Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research

The FMI is devoted to the pursuit of fundamental biomedical research. Areas of research are:

• Neurobiology
• Quantitative biology
• Epigenetics

Research is carried out in 23 independent but highly interactive research groups. In addition, six cutting-edge technology platforms, ranging from functional genomics to microscopy & imaging, support the research activities.

In 2020 the FMI counts approx. 340 collaborators of which 22 are research group leaders, 100 are postdoctoral collaborators and 80 are postgraduate students participating in the FMI International PhD Program. The FMI is directed by Prof. Dirk Schübeler.

In chronological order.

• Development of Western blotting technique to detect proteins.[1]
• Publication of two protocols for plant transgenesis, which were widely used in the 1980s.[2][3]
• Discovery that the gene for the human growth factor receptor 2 (ErbB2) is amplified in around 25% of primary breast tumors and dissection of its role in the pathogenesis and prognosis of breast cancer.[4]
• Discovery of the key signaling kinase PKB (Akt) and demonstration of its central role in cancer cell signaling.[5]
• First use of green fluorescent protein-tagged proteins in transfected cells and for live imaging in neurons.[6][7]
• Description of method of action of everolimus on the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and provision of rational for its application in cancer.[8]
• Isolation and characterization of human Dicer, the key enzyme in RNA interference and miRNA pathways.[9]
• Development of MeDIP: a technique for monitoring DNA methylation genome-wide.[10]
• New approach to restore vision in retinitis pigmentosa.[11]

The FMI is an affiliated institute of the University of Basel.[12] It provides biomedical research and career training for over 90 PhD students. FMI selects its highly international student body during a twice-yearly interview-based selection program.[13] 12 FMI scientists have adjunct or full professorships at the University of Basel in the Natural Sciences Faculty. In particular, the FMI participates actively in the teaching program of the Biozentrum of the University of Basel.

The FMI also offers training in biomedical research to postdoctoral fellows. It was designated by a survey of The Scientist in 2012, as the “best place for postdoctoral training” outside of the US.[14][15]

The FMI has as a major goal the patenting of its discoveries and implementation of its basic research into pharmaceutical development.[16]

The Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research is named after the Basel scientist Friedrich Miescher who discovered nucleic acids in the mid-19th century.

The FMI was founded in 1970, a hundred years after Miescher’s discovery, as a collaborative effort of two Basel-based pharmaceutical companies, Ciba Aktiengesellschaft and J. R. Geigy Ltd.[17] The founding charter describes the aims of the institute as to “pursue and promote basic research in the fields of biochemistry and medicine…“ and “…to provide young scientists from all over the world with an opportunity to participate in scientific research.” [18] The Founding Director was Professor Hubert Bloch (died 1974) who had been Director of Research at Ciba Aktiengesellschaft, and Professor of Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Basel. He was an expert in tuberculosis[19][20] and was also instrumental in the founding of the Institut Suisse pour les Recherches Experimentales sur la Cancer (ISREC), Epalinges, Switzerland. Between 1997 and 2012, the FMI was part of the Novartis Research Foundation.[21] Since 2012 the FMI is an independent foundation.[22]

The Friedrich Miescher Award is Switzerland's highest honor for up-and-coming biochemical researchers. The award is granted every year by the Swiss Society for Biochemistry[23] to the best scientific contribution in this field. Prize winners must be under 40 and must either be Swiss citizens or have conducted the prize-winning research in this country. The award was instituted in 1970, proposed and donated by the FMI. It is named after the Basel scientist who discovered DNA, Friedrich Miescher.

• Science and technology in Switzerland