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NCCR MSE
National Center of Competence in Research (NCCR) «Molecular Systems Engineering» headed by the Department of Chemistry of the University of Basel and the Department D-BSSE of the ETHZ in Basel
The NCCR Molecular Systems Engineering (MSE) attempts to capture the complexity and emergent properties prevalent in biology. The uniqueness of this initiative relies on the combination of both chemical and biological modules. In this approach, complex dynamic phenomena emerge as the result of the integration of molecular modules (molecular or biological prosthetics) designed to interact in a programmed way with their complex environment.
Accordingly, we aim at creating molecular factories and cellular systems whose properties are more than the sum of the attributes of the individual modules. These new system-level properties emerge through the interactions of chemical and biological networks assembled from the individual modules.
Projects within the NCCR «MSE» range from supramolecular and systems chemistry for the top-down fabrication of (bio-inspired) molecular systems and factories to systems and synthetic biology for the engineering of cellular systems for medical treatment and health control.
Aims and achievements
Drawing on close to 100 researchers and support personnel, the NCCR «Molecular Systems Engineering» (MSE) is about interdisciplinary research, focusing on systems chemistry, systems biology and synthetic biology for the creation of chemical and biological modules integrated into molecular factories and cellular systems.
Currently, three work packages combine research projects and unite academic and industrial support. Some of the latest research projects include the nanofabrication of a silicon-based, solid-state platform for innovative catalytic systems that mimic spatially controlled biochemical processes, the creation of functional in vivo nanoreactors based on amphiphilic ABC triblock copolymers and the development of cellular systems for the reprogramming of individual cells and rational design of signalling and cellular circuits for disease treatments and metabolic disorder therapies.
The overall aim of NCCR «MSE» is to create molecular factories and cellular systems for the production of high added-value chemicals and develop new applications in medical diagnostics, therapy and treatment, which has the potential of leading to a long-term paradigm shift in molecular sciences and a new structure of the Swiss research landscape.
In the long run, the development of molecular and cellular systems for clinical applications will inevitably raise anxieties and ethical challenges within our society. Therefore, NCCR «MSE» is putting a lot of emphasis in addressing the ethical aspects of its research, with the aim of bringing together stakeholders from the scientific, medical, ethical, political, cultural and religious world across generations to define existing and future challenges in engineering life and help create a framework for true ethical discourse to take place.
Additionally, NCCR «MSE» is actively engaged in science communication, with a particular focus on the connection between science and art through its «Art of Molecule» project, where art is used to communicate the complex science of molecular systems engineering to the wide public.
The Swiss National Science Foundation supported the NCCR «MSE» in in its first funding phase from 2014 to 2017 with 16 million CHF, in its second funding phase from 2018 to 2022 with 18 million CHF.
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Steering committee meeting (Image: © NCCR MSE)link.zoom -
Analytical chemistry lab (Image: © NCCR MSE)link.zoom -
Molecular modules: combining toolboxes (Image: © NCCR MSE)link.zoom -
An evening with NCCR MSE. (Image: © NCCR MSE)link.zoom -
«Side Effects». Maria Pomiansky. Oil on canvas. (Image: © Maria Pomiansky & NCCR MSE)link.zoom -
From Modules to Molecular Factories. (Image: © NCCR MSE)link.zoom -
Molecular Systems Engineering - A paradigm shift focusing on molecular factories, cellular systems and the improvement of health. (Image: © NCCR MSE)link.zoom
Interdisciplinary network
The National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) «MSE» is led by Prof. Thomas R. Ward (Director) and Prof. Daniel J. Müller (Co-Director).
Its 28 research groups are supported by a structured leadership together with the management team that is responsible for the implementation of all management activities.
Most research groups are located in Basel working at the Departments of Chemistry as well as the Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering (ETH Zurich in Basel), the University Hospital Basel and the Institute of Molecular and Clinical Ophthalmology Basel.
Further research groups are located in Zurich (ETHZ, IBM Research, University of Zurich), Bern (University of Bern), Geneva (University of Geneva), Lausanne (EPFL) and Villigen (Paul Scherrer Institute).
