iPSZürich
(forward to iPSZürich Lectures Schedule)
iPSZürich Organising committee
The iPSZürich network was founded in 2019 by Matt, Mel E., and Mel G., three young scientists who set out to connect researchers across institutes at the University of Zurich, including the Institute of Medical Genetics, the Department of Metabolism at the Children’s Hospital, and the Institute of Regenerative Medicine (IREM).
Over the years, many early-career researchers have contributed to shaping the network and have since moved on to new opportunities. Currently, the organising committee includes Melanie Generali, Neguin Ranjbar, Annelies Greinart and Louisa Charlotte Dury. Recently, Sara Manjaly, Irina Borovko, Judith Schaart, Abhishek Yadav and Laura De Gaetano have joined the team. Together, they continue to foster cross-institutional collaboration and strengthen the community of young scientists in Zurich working with induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC).
Melanie Generali, PhD
melanie.generali@uzh.ch
In the early 1960s, the key properties of stem cells were defined by Ernest McCulloch and James Till and presented a breakthrough that provided a steppingstone for future science. Melanie has discovered her deep interest in stem cells 6 years ago and it still continues and grows.
She studied biology first in Germany and later on in Switzerland. In 2014, she started her PhD at the Institute for Regenerative Medicine (IREM) of the University of Zurich. Her project involved the reprogramming of blood cells into iPSCs, followed by the differentiation into smooth muscle cells and endothelial cells. The final goal was the manufacturing of tissue-engineered vascular grafts (TEVG). During her postdoc she generated and purified clinical-grade iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes to regenerate ischemic heart tissue in close collaboration with the Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA, Kyoto, Japan). Since July 2021 she is Head of the iPSC Core Facility at IREM.
Being able to see how scientific innovations can be applied in the future is what really drives and motivates her
Dr. Annelies Geirnaert
annelies.geirnaert@uzh.ch
Dr. Annelies Geirnaert is Scientific Manager at the Institute for Regenerative Medicine (IREM), University of Zurich. She holds a PhD in Applied Biological Sciences from Ghent University and previously conducted research at ETH Zurich, focusing on the gut microbiome, probiotics and translational microbial therapeutic. In her current role, she is responsible for the scientific management and communication, supports strategic initiatives and third-party funding, and contributes to research, teaching, biosafety and outreach activities across the institute. She is particularly involved in strengthening international collaborations, including the long-standing partnership between IREM and the Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA) at Kyoto University, and coordinates the iPSZürich Lecture Series and Symposium.
Neguin Ranjbar
neguin.ranjbar@uzh.ch
Neguin completed her Bachelor of Science in Cellular and Molecular Biology at Azad University, Science and Research Branch, in Tehran. Now, she is pursuing a master’s degree in Molecular Biotechnology and Bioinformatics at the University of Milan (Unimi), Italy. Currently, she is conducting her master’s thesis research at the University of Zurich (UZH) in the Institute for Regenerative Medicine, in the Sendoel lab, where she applies CRISPR technology to investigate the roles of translational regulation in early mammalian development. During this project, she was introduced to working with primary stem cells. Her research focuses on uncovering molecular mechanisms that govern developmental processes, with potential implications for regenerative medicine.
By joining the iPSZürich team, Neguin is eager to contribute to fostering a collaborative and innovative environment in iPSC research while building connections that bridge scientific progress within Switzerland and beyond.
Louisa Charlotte Dury
louisa.dury@kjpd.uzh.ch
Louisa is a PhD student in the Grünblatt group at the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy in Schlieren, Switzerland. Her research investigates the role of astrocytes in ADHD pathophysiology using patient-derived iPSCs, focusing on metabolic, oxidative stress, and inflammatory dysregulations. Understanding astrocyte contributions may help uncover ADHD causes and inform new treatment approaches.
She first worked with iPSCs during her Master’s at the University of Innsbruck in the Edenhofer lab, modelling Mucopolysaccharidosis IIIB using 2D and 3D patient-specific iPSC models.
By joining iPSZürich, Louisa hopes to support collaboration and exchange within the iPSC research community.
Sara Manjaly
sara.manjaly@uzh.ch
Dear iPSZürich Commitee,
My name is Sara Manjaly, and I am currently pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Biomedical Sciences in Switzerland, with a minor in Bioinformatics. My academic interests focus on the intersection of biology, medicine, and dara science, particularly in understanding complex biological systems through computational approaches.
I am passionate about scientific research, interdisciplinary collaboration, and continuous learning. Through my involvement with iPS Zürich, I look forward to connecting with fellow students and professionals, contributing to meaningful discussions, and supporting initiatives that promote scientific exchange and education.
Kind regards
Sara Manjaly
Irina Borovko
irina.borovko@unibe.ch
Irina Borovko is a PhD student in the group of Prof. Britta Engelhardt at the Theodor Kocher Institute, University of Bern.
Her research focuses on developing iPSC-derived organ-on-a-chip models of the blood-brain barrier to investigate how the APOE ε4 allele, the primary genetic risk factor for sporadic Alzheimer's disease, affects its integrity and function
She received her Master's degree from EPFL in 2023, with her thesis completed at AC Immune, where she worked on small molecule α-synuclein aggregation inhibitors.
This project has sparked her great interest in neurodegenerative disease research, as well as passion for advanced in vitro disease models.
By joining iPSZürich, Irina hopes to strengthen connections between academia and industry within the community, and to help grow the network of researchers working in this dynamic and exciting field.
Judith Schaart
judith.schaart@uzh.ch
Judith is a postdoc in the Bachmann-Gagescu lab (dept. of Molecular Life Sciences) at the University of Zurich (Irchel campus). She studies the mechanisms underlying kidney fibrosis using iPSC-derived kidney organoids that carry disease mutations (ciliopathies), which she analyzes with a combination of (3D) fluorescence microscopy, molecular biology, and -omics techniques.
Before moving to Zurich, Judith studied Molecular Life Sciences (BSc) and Molecular Mechanisms of Disease (MSc) at Radboud University in Nijmegen (The Netherlands). She then did her PhD research at Radboud university medical center (Nijmegen), where she studied bone development. During her PhD, Judith developed 3D cell culture models for bone (e.g. bone-on-a-chip), which she analyzed with advanced 3D live and correlative microscopy to unravel matrix development and mineralization processes.
By joining iPSZürich, Judith would like to contribute to the iPSC community and enable networking and collaboration between iPSC researchers in Zurich and beyond.
Abhishek Yadav
abhiiiay24@gmail.com
I’m Abhishek Yadav, a Bachelor of Pharmacy student on a mission to explore the molecular world of medicine. My primary focus is understanding how drugs interact at a molecular level and finding ways to enhance their therapeutic potential through innovative research. Beyond the lab, I am a self-proclaimed knowledge junkie—I constantly follow the latest updates in technology, health, finance, and politics. I love connecting the dots between different industries and am excited to bring this multi-disciplinary curiosity into a career in pharmaceutical research.
Laura De Gaetano
laura.degaetano@uzh.ch
Laura completed her Master’s in Molecular Cell and Developmental Biology at the University of Innsbruck. There, her focus was the generation and characterization of several cell lines using different reprogramming techniques, identifying age-related signatures in induced neural stem cells (iNSCs) compared to isogenic iPSC/iN-derived neuronal models. She also holds a Minor in Digital Science, combining her passion for dynamic living cellular processes with computational data analysis techniques.
Currently, she is working as a Research Technician in the Polymenidou Lab at the University of Zurich (UZH). There, she is involved in projects modeling ALS and FTD progression, focusing on the prion-like protein TDP-43.
By joining the iPSZurich community, Laura aims to support scientific collaboration. She wants to contribute to knowledge exchange and advance research innovation within the local iPSC network.
Thank you to our alumni: Dr. Matthew Denley, Dr. Ambra Villani, Beata Vekeriotaite, Melanie Eschment, Clara Duré, David Taborsky, Vanessa Budny, Karan Ahuja, Evelina Voloviceva, Nicole Ziak
iPSZürich Lecture
The induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) lecture series, brings together early-career researchers (Undergraduate Students, PhD students and postdoctoral fellows) and experts working on exciting new innovations in the field. The main goal is to provide a forum to disseminate state-of-the art iPSC research, trigger free-ranging discussions and help to inspire ideas of current research projects in the field of iPSC technologies.