Vaud invests CHF 178 Million in Life Sciences
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To strengthen the development of the Canton and in particular the expertise of the CHUV and the University of Lausanne in Life Sciences, the State Council is requesting five investment credits totaling CHF 178.71 million from the Grand Council.
In Dorigny, these investments would allow the construction of a life sciences building and, in Epalinges, a center for precision medicine and immuno-oncology. They also cover additional infrastructure and equipment for the Lausanne branch of the Ludwig Institute and the laboratory center in Epalinges.
A life sciences building on the University of Lausanne campus
The first of the five investment credits – CHF 87.07 million – is intended to build a life sciences building on the UNIL campus. It will house premises dedicated to both training and research, practical work rooms, laboratories, offices, a large 300-seat auditorium and a center for the exploration of life. These structures will benefit the Department of Fundamental Neurosciences, training in chemistry and biology for students from UNIL and EPFL, as well as the Dubochet Cryomicroscopic Imaging Center and the “Microbiome” National Research Center.
A center for precision medicine and immuno-oncology in Epalinges
A credit of CHF 56.95 million is requested to enable the construction of a new building that will meet the needs of development, but also of regrouping research themes on the Epalinges site. It will house research groups in immuno-oncology, precision medicine and bioinformatics which are part of the Faculty of Biology and Medicine of the UNIL.
State-of-the-art equipment and technologies for research
One of the characteristics of the evolution of biological and medical research is the increasing use of new technologies requiring very specific equipment and the presence of particularly qualified personnel. Three investment credits support this effort and prepare the future. 7.53 and 23.4 million francs are requested to provide the Ludwig Institute with research infrastructures common to several working groups and with state-of-the-art equipment to improve cancer research. The last investment credit of 3.76 million francs will be used to set up a centralized steam production system for the Lausanne branch of the Ludwig Institute and the laboratory center in Epalinges, which is necessary for the research. In these developments and new buildings, the animal facilities of the CHUV and the UNIL are being rethought and will be at the forefront in terms of applying the “3R” standards of respect for the animal condition.
Research at the service of the population
Current innovations in the field of life sciences benefit human health and the environment. These buildings will help to place UNIL, the CHUV and the Canton of Vaud at the forefront of research and therapeutic innovation in oncology, immuno-oncology and personalized medicine. These investments will provide the population with access to innovative therapies. They will help to improve coverage of needs and access to quality care at an acceptable cost for the community.
Read the Press Release (in French)