UNI NOVA – Research Magazine of the University of Basel

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  Research

  Immersed in a different world.

  Text: Maryse Ernzer, physicist / In the column "Why I'm passionate about my subject", young researchers talk about what excites them about their field. Maryse Ernzer is a postdoc in Philipp Treutlein's research group at the Department of Physics at the University of Basel.

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  In conversation

  Polarized parties, divided nation?

  Interview: Urs Hafner / Mobilizing voters is vital for political parties. Topical issues have a greater influence on election results, however, according to political scientist Denise Traber.

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  In pictures

  Regional flora: Hunting for plants.

  Text: Noëmi Kern / What plants are growing in Basel? To answer this question, in 2021, “Flora beider Basel” (Flora of Basel cantons) launched a citizen science project – a project in which the public is encouraged to participate.

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  Dossier

  Therapy 2.0.

  Text: Yvonne Vahlensieck / For some tumors, immunotherapy is an excellent treatment option, and for others, it is not as effective. Basel researchers are working on ways to make all cancer cells vulnerable to attack.

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  Dossier

  Calculated risks.

  Text: Ori Schipper / Artificial intelligence can help to predict the risk of breast cancer recurring or detect malignant cells in tissue samples. Learning machines as assistants in medical decision-making.

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  Dossier

  Keeping metastases in check.

  Text: Andreas Lorenz-Meyer / When cancer metastasizes, the prognosis gets worse. Basic research reveals ways to prevent metastasis.

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  Dossier

  Dangerous, dormant cells.

  Text: Andreas Lorenz-Meyer / In some forms of cancer, such as breast cancer, cells from the primary tumor can migrate to other tissues, where they enter a state of dormancy. This dormancy can be quite deceptive, because the “sleeper” cells are capable of evading cancer treatment, after which they may wake up again at any time and resume their growth.

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  Dossier

  Cultural diversity on the cancer ward.

  Text: Samanta Siegfried / Our cultural background shapes how we deal with illness and death. Two medical ethicists from Basel are studying how cultural differences manifest when children of migrant families have cancer.

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  Dossier

  Testing cancer treatments on mini-tumors.

  Text: Catherine Weyer / Raphaëlle Servant creates tumors in miniature. The doctoral researcher wants to use these organoids to make personalized cancer therapy possible.