PSI Paul Scherrer Institut

“Treating children with #cancer is tough, and the job can feel like a constant battle. But when the children end up doing well – then it’s a wonderful job.” Alessia Pica, senior radiation oncologist and Head of Paediatrics at the Centre for Proton Therapy at PSI Paul Scherrer Institut.   On 5 July 2004, exactly 20 years ago, a two-year-old toddler with a #tumour was irradiated under #anaesthesia at PSI for the first time. This treatment would not have been possible without the collaboration of the Department of Anaesthesia at the Kinderspital Zürich because, unlike adults, young patients require anaesthesia.   “The collaboration the Children’s Hospital Zurich between and PSI is exemplary” says Georg Schäppi, CEO of the Kinderspital Zürich. “Here, the right people are working together and are performing small and large miracles.”   Thanks to this collaboration, even very young patients in Switzerland can be irradiated with protons. 60 to 70 children and adolescents are treated at PSI every year. To date, more than 800 have benefited from this unique success story. The majority of these young patients suffer from #tumours of the brain, spinal cord and sarcomas, #cancers that originate in connective or muscle tissue.   Thanks to thorough preparation and continuous support, children usually experience no anxiety when receiving radiation treatment. “Our close working relationship allows us to give our patients the best possible #treatment,” says Grotzer Michael, Medical Director of the Kinderspital Zürich.   #ProtonTherapy #Health #Innovation #ResearchAtPSI

The 20th International Conference on #Retinal #Proteins ICRP2024 will be held from 17 to 21 November 2024 in Interlaken, Switzerland.   Light-sensitive retinal-binding proteins are found in all forms of life, from simple microorganisms to complex animals. These proteins are incredibly diverse and versatile. In animals, they act as photoreceptors, helping with vision and other light-related functions. In microorganisms, they can act as light-activated ion pumps, channels, sensors and enzymes.   At ICRP2024, world-class experts and pioneers in the field will present the latest research on retinal proteins, including:   🔹 Brian Kobilka (GPCRs) Nobel Prize Winner 2012 in Chemistry 🔹Richard Neutze (time-resolved crystallography) 🔹Richard Mathies (Ultrafast spectroscopy) 🔹Rob J. Lucas (optogenetics in neurobiology/vision restoration) 🔹Peter Hegemann (optogenetics) 🔹Ana-Nicoleta Bondar (theory of retinal proteins)   The registration is now open: https://lnkd.in/dyusdS7e CC: Gebhard F. X. Schertler (PSI), Chair, Massimo Olivucci (University of Siena), Co-Chair, Valérie Panneels, Ching-Ju Tsai, Jörg Standfuss, Xavier Deupi, Polina Isaikina (PSI).

#ResearchMatters ! An innovative diagnostic method based on phase contrast X-ray imaging offers earlier, accurate, and painless breast cancer detection! What began as fundamental research at the Swiss Light Source SLS is now being developed further in collaboration with hospitals in Zurich and Baden. 🏥🇨🇭🤝 📄 Read the full story here 👉 https://lnkd.in/d8bjeCkW

Do unicorns exist? 🦄 While mythical unicorns may only live in our imaginations, the 'Unicorn of the Sea' is real! 🌊 Take a look at this beautiful #SciencePic showing the mineralised collagen fibres of a narwhal tusk 🐬, one of the Arctic Ocean's most enigmatic species, known as the 'Unicorn of the Sea'. The image shows the complex orientation patterns of the mineralized collagen fibers the tusk is made of. These incredible details were revealed by X-ray scattering at the #SwissLightSource #SLS, at PSI Paul Scherrer Institut, on the cSAXS beamline. This is a collaborative project between the research groups of Henrik Birkedal, Aarhus University, Mads Peter Heide-Jørgensen, Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, and Marianne Liebi, Chalmers University of Technology. 📸 Marianne Liebi (PSI Paul Scherrer Institut)

Exciting News! Proxima Fusion and the PSI Paul Scherrer Institut signed a framework agreement to advance the development of high-temperature superconducting (HTS) magnet technology, with applications for both #fusion #energy and #particle #physics research. Munich-based Proxima Fusion is the first spin-out from the Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics, building on decades of groundbreaking fusion research. This new long-term collaboration will begin with several members of the Proxima Fusion team relocating from Munich to Switzerland Innovation Park Innovaare in Villigen, thus becoming immediate neighbours of PSI. In the picture (from left to right) PSI scientist Bernhard Auchmann , PSI Director Christian Rüegg, Proxima Co-Founder and COO Lucio Milanese, Proxima Co-Founder and Head of Engineering Martin Kubie after the signing at Park Innovaare.

The Danish developer of molten salt reactors copenhagen atomics and PSI Paul Scherrer Institut have entered into a collaboration agreement on a #thorium molten salt critical experiment. The purpose of this experiment is to validate the technology and provide valuable experience for the collaboration partners in the design, construction, licensing, operation, and decommissioning of the new molten salt reactor technology as well as to collect data for commercial deployment, and with open source data for validation of reactor modelling tools. #IndustryRelations #collaboration #ResearchAtPSI #PSIHotLab #moltensalt #reactor

🆕 #ES4T- Energy Science for Tomorrow is funded by a joint initiative programme from the ETH Board. In this project leading Swiss institutions of the ETH Domain - PSI Paul Scherrer Institut, ETH Zürich, EPFL, Empa - are collaborating with the Swiss Museum of Transport Verkehrshaus der Schweiz in Lucerne on a new, innovative exhibition to showcase our cutting-edge research for the Swiss Energy Strategy 2050. Visit the newly launched website of the initiative #ES4T - Energy Science for Tomorrow for more information: https://lnkd.in/ez-xDzPQ and follow their LinkedIn Page 👇 #EnergyTransition #climate #change

Researchers from PSI Paul Scherrer Institut, ETH Zürich and University of Geneva have revealed how drug molecules bind in a type of channel that connects neighbouring cells, changing intercellular communication. The team studied channels made from proteins called connexins, which allow small molecules and ions to be exchanged between adjacent cells. Dysfunctions of these channels has been linked to many different diseases including cardiac #arrhythmias, #epilepsy and #cancer. Using cryo-electron microscopy, the team revealed how the antimalarial drug, mefloquine, binds in the channels. As well as giving a possible explanation for well-known side effects of mefloquine, the research gives new understanding of how drug molecules act on connexins channels in general, aiding the development of connexin-targeting drugs. Full Story: https://lnkd.in/dKS7T6qh CC: Volodymyr Korkhov Image: Laura Canil #ResearchAtPSI #HealthInnovation #Neuroscience #DrugDiscovery #ResearchMatters

Join the Innovation! 🚀 The #Technology #Transfer Team at PSI has just launched a LinkedIn page for Industry Relations! Whether you're an SME, an industry professional, or simply curious about research-industry collaborations, hit follow 👇 to stay informed and inspired.

Lehrberufe à la carte: 700 Personen besuchten Berufsbildungsevent des PSI Paul Scherrer Instituts ! Am Sonntag, 16. Juni 2024 verwandelten die ca. 100 Lernenden des Paul Scherrer Instituts den Vorplatz des PSI Visitor Centers und des Personalrestaurants in einen Marktplatz der Berufsbildung. An diversen Ständen präsentierten die Lernenden unter dem Titel Lehrberufe à la carte ihre 17 Lehrberufe am PSI: authentisch, anschaulich und mit grossem Engagement. Der Einsatz lohnte sich: Nicht weniger als 700 Personen besuchten den Anlass. Für die in der Berufswahl stehenden Jugendlichen war dies die ideale Gelegenheit, sich im Austausch mit den Lernenden auf Augenhöhe über eine Lehre am PSI zu informieren. Abgerundet wurde der Anlass mit spannenden Vorträgen rund um die Berufsbildung. Diese hat am grössten Forschungsinstitut der Schweiz einen hohen Stellenwert und das PSI ist eine der grössten Ausbildungsstätten im Kanton Aargau. Damit trägt es dazu bei, dass der Nachwuchs an hochspezialisierten Fachkräften auch in Zukunft gesichert werden kann. #LehreAmPSI #berufsbildung #berufslehre #STEM #amPulsDerForschung #Zukunft #Ausbildung #berufe #BestEmployer #FriendlyWorkspace #SwissMadeExcellence #NextLevelSkills