Stanford and EPFL launch international research exchange program
On January 13, 2016, Stanford University and Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) launched a call for applications for a new international research exchange program. The program was announced at the 2016 International Symposium on Chemical Biology. Stanford ChEM-H Faculty Fellow, Professor Jeffrey Glenn, M.D., Ph.D., and EPFL Professor Kai Johnnsson, Ph.D., made the joint announcement to an international audience of researchers gathered on the Campus Biotech, Geneva Switzerland. Representatives of the program’s funder, Firmenich, were also in attendance.
The program seeks to foster meaningful long-term collaborations between researchers at Stanford and EPFL in a variety of life science fields, with a particular emphasis on chemical biology and neuroscience. Selected faculty faculty and doctoral students from these two prestigious universities will received funding to spend up to three months at their counterpart institution to conduct research.
To facilitate the program, EPFL has partnered with two of Stanford University's new interdisciplinary bioscience institutes: Stanford ChEM-H (Chemistry, Engineering and Medicine for Human Health) and Stanford Neurosciences Institute. Stanford ChEM-H brings together chemists, engineers, biologist, and clinicians to foster interdiciplinary research that deeply probes the molecules of life and explores practical solutions to the most complex issues in human health by exploiting the interactions of these molecules. The Stanford Neurosciences Institute aims to understand how the brain gives rise to mental life and behavior, both in health and in disease. Together, these two institutes provide complementary expertise and cross-institute opportunities for innovation and collaboration.
This exchange program is generously funded by Firmenich, the world’s largest privately-owned company in the fragrance and flavor business. Founded in Geneva, Switzerland, in 1895, it has created many of the world’s best-known perfumes and flavors. The company is renowned for its world-class research and creativity, as well as its thought leadership in sustainability.
From left to right in the accompanying picture: Mr. Nicolas Cauderay, Secretary to the Board, Sentarom SA ; Prof. Nicolai Cramer, EPFL; Prof. Kai Johnsson, EPFL ; Prof. Jeffrey Glenn, Stanford School of Medicine; Dr. Maria Inès Velazco, Senior Vice President, Corporate R&D Division, Firmenich; Ms. Nollaig Forrest, Vice President, Corporate Communication, Firmenich
