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State-of-the-art detection

Diagnostics serve to determine whether a specified disease or disease process is present in a living organism and anticipate disease earlier and better. The quality of research and development in the BioAlps cluster encourages innovative startups and multinationals alike to work on diagnostics for conditions ranging from celiac disease to HIV/AIDS. Diagnostics is a high growth market, with the global IVD market predicted to grow to US$ 84 billion by 2023. In Switzerland, 8% of medtech manufacturers produce in vitro diagnostics, which represented some US$365 million in 20151. There is rapid growth in new segments including molecular diagnostics, point of care and companion diagnostics2.

“THE GLOBAL IVD MARKET IS PREDICTED TO GROW TO US$ 84 BILLION BY 2023.”

The BioAlps cluster gathers together the competences and knowhow of many innovative companies which are developing diagnostics for earlier detection of HIV, different cancers, infectious diseases and other conditions. The region is an outstanding place to develop a broad scope of diagnostics ranging from in vitro diagnostics (IVDs), sophisticated technologies performed in clinical laboratories, to simple self-tests, such as for pregnancy. This is why Aimago and Abionic, two startup/spin-offs of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL) and mid-cap companies like Bracco Imaging have set up in the region.

The fast growth rate of diagnostic imaging has led Roche to select Geneva University (UNIGE) as a Centre of Excellence for diagnostic research, aimed at personalised medical diagnosis and treatment, using a translational approach in a strategic partnership including the University Hospitals of Geneva (HUG) and the Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics (SIB).

Using all the resources of Western Switzerland, companies are successfully accessing research, technology transfer, funding, technological knowhow and much more besides. For example, companies and research institutions in the cluster are working on systems that can detect and quantify multiple DNA- or RNA-based biomarkers in a wide variety of patient sample types; biomarkers for hormone dependent cancers; determining unique biomarkers patients’ tumors and correlating biomarkers to drug response. In Western Switzerland, convergent technologies are being integrated into the diagnostic sector, with microfluidic chips, biosensors, genomics and advanced diagnostic imaging directed towards developing non-invasive technologies for increased patient comfort.

abionic

ABIONIC Revolutionizing the world of in vitro diagnostics

Founded in 2010 by Nicolas Durand and Iwan Märki, Abionic developed its nano-, bio- and medical- technology within the Swiss federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL).

Already in 2012, Abionic obtained the ISO 13485 quality certification for research and development, production and marketing of products for the in-vitro diagnostics market. The company’s benchmark is winning no less than 20 prestigious startup awards and 4 times best med-tech startup. In 2012, Abionic finalised a Series A financing round and in 2014, a Series B financing for a total of CHF 8.2 million led by MedHoldings SA and including Polytech Ventures & Cie SCPC, Blue Ocean Ventures, Business Angels Switzerland (BAS) and FONGIT Seed Invest. The ultra-fast abioSCOPE, a CE-marked reading system designed to detect allergies received the «Swiss Excellence Product» allergies, received the «Swiss Excellence Product» award in 2013 and the world’s fastest blood test diagnostic platform that detects killer SEPSIS, filled FDA registration in 2017, brings nanotechnology directly to healthcare professionals for everybody’s wellbeing.

A rich environment for development

Western Switzerland offers a robust array of business and academic institutions with leading technologies and research in the field of diagnostics, whether IVD, diagnostic imaging or molecular diagnostics. Academic laboratories and companies cross-fertilise successfully to create a dynamic, entrepreneurial environment to push the boundaries of knowledge.

The lists below are non exhaustive and showcase some examples of the work being done in the region.

Find more information in our extensive databases: bioalps.org/community and, for the six Alpine regions, alpslifesciencesearch.com

The leading academic diagnostics research in western Switzerland

Geneva University UNIGE &
Geneva University Hospitals HUG &
Swiss Bioinformatics Institute SIB

Department of Genetic & Laboratory Medicine and Laboratory Medicine service

Diagnostic imaging, neurodiagnostics cytopathology, genetic diagnostics, molecular diagnostics New medical diagnostics based on biomarkers, human toxicology and bioinformatics

Geneva University UNIGE & Geneva University Hospitals HUG in collaboration with the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne EPFL

Institute of Molecular Imaging

Translational molecular imaging or animal imaging, nanotechnology, radiation chemistry, and modeling and focus on neuro-imaging, chronic diseases, neurological degeneration,
and aging

University Hospital of Lausanne CHUV

Institute of Microbiology

Microbiology diagnosis of infectious diseases

Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne EPFL & Geneva University UNIGE

Medical Image Processing Lab

Interface between signal processing and medical imaging, signal and image processing and functional imaging.
Diagnostic microbiology

Swiss Federal Institute of Technology EPFL

School of Engineering Institute of Microengineering Laboratory of Microsystems

BioMicrosystens - Microfluidic, lab-on-a-chip, BioMems for handling, analysis and culture of biological cells

Centre Suisse d’ Electronique
et de Microtechnique CSEM

Nanotechnology & Life Sciences

BioMicrosystems – integrated biosensing and monitoring biomechanics, micro-cell reactors, toxicology, biofunctional surface engineering

Biosurface Engineering

BioMicrosystems – ion-selective sensing, immunosensing, electrochemical sensing

Laboratory Instrumentation & Automation

BioMicrosystems – microfluidics, liquid handling, cell handling, sensor integration, robotics and automation

University of Applied Science – Western Switzerland HES-SO Valais

Institute Life Technologies

In vitro medical diagnostic (IVD) systems of molecular (nucleic acid, PCR) and immunochemistry (peptides, proteins) based platforms

University of Berne UNIBE

Institute for Veterinary Bacteriology
Diagnostic Laboratories of the Vetsuisse Faculty

In vitro diagnostic pathology including necropsies and biopsies of pet and food animals as well as exotic animals, wild life and fish

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry

Genetic diagnostics using excimer- based molecular beacons and molecular diagnostics using molecular probes for the detection of homopurine sequences

University of Applied Science – Western Switzerland HEIG-VD

BioEngineering Group

BioMicrosystems - biochips Diagnostic imaging: Image processing and visualization

Non exhaustive list of innovative diagnostics companies in the Bioalps cluster

ABCDX
Molecular Diagnostics
Neuroscience POC

INVIVOSWISS
In Vitro Diagnostics
Drug Development

ABIONIC
In Vitro Diagnostics
Allergy

LINKAGE BIOSCIENCES
Molecular Diagnostics
DCR

AUGURIX
In Vitro Diagnostics
Healthcare POC

NEOGENOMICS
In Vitro Diagnostics
Oncology

BRACCO IMAGING
In Vitro Diagnostics
Healthcare

NOVADAQ
Imaging Diagnostics
Healthcare

DIAGNOPLEX
In Vivo Diagnostics
Cancer

SEYONIC
BioMicrosystems
BioMems

DIAMED
In Vitro Diagnostics
Blood

UNILABS
Molecular Diagnostics
Healthcare

ERIB LTD
Molecular Diagnostics
Healthcare

XSENSIO
BioMicrosystems
Healthcare

The fact sheet provides a view of the key players in the sector at any given time; it is not comprehensive and is subject to regular updates.
This current edition was produced in Autumn 2019.