Christian Lüscher takes over coordination of the Synapsy Centre

Prof Camilla Bellone and Prof Christian Lüscher –  photo: Louis Doucy

Since 2020, Camilla Bellone has played a key role in consolidating the Synapsy Center, taking over after the tragic death of Alexandre Dayer. During these years, she finalized the last phase of the Synapsy National Center of Competence in Research (NCCR), a program of the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF), integrating it permanently into the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Geneva (UNIGE). “These have been magnificent years, marked by a solid team, from researchers to managers, who have made this transition possible”, she shares with emotion. “Today, I believe that change is healthy, all the more so with Christian Lüscher, a renowned specialist in the field.” Although she is stepping down as coordinator, Camilla Bellone will remain close to Synapsy, serving on its board and as Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Medicine.

A vision of continuity and openness

Christian Lüscher has been involved with Synapsy since its inception in 2010, alongside Dominique Muller and Pierre Magistretti, and is very familiar with the neuroscientific landscape in Geneva and French-speaking Switzerland. “I'm honored to take the reins of an initiative that I've seen grow. Synapsy is still young, and the scientific stakes are still immense”, he confides. His main mission will be to bring the Center to life and make it grow by involving even more researchers, while strengthening existing collaborations with other NCCR successor institutions, such as EPFL and UNIL.

Christian Lüscher plans to boost scientific exchanges through scientific retreats and meetings to facilitate synergies between researchers at the Geneva Center, but also across the Lemanic area, and to foster the emergence of joint collaborations and programs. He also aims to extend Synapsy's commitment to the general public. “With initiatives such as Les Célébrales festival, Synapsy has broken new ground in scientific communication with society. We must continue in this direction”, he said.

Training the next generation and securing the Centre's future

Training young scientists remains a priority for Christian Lüscher. Synapsy's mission has always been to push training to the clinical and research frontiers, and he intends to perpetuate this commitment by strengthening the Center's educational programs. “We must support the next generation of scientists who will ensure the future of clinical and fundamental neuroscience,” he insists.

However, this new impetus comes with financial challenges. Since the end of NCCR funding from the SNSF, Synapsy has had to find new sources of support to ensure its mission and develop its projects. Christian Lüscher and his team are determined to meet this challenge.

NEWS