Frontiers in Genetics

The National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) Frontiers in Genetics, a network of 250 scientists from different universities and institutes of Switzerland, is part of a program created in 2001 by the Swiss National Science Foundation. Frontiers in Genetics aims at understanding the function and regulation of certain genes during development, as well as their role in maintaining health or fa

vouring the emergence of pathology. Partnership with industry is encouraged, in order to exploit potential discoveries in the field of medical therapies. Its international Doctoral School, established in 2001, recruits around the world the best students in genetics and offers them a program of superior formation. The combined efforts of the researchers have led to the creation of 5 platforms that provide services to the scientific community and the private sector. The genomics and bioimaging platforms are located in Geneva, whereas Lausanne hosts the mouse Metabolic Evaluation Facility (MEF) and the lentiviral platform. The site-specific genome integration system for drosophila (FlyC31), another molecular tool of genetic engineering, was developed in Zurich. Frontiers in Genetics also expresses a strong wish to communicate with the public, by means of scientific lay activities.