Tracy Laabs, PhD

Head of Development & Special Programs

Tracy leads the Center's development strategy, partnerships and fundraising efforts to accelerate the translation of science and technology to the patient. She is a champion for Wyss Center science and technology and brings over eighteen years of combined professional and research experience toward advancing innovative clinical solutions.

Dr. Tracy Laabs is the Head of Development & Special Programs at the Wyss Center for Bio and Neuroengineering in Geneva, Switzerland. In this role, she focuses on strategic partnerships and fundraising efforts to expand the reach of the science and technology of the Center. She assumed this role in February 2024, after four years as Chief Development Officer and five years as the Founding Deputy Director of the Center where she was instrumental in growing and evolving the Center into an international leader in neurotechnology. She also serves on the Executive Committee of the Women’s Brain Project, an international organization advocating for women’s brain and mental health, and is a member of a Thrive with Mentoring community in Western Switzerland.

Tracy has over eighteen years of combined professional and research experience in multiple life science disciplines including neuroscience, neurotechnology, molecular biology, physiology, human performance, and regenerative medicine. Prior to joining the Wyss Center, she was a Senior Scientist at Strategic Analysis, Inc. where she provided technical expertise and scientific program management support on multidisciplinary programs at the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), Defense Sciences (DSO) and Biological Technologies offices (BTO).

Tracy has extensive research experience as well as experience in strategic planning, development and management of high risk/high reward multidisciplinary programs and coordinating interdisciplinary teams of academic and industrial scientists in the development of technologies. She enjoys mentoring young scientists and entrepreneurs, writing and presenting to broad audiences about neuroscience and neurotechnology translation. She holds a PhD in Neuroscience from the University of Cambridge (UK) and a BS in Pharmacology and Toxicology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison (US).

Connect with Tracy Laabs

Subscribe to our updates

Contributing to

Translating arm and hand movement intentions into action
2303_WC-Synapsuit_002
Advance
Translating arm and hand movement intentions into action
Wyss Center

01.02.2024

A new model of cooperation and collaboration to accelerate translational research and development in the field of neurotechnology and artificial intelligence.
Collaboration

25.01.2024

The Wyss Center partners with the ALBA Network to raise awareness and advocate for increased equity, inclusion and visibility of scientists from underrepresented groups in brain research.
Collaboration

25.05.2023

Team

2303_WC-Portraits_005

Erwin Böttinger, MD

Director
Craig1

Craig Cook, MSc, MD, MBA

Head of Business Development & Licensing
Mark_final_cropped

Mark Stolz

Head of Research & Development
2006_WCPortraits_08

Roma Vuarier, PhD

Head of Finance & Administration