FONDAZIONE PER L'ISTITUTO DI RICERCA IN BIOMEDICINA

Their core work

IRB is a biomedical research institute based in Bellinzona, Switzerland, focused on immunology, infectious disease, and cancer biology. Their core work spans antibody engineering against pathogens (including HIV, Zika, and SARS-CoV-2), DNA repair mechanisms relevant to cancer (particularly BRCA-related pathways), and tumor immunotherapy. They combine fundamental molecular biology with translational applications — developing therapeutic antibodies and understanding immune responses to design better vaccines and cancer treatments.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In their early H2020 period (2015–2018), IRB focused on infectious disease — HIV vaccine platforms, Zika virus control, and broadly neutralizing antibodies against pathogens. From 2019 onward, their work shifted decisively toward cancer biology (BRCA DNA repair, tumor-infiltrating T cells) and rapid-response antibody therapies (COVID-19). This evolution reflects a maturation from studying immune responses to pathogens toward applying that immunological expertise to oncology and precision medicine.

IRB is moving deeper into cancer-focused research (BRCA repair mechanisms, T cell immunotherapy), suggesting future collaborations should target oncology, precision medicine, or therapeutic antibody development.

How they like to work

IRB leads more often than it follows — coordinating 5 of 9 projects, typically in focused ERC-funded research where they are the principal investigator. Their participant roles tend to be in large multi-partner health consortia (EHVA, ZIKAlliance, RTCure, ATAC), showing they can operate in both modes. With 114 unique partners across 31 countries, they are a well-connected hub rather than a closed lab, comfortable working across large European and global networks.

IRB has collaborated with 114 distinct partners across 31 countries, giving them one of the broader networks for a Swiss research centre of their size. Their partnerships span both large EU health consortia and focused bilateral ERC projects.

What sets them apart

IRB sits at a rare intersection: deep expertise in both antibody biology and DNA repair/cancer mechanisms, housed in a single institute in the Swiss-Italian region. Their strong ERC track record (5 grants including Advanced, Consolidator, and Starting) signals consistently high scientific quality recognized through Europe's most competitive funding. For consortium builders, they offer a Swiss partner with global reach and the flexibility to lead or contribute as specialist.

Highlights from their portfolio

• ATAC
  Largest single grant (EUR 3.9M) — rapid-response COVID-19 antibody therapy project, demonstrating IRB's ability to mobilize quickly against emerging health threats.
• BRCA INSIGHTS
  Most recent project (2022–2027), an ERC Consolidator Grant on BRCA protein complexes — signals IRB's current strategic direction toward cancer DNA repair research.
• BROADimmune
  ERC Advanced Grant on broadly neutralizing antibodies against human pathogens — foundational work that enabled their later COVID-19 antibody response.