The Translational Projects are designed for interdisciplinary consortia of five to eight researchers, who work with their groups in the field of precision medicine. The projects must be developed in such a way that the medical problem formulated therein can only be successfully addressed if all involved research groups from biomedical basic research, biomedical informatics, engineering, and clinical research collaborate. Moreover, the projects supported by The LOOP Zurich should collect health-relevant data and samples enriching the platforms.

Furthermore, the translational nature of the projects imposes the inclusion of clinical research aspects, and in particular the demonstration that the proposed approach can be applied to patients (Proof-of-Concept) over the course of the project. Thereby, the Translational Projects should lay the foundation for a potential subsequent clinical development.

In addition to the specific scientific results, the projects are also expected to contribute to the further development of the research ecosystem in Zurich. This is achieved by utilizing and contributing to the existing infrastructure in information technology, biobanks, and clinical research at the University of Zurich, ETH Zurich, and the four involved university hospitals, thereby contributing to their further development.

The total budget for a Translational Project in precision medicine is up to CHF 5 million with a project duration of five years

Translational Projects: An overarching research strategy is applied to various areas of medicine. Translational projects must meet the criterion of precision medicine, be structured inter-institutionally (pooling expertise), include an essential biomedical informatics component, as well as clinical research elements. Finally, it is required that within the five-year project duration, evidence of efficacy for the biomedical approach (Proof-of-concept) is demonstrated in patients. The 2023 portfolio of Translational Projects covers the areas of precision oncology, neuroscience, infection/immunology, and metabolism/energy balance.

INTeRCePT: Intercept clonal evolution to overcome treatment resistance in childhood and adult blood cancer
people responsible: Thorsten Zenz (USZ/UZH), Burkhard Becher (UZH), Nico Beerenwinkel (ETHZ), Jean-Pierre Bourquin (KISPI/UZH), Wolfgang Huber (EMBL), Stefanie Kreutmair (UZH/USZ), Andreas Moor (ETHZ), Berend Snijder (ETHZ)

StimuLOOP: Precision sensorimotor neurorehabilitation through personalized stimulation loops
people responsible: Andreas Luft (USZ/UZH), Roger Gassert (ETHZ), Christian Baumann (USZ), William Taylor (ETHZ), Reto Huber (KISPI/PUK/UZH), Julia Vogt (ETHZ)

LOOBesity: Closing the loop towards precision medicine in obesity
people responsible: Prof. Felix Beuschlein (UZH/USZ), Prof. Thomas Frauenfelder (UZH/USZ), Prof. Ender Konukoglu (ETH Zürich), Prof. Milo Puhan (UZH), Prof. Christian Wolfrum (ETH Zürich)

mTORUS – Microbiome-based Therapeutic Options for Recurrent Urinary Symptoms
people responsible: Prof. Thomas M. Kessler (Balgrist/UZH), Prof. Gunnar Rätsch (ETH Zürich), Prof. Shinichi Sunagawa (ETH Zürich), Prof. Emma Wetter Slack (ETH Zürich), Prof. Martin J. Loessner (ETH Zürich), Prof. Onur Boyman (USZ/UZH), Prof. Nicola Zamboni (ETH Zürich), Dr. André Kahles (ETH Zürich), Dr. Lorenz Leitner (Balgrist/UZH), Dr. Shawna McCallin (Balgrist/UZH), Dr. Alaz Oezcan (USZ/UZH), Prof. John McKinney (ETH Lausanne)