"The idea behind the NeuroCampus is to bring together all research on the brain at the University of Geneva, whether in fundamental neuroscience, clinical neuroscience, psychiatry, radiology, paediatrics or psychology", explains Camilla Bellone, professor at the Department of Basic Neurosciences and vice-dean of the Faculty of Medicine. "Far more than a simple physical co-habitation, this initiative will enable us to combine our strengths around a shared vision, within the UNIGE but also in close collaboration with EPFL and the Wyss Center, helping to accelerate the translation of academic discoveries into innovative start-ups."

Campus Biotech thus becomes the central platform for this strategic project. One of the NeuroCampus's major assets lies in its ability to cover the entire scientific spectrum, from brain organoids – these mini-brains cultivated in the laboratory – to sophisticated animal models and clinical trials. This integrated approach, enhanced by artificial intelligence technologies and imaging tools unique in Switzerland, paves the way for therapeutic innovations that can be developed directly within the campus's entrepreneurial ecosystem.

The challenge of a common language

To develop a comprehensive view on the recent developments in neuroscience Christian Lüscher, professor at the Department of Basic Neurosciences and director of the Synapsy Centre for Neuroscience Research for Mental Health, obtained access to 120,000 abstracts of annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience after 2016. "Our goal was to analyse how the field is evolving and how brain research is being shaped", he explains. "What we found is that neuroscience is becoming increasingly collaborative, as the scientific process deepens and becomes more integrative."

The analysis also points to the challenge of integrating across scales. For example, brain imaging techniques such as functional MRI allow researchers to see how the organ functions, applicable to both humans and animals. On the other end, combining optics with genetics, allows to image single neurons identified through their genes, an approach only applicable to animals, in particular mice. Clinicians meanwhile focus on patients' symptoms and on how to help them most effectively. 

"The main challenge is to develop a common language integrating all levels of observation, from cells to circuits and networks", adds Christian Lüscher. Camilla Bellone agrees: "Neuroscience is no longer a single field of research. There's neuroengineering, computational work, genetics, systems... The difficulty resides in forming teams competent in all these vast domains."

Rather than having each laboratory work in isolation, the aim of NeuroCampus initiative is therefore to create collaborative platforms that allow researchers to access shared resources — especially the vast datasets produced by previous studies — at any stage of their work. “In this way, the traditional hypothesis-driven approach is complemented by a data-driven one”, explains Christian Lüscher. “But this requires an infrastructure capable of integrating laboratories with very different scientific cultures.”

Synapsy: twenty years serving mental health

At the heart of the NeuroCampus lies the Synapsy Centre, dedicated to the biological bases of mental illness. "Historically, psychiatry was at the origin of Synapsy", explains Christian Lüscher. "The idea was to create a bridge between basic neuroscience and clinical psychiatry” Over the years, this bridge has expanded, and Synapsy is now ready to open up to many other specialities, particularly in clinical neuroscience. This evolution reflects a central ambition: understanding the biological mechanisms that underlie brain disorders in order to better treat them.

"Synapsy’s goal first and foremost is to understand how the brain dysfunctions in psychiatric diseases — because understanding is the first step toward destigmatising", emphasises Christian Lüscher. "Even when we cannot yet cure, simply knowing how and where symptoms arise in the brain helps reduce stigma."

International recognition

To assert its position in the international landscape, Synapsy has created a biennial prize rewarding world-renowned scientists. "By honouring figures who have shaped our field, we aim to highlight excellence in mental health research and foster exchanges that benefit our entire community" notes Christian Lüscher. The first laureate, Eric Nestler, dean and researcher at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York, is one of the pioneers in bringing neuroscience and psychiatry together. "He embodies Synapsy's vision: research must open up to society and contribute to developing solutions for mental health", adds Christian Lüscher. "There is also a unique pedagogical dimension: the prize ceremony is accompanied by a masterclass that will give Geneva students the opportunity to present their work to Eric Nestler,” adds Christian Lüscher. "For young researchers, direct feedback from a world leader in the field is invaluable — it sharpens their scientific thinking, opens doors for future collaborations, and exposes them to the highest standards of international research."

The NeuroCampus is also strengthening itself through strategic recruitment. A chair of excellence, funded by the Wilsdorf Foundation, will soon be appointed in the field of cellular and molecular developmental biology. "We had identified an area where we lacked expertise", explains Camilla Bellone. "The chair of excellence aims to fill this gap in order to reach a critical mass of knowledge that places us in the global neuroscience landscape."

Prof. Eric Nestler, winner of the first Synapsy Prize for Mental Health Research (far left), with participants in the Synapsy Masterclass on 9 December 2025: Aïda B. Fall, Bianca B., Bin Wan, Lisa Wah, Laurena Python, Marco de Pieri, Silas Forrer, Xia Wang, Alexander von Hoyningen, Alessandra Panzeri and Eva Xia Wang. Photo: András Barta

Camilla BELLONE
Associate Professor,
Department of Basic Neurosciences 
Synapsy Centre for Neuroscience Research for Mental Health
Vice-Dean for Basic Research and Technology

Christian LÜSCHER
Full Professor,
Department of Basic Neurosciences 
Director of the Synapsy Centre for Neuroscience Research for Mental Health