Engineering the most advanced human model systems to explore physiology, understand disease, and develop new therapies

The Institute of Human Biology (IHB) is dedicated to research in organoids, human model systems and translational bioengineering. The institute bridges the gap between academic and pharmaceutical research, bringing together three cores: Exploratory research, Bioengineering, and Translation, supported by cutting-edge technology platforms.

As a part of Pharma Research & Early Development (pRED) at Roche, the IHB works closely with pRED scientists to translate its models and technologies into assays for drug development.

Our three cores

Exploratory Research

  • Basic research with academic freedom

Bioengineering

  • Applied/translational research
  • Proof of Concept demonstration for drug development applications

Translation & Technologies

  • Ready-to-use assays addressing safety, pharmacology and efficacy
  • Technology platforms, including biobankig, organoid farming, microscopy, spatial biology, and data and analytics

News

Roche stories

Check out the latest Roche story: An immune upgrade for organoids. A new IHB study published in the journal Nature demonstrates how intestinal organoids with tissue-resident immune cells show promise to better understand diseases.

IHB science spotlight

Read our new publication: Mapping the complex landscape of human cell types. By leveraging emerging experimental and computational techniques, scientists suggest that we can gain valuable insight.

IHB InSight

Discover our images: hiPSC-derived astrocytes. This image shows mature astrocytes of the central nervous system that were derived from human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC) and carry the ApoE4/E4 genotype.
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Our publications

IHB scientists are active members of the scientific community and publish in numerous peer-reviewed journals.

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Our partners

We collaborate with leading academic and research institutions to complement our expertise, expand our capabilities, and tackle grand challenges in the field of human model systems.

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