LS2 Section Systems Biology
Decoding life’s complexity
The field of systems biology has grown immensely over the last years, contributing to a paradigm shift in life science research, which has moved away from the traditional descriptive and reductionist molecular approach towards a quantitative and predictive science that aims to understand systems as a whole.
In Switzerland, SystemsX.ch has supported systems biology research since 2007. Beside funding almost 250 research projects and contributing to the training of over 1000 young scientists, one of the main achievements of the initiative was the establishment of a strong and interdisciplinary community. Numerous new collaborations arose between researchers from different scientific fields that had not worked together before, and regular meetings helped strengthen the community.
With SystemsX.ch coming to an end in December 2018:
- New LS2 Section Systems Biology was founded in November 2017
- The Section aims to facilitate a continued coordination and interaction between scientists from these different scientific disciplines.
- Intensified knowledge transfer and networking among systems biology groups in Switzerland is enabled particularly through regular section meetings and workshops
- Section works towards increasing the chance to render the scientific successes and outreach efforts of the SystemsX.ch initiative in Switzerland.
Section Board
Benjamin Towbin
University of Bern
Benjamin.towbin@unibe.ch
Alan Pacheco
University of Lausanne
alan.pacheco@unil.ch
How to join the new LS2 section Systems Biology
Existing LS2 Members: Log in at www.ls2.ch using your member name and password. Click on your name at the top right of the page. Go to "Account Overview" and add the new section using the checkbox "Section Systems Biology".
Alternatively, you can write to the LS2 office (info@ls2.ch) and request the change.
New Members: Apply for the LS2 membership here and select "Section Systems Biology" in the online application form.
News and Events:
Theory across Biology 2026
We’re excited to invite you to Theory Across Biology 2026: a one-day interactive meeting dedicated to mathematical and theoretical approaches in biology.
When and where? Friday, 12 June 2026, in Bern, UniS, Switzerland.
The program features talks from:
• Hanna Kokko (evolutionary biology)
• Francis Corson (physics & developmental biology)
• Oliver Meacock (microbial communities)
• Gasper Tkačik (information processing in biological systems)
• Mor Nitzan (biological systems)
If you wish to participate, submit your abstract and join in! The presentations will be structured as chalk talks or flip chart presentations to foster cross-disciplinary exchange and deep discussion. Whether you’re a theorist, modeler, or interdisciplinary biologist, this innovative format is a great opportunity to engage, learn, and connect across traditional boundaries.
Abstract deadline: 10 May 2026
General registration deadline: 24 May 2026
Find out more HERE
We are very sad to announce that our colleague and section board member, Alma Dal Co, passed away in an accident on 14 November 2022. Our thoughts are now with her family and friends. She is terribly missed.
Fondazione Alma Dal Co ETS was founded to preserve the intellectual legacy of Alma Dal Co in Science and Music. The Foundation supports early and mid-career researchers, fosters connections among young researchers, creates links between young researchers and established scientists, and encourages interdisciplinary collaboration. It also promotes cultural, artistic, educational, and scientific dissemination activities.
Our Symposium at LS2 Annual Meeting 2026 will be chaired by Thomas Michaels (ETH Zurich) and Benjamin Towbin (University of Bern): “The Metabolic Code of Life: Energy and Cell Systems”
Speaker: Kristina Stapornwongkul (Institute of Molecular Biotechnology, AT): "Glycolytic activity instructs germ layer proportions through regulation of Nodal and Wnt signalling"
Register by 11.01.2026.
The Meeting will take place on 11 & 12 February 2026 at Campus Irchel of the University of Zurich.
The Swiss Systems Biology Symposium 2025 took place on June 19th, and what a fantastic day it was!
Thank you to everyone who joined us for the inspiring talks, parallel sessions, and poster presentations.
A big shoutout to our speakers, session chairs Benjamin Towbin & Charisios Tsiairis, and our generous sponsors for making it all possible!
Congrats to Prajwal Padmanabha, the winner of our poster prize for his work on context-mediated interaction structures of large communities!
See the meeting photos and highlights HERE!
Thanks to all participants, speakers & sponsors for a great Systems Biology Meeting 2021!
All meeting pictures can be found here.
https://meetings.ls2.ch/systemsbiology2021
19 - 20 November 2018 in Kandersteg (Bernese Oberland)
The symposium aimed to build upon developments in Systems Biology in the past 10-15 years and the organizational achievements of SystemsX.ch. The directions in which the field might evolve in the near future in order to consolidate the Swiss Systems Biology community were discussed.
All info about the meeting can be found here: https://meetings.ls2.ch/sysbio2018.
