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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.

Our mission

We innovate and accelerate technologies & therapies to transform the lives of people with neurologic and mental health disorders.

Our vision

A world where every person with neurologic and mental health disorders is enabled to live life to the fullest.

Our ambition

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.

Innovation

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.


Multidisciplinarity

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.


Excellence

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.


Partnership

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.

150
Affiliated
Researchers
14
Academic
Partners
6
Clinical
Partners
7
Translational
R&D projects 
252+
Publications
8
Start-ups
28
Granted
patents
68
Staff
members

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.

Joining forces to harness cross-sector expertise
Academia, research institutes
Clinicians
Industrial partners
Investors, funders, entrepreneurs

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.

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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.

Driving innovation through expertise and vision

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.

Executive Board

Our Executive Board provides strategic guidance, combining deep knowledge of science and technology with sound business acumen.

Hansjörg Wyss

Hansjörg Wyss

Chairman, Wyss Foundation

Steve Hyman

Steve Hyman

Director, Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research at the Broad Institute

Molly McUsic

Molly McUsic

President, Wyss Foundation

Eric Lohrer

Eric Lohrer

Partner, Loreda Holding

Robert Mardini

Robert Mardini

Director General, HUG

Anna Fontcuberta

Anna Fontcuberta

President, EPFL

Sébastien Castelltort

Sébastien Castelltort

Vice Rector, University of Geneva

Brigitte Galliot

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

Philippe Renaud

Chairman, Professor, EPFL

PhD

Petra Ritter

Petra Ritter

Professor of Brain Stimulation, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin

MD, PhD

Rob ten Hoedt

Rob ten Hoedt

Executive Vice President and President, Europe, Middle East, and Africa, Medtronic

Alethia de Leon

Alethia de Leon

Life Sciences and Healthcare Entrepreneur and Investor

MBA

Andres Lozano

Andres Lozano

Professor and Chair of Neurosurgery, University of Toronto

MD, PhD

Friedrich von Bohlen

Friedrich von Bohlen

Cofounder and CEO, Molecular Health GmbH

PhD

Antonio Gambardella

Antonio Gambardella

Director, FONGIT


Simon Hoerstrup

Simon Hoerstrup

Director, Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Zurich; Director, Wyss Zurich

Patrick Schwab

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).