challenge
More than 3 billion people around the world suffer from neurological and mental health disorders, many of which are highly debilitating and incurable. These conditions account for 15% of all health loss worldwide, and burden individuals, families, healthcare systems and society as a whole.
The promise of cutting-edge technology
While the impact of neurological and mental health disorders is rising, scientific advances in neuroscience, technology, and AI are emerging and revolutionizing treatment, diagnosis, and care.
Shaping the future of brain health
The Wyss Center is a not-for-profit translational research and development organization focused on advancing disruptive neurotechnologies, based in Geneva, Switzerland.
At the Wyss Center, we redefine the limits of neuroscience by driving innovation and pioneering new approaches in neuroimaging and neurotechnology. We reveal unique insights into the mechanisms underlying brain dynamics, and help develop life-changing treatments.
Accelerating the development process for devices and therapies
Our multidisciplinary knowledge enables us to enhance the development of devices and therapies for unmet medical needs.
Our current work addresses conditions such as epilepsy, Alzheimer’s disease and locked-in syndrome as a result of ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) or brainstem stroke.
As an independent non-profit, the Wyss Center can take greater risks than commercial, for-profit entities. It is a unique position that enables us to bridge the gap between academic and industry partners to advance highly promising neurotech projects.
We innovate and accelerate technologies & therapies to transform the lives of people with neurologic and mental health disorders.
A world where every person with neurologic and mental health disorders is enabled to live life to the fullest.
To become the most recognized not-for-profit translational engine in neurotechnology.
Our values
To achieve our mission, we connect ideas and expertise in novel and unanticipated ways to push the frontiers of neuroscience.
We pursue transformational technologies in artificial intelligence, bio- and neuroengineering to restore essential neural functions and deliver precision therapeutics for people with debilitating neurological and mental health disorders.
Experts from diverse fields such as neuroscience, engineering, software and data analytics, neurosurgery, regulatory and clinical affairs, quality assurance, manufacturing, and business development join forces under the Wyss Center’s umbrella. Together they pursue high risk solutions to the most challenging problems relating to the human brain.
Our integrated approach to translation bridges the divide between academic innovations and therapies to the patient. This approach effectively reduces the overall level of development risk along the translation pipeline and could ultimately help millions of patients without the delay that is built into current siloed systems.
We are committed to building strong collaborations, bringing together the best of academia and industry to freely cultivate promising ideas. And with our partners, all of our research and development efforts are supplemented with unique, state-of-the-art equipment and facilities that help catalyze the teams’ vision and pathway to the patient.
The Wyss Center in brief
The Wyss Center was founded in 2014 by a generous donation from Hansjörg Wyss, an entrepreneur and philanthropist committed to advancing science and technology. From its creation, it has led major projects in applied neuroscience, with hundreds of scientific publications and multiple collaborations with academic and clinical partners.
Researchers
Partners
Partners
R&D projects
patents
members
Expertise
Our work explores all facets of the translation process, from rapid prototyping and data analysis, to software development and regulatory affairs. Our staff expertise is critical in bringing new safe and effective technologies to patients.
Our neuroscience experts help advance our understanding of the brain’s complex circuitry for the successful discovery of new tools, approaches and therapies.
Our neuroengineers drive the development of technologies, devices and software that interact with the human brain in order to understand, repair or replace nervous system functions.
Through our partnerships and business development efforts, we aim to capture, secure and share the value of our innovations. We also help entrepreneurs accelerate their journey from bench to market.
Building partnerships to set ideas in motion
Situated at Campus Biotech — a leading hub for neuroscience and academic excellence — the Wyss Center is strategically embedded within a dynamic ecosystem. We collaborate with leading institutions in Switzerland and internationally to drive disruptive innovation that will impact people’s lives. The skills and knowledge of our staff, combined with our state-of-the-art infrastructure, and the unparalleled experience of our partners provide a unique synergy that fuels the development of new solutions for mental and brain health.
Guiding innovators on their business journey
We nurture and develop research projects until they are ready to either evolve into start-up companies or become ideal partners for established industry leaders, who then guide their further investment and development. Our business development activities propel projects to their next phase of growth and their successful commercialization.
Simultaneously, we identify and support promising ventures—by providing funding, mentorship, and technical expertise—to ensure that new technologies and therapies reach the market.
The Lighthouse Partnership
This inter-institutional collaboration brings together over 60 scientists, engineers, and clinicians with the goal of accelerating AI-guided neuromodulation. By harnessing the interdisciplinary expertise present in the Lemanic Region, the Lighthouse Partnership addresses the increasing global challenge of neurological and mental health disorders with leading institutions.
Leadership team
The Wyss Center’s Leadership team brings extensive experience in science and technology, management, business and scientific operations, research and development, as well as entrepreneurship, venture capital and company building in a range of disciplines and industries.
Erwin Böttinger
Director
MD
Craig Cook
Head of Business Development & Licensing
MSc, MD, MBA
Tracy Laabs
Head of Innovation and Strategic Partnerships
PhD
Mark Stolz
Head of Research & Development
Roma Vuarier
Head of Finance & Administration
PhD
Executive Board
Our Executive Board provides strategic guidance, combining deep knowledge of science and technology with sound business acumen.
Hansjörg Wyss
Chairman, Wyss Foundation
Steve Hyman
Director, Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research at the Broad Institute
Molly McUsic
President, Wyss Foundation
Eric Lohrer
Partner, Loreda Holding
Robert Mardini
Director General, HUG
Anna Fontcuberta
President, EPFL
Sébastien Castelltort
Vice Rector, University of Geneva
Brigitte Galliot
Professor, Genetics and Evolution, University of Geneva
Advisory Board
Our Advisory Board ensures that the Wyss Center continues to be a driving force in transforming neuroscience into life-changing clinical applications.
Philippe Renaud
Chairman, Professor, EPFL
PhD
Petra Ritter
Professor of Brain Stimulation, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin
MD, PhD
Rob ten Hoedt
Executive Vice President and President, Europe, Middle East, and Africa, Medtronic
Alethia de Leon
Life Sciences and Healthcare Entrepreneur and Investor
MBA
Andres Lozano
Professor and Chair of Neurosurgery, University of Toronto
MD, PhD
Friedrich von Bohlen
Cofounder and CEO, Molecular Health GmbH
PhD
Antonio Gambardella
Director, FONGIT
Simon Hoerstrup
Director, Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Zurich; Director, Wyss Zurich
Patrick Schwab
Senior Director, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, GSK
The involvement of animals in our research remains essential for advancing safe diagnostics and therapies for humans and animals alike.
We are committed to ensuring the highest standards of animal welfare and we approach this responsibility with the utmost care. The Wyss Center strictly adheres to the animal protection legislation in Switzerland and upholds the guiding principles underpinning the humane use of animals in scientific research known as the 3Rs (Replace, Reduce, Refine).