on July 14, 2009
The ETH Board is the strategic managerial, supervisory and appointment body and employer of the ETH Domain. At its meeting on July 9 2009, it appointed a total of four professors and six assistant professors at ETH Zurich and EPF Lausanne and awarded one person the title of adjunct professor.
At the request of the president of ETH Zurich, Prof. Dr. Ralph Eichler, the ETH Board has appointed the following persons as full professors of ETH Zurich:
Prof. Dr. Antonio Lanzavecchia (*1951), founding director of the Institute of Biomedical Research (IRB) in Bellinzona, as full professor of human immunology. Antonio Lanzavecchia is an internationally recognized expert on cellular and molecular human immunology. The techniques he established for cloning human T and B lymphocytes and the methods for producing antibodies against the SARS corona virus and the H5N1 avian flu virus are prime examples of hypothesis-driven research using innovative, quantitative methods. Lanzavecchia was awarded the EMBO medal in 1988 and the Cloëtta Prize in 1999 for his research. Lanzavecchia’s chair receives external funding and coincides with the strengthening of the academic and institutional collaboration between the IRB and the ETH Domain.
Prof. Lanzavecchia will continue in his role as Director of the IRB and will continue his research programs in Bellinzona. He will dedicate about 15% of his time to teaching in the Human Health program in Zurich.
This nomination is a recognition of the untiring activity and brilliant scientific career of Antonio Lanzavecchia, already recipient of many honors and awards, as well as the dedication that he has invested in the creation and development of the IRB. The professorship will further strengthen the academic and institutional collaboration between the IRB and the ETH which will surely benefit the IRB going forward.
Speacial thanks are also given to Dr. Alberto Togni and Prof. Hans Hengartner. It is thanks to their vision and dedication that this nomination was made possible with the support of the Helmut Horten Foundation.
