Head of Infectious Diseases, Laurent Kaiser earned his medical degree from the Faculty of Medicine in Geneva before specializing in infectious diseases and clinical microbiology. Early in his career, he was actively involved in the medical response to the AIDS epidemic, which further deepened his expertise in clinical virology. He later specialized in respiratory viruses at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, USA and earned also a degree in clinical microbiology.

Upon returning to Geneva, he worked as a consultant in infectious diseases before taking on the leadership of the Virology Laboratory. Under his direction, the laboratory expanded to provide comprehensive services for both the university hospital and the national reference system. He also established the first fully integrated high-security (P4) laboratory within the University Hospital and founded the Center for Emerging Viral Diseases, now recognized as a WHO Collaborating Center. Additionally, the laboratory houses Switzerland’s reference centers for influenza, measles, and rubella.

His research focuses on clinical virology, particularly respiratory viruses, emerging viruses, and the human virome. As Head of the Division of Infectious Diseases, he leads clinical and academic initiatives with a team of specialists in infectious diseases and microbiology. He also recently served as Director of the Department of Medicine.