Patrick Aebischer
Encyclopedia
Patrick Aebischer is the president of the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne
since March 17th, 2000. He is also a professor in neurosciences and head of the Neurodegenerative Disease Laboratory of the EPFL.
and University of Fribourg
in Switzerland
.
in Providence (Rhode Island
, United States
), as Research Scientist, Assistant and then Associate Professor of Medical Sciences. In 1991, he became the chairman of the Section of Artificial Organs, Biomaterials and Cellular Technology of the Division of Biology and Medicine of Brown University.
In the fall of 1992, he returned to Switzerland as a Professor and Director of the Surgical Research Division and Gene Therapy Center at the Centre hospitalier universitaire vaudois (CHUV)
in Lausanne
.
In 1999, Patrick Aebischer was nominated President of the Ecole polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), one of the two Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology, by the Swiss Federal Council
. He took office as President on March 2000 and was reelected to this position in 2004 and 2008.
His current research focuses on the development of cell and gene transfer approaches for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.
(since 2008).
École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne
The École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne is one of the two Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology and is located in Lausanne, Switzerland.The school was founded by the Swiss Federal Government with the stated mission to:...
since March 17th, 2000. He is also a professor in neurosciences and head of the Neurodegenerative Disease Laboratory of the EPFL.
Education
Patrick Aebischer was trained as an MD (1980) and a neuroscientist (Dr. Med., 1983) at the University of GenevaUniversity of Geneva
The University of Geneva is a public research university located in Geneva, Switzerland.It was founded in 1559 by John Calvin, as a theological seminary and law school. It remained focused on theology until the 17th century, when it became a center for Enlightenment scholarship. In 1873, it...
and University of Fribourg
University of Fribourg
The University of Fribourg is a university in the city of Fribourg, Switzerland.The roots of the University can be traced back to 1582, when the notable Jesuit Peter Canisius founded the Collège Saint-Michel in the City of Fribourg. In 1763, an Academy of law was founded by the state of Frobourg...
in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
.
Academic career
From 1984 to 1992, he worked at Brown UniversityBrown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
in Providence (Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
), as Research Scientist, Assistant and then Associate Professor of Medical Sciences. In 1991, he became the chairman of the Section of Artificial Organs, Biomaterials and Cellular Technology of the Division of Biology and Medicine of Brown University.
In the fall of 1992, he returned to Switzerland as a Professor and Director of the Surgical Research Division and Gene Therapy Center at the Centre hospitalier universitaire vaudois (CHUV)
University Hospital of Lausanne
The University Hospital of Lausanne , in Lausanne, is one of the five university hospitals in Switzerland.- External link :...
in Lausanne
Lausanne
Lausanne is a city in Romandy, the French-speaking part of Switzerland, and is the capital of the canton of Vaud. The seat of the district of Lausanne, the city is situated on the shores of Lake Geneva . It faces the French town of Évian-les-Bains, with the Jura mountains to its north-west...
.
In 1999, Patrick Aebischer was nominated President of the Ecole polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), one of the two Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology, by the Swiss Federal Council
Swiss Federal Council
The Federal Council is the seven-member executive council which constitutes the federal government of Switzerland and serves as the Swiss collective head of state....
. He took office as President on March 2000 and was reelected to this position in 2004 and 2008.
His current research focuses on the development of cell and gene transfer approaches for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.
Activities at the EPFL
Since his arrival as president of the EPFL, Patrick Aebischer has made the following changes to EPFL:- Integration of the "hard science" sections (mathematics, physics, chemistry) from the neighbouring Université de Lausanne;
- Restructuring of the university into five Schools, each managing its own budget;
- Creation of the School of Life Sciences, focusing mainly on biomedical engineering;
- Creation of a Doctoral School
- Creation of a College for Management of Technology and Finance
- Development of an "Innovation Square" on the campus to favour industry partnerships;
- Development of the campus by initiating the construction of the Rolex Learning CenterRolex Learning CenterThe Rolex Learning Center is the campus hub and library for the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne , in Lausanne, Switzerland. Designed by the architects SANAA, it opened on February 22nd, 2010.-The library:...
(2010), lodging for students (2010 and 2013), a hotel for academic hosts (2010) and a Conference center (2013).
In companies
Patrick Aebischer is a founder of three start-ups: CytoTherapeutics Inc. (1989), Modex Therapeutics Inc. (1996) and Amazentis SA (2007). He sits at the boards of Nestle Health Science (since 2011) and Lonza GroupLonza Group
Lonza Group is a Swiss chemicals and biotechnology company, headquartered in Basel. The firm provides a number of products and services to the pharmaceutical and life science industries, including organic fine and performance chemicals, custom manufacturing of biopharmaceuticals, chemical synthesis...
(since 2008).
Personal
The parents of Patrick Aebischer are artists Emile Aebischer, known as Yoki, and Joan, born O'Boyle. He is married and the father of two children.Honors
- Fellowship of the Swiss National Science FoundationSwiss National Science FoundationThe Swiss National Science Foundation is a science research support organization mandated by the Swiss Federal Government. The SNSF was established in 1952 as a foundation under private law. Its secretariat is based in Bern....
(1984-86) - Kolff award (Young investigator award of the American Society for Artificial Internal Organs), New York, 1987.
- Robert Bing award of the Swiss academy of Medicine (1994).
- Pfizer Foundation award for clinical neurosciences (1997).
- Fellow of the Swiss Academy for the Medical Sciences (since 1998).
- Fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering Sciences (since 2000).
- Fellow of the Swiss Engineering Academy (SATW) (since 2009).