Roche inaugurates new research home for the Institute of Human Biology
Roche inaugurates new research home for the Institute of Human Biology, pioneering human model systems to accelerate drug discovery and development
Roche announced today the inauguration of the new research home for the Institute of Human Biology. The opening marks a significant milestone in Roche’s strategy to unlock the transformative potential of human model systems to revolutionise the future of drug discovery and development.
The new building is part of a CHF 1.4 billion site investment, reinforcing Roche’s commitment to Switzerland and the Basel life sciences cluster
The Institute of Human Biology (IHB) enables scientists to pioneer human model systems, accelerating the development of new medicines to improve the lives of patients
Federal Councillor Elisabeth Baume-Schneider, Head of the Federal Department of Home Affairs (FDHA), will attend the official opening ceremony
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The inauguration of the Institute of Human Biology reinforces our commitment to Switzerland as a global innovation hub, where Roche invests around CHF 3.5 billion in research each year. By combining human organoid models with artificial intelligence, IHB has the potential to change how we discover and develop new medicines — making research and development more predictive and more efficient. Together with our partners, we aim to bring innovative treatments to patients faster.
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Modern medicine requires sophisticated technologies. By pioneering human model systems and better understanding human disease, we will move beyond the limitations of traditional research to predict if and how new treatments will work in people. This new research facility allows our scientists to make and translate discoveries at the intersection of fundamental and industry sciences, changing how we understand and tackle human disease.
IHB leverages human disease biology, computational biology and translational bioengineering to pioneer advanced systems that replicate human disease biology with unprecedented precision. Bringing this diverse expertise together across multidisciplinary projects allows scientists the chance to generate sophisticated models, such as complex cultured tissue samples, organoids, microfluidic 'organ-on-chip' technologies and in silico modelling. These models are deepening our understanding of the fundamental mechanisms of human disease and therapeutics and transform the future of R&D.
Building 92 will house up to 250 researchers and provide a collaborative environment designed to bridge the gap between fundamental and industry sciences. It includes modular laboratories that will allow sustainable growth and foster interdisciplinary exchange. Roche is currently investing CHF 1.4 billion in the site development in Basel & Kaiseraugst. Since 2016, Roche has invested approximately CHF 7 billion into its Swiss sites. Furthermore, Roche has invested CHF 33 billion in research and development in Switzerland since 2016, resulting in a total investment of around CHF 41 billion over the last decade (2016 to 2025).
Building 92
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About Building 92
For more information on Building 92, please refer to the fact sheet.
About the Institute of Human Biology
Roche’s Institute of Human Biology (IHB), based in Basel, was founded in 2023 and is a global leader in developing and engineering next-generation human model systems, such as advanced tissue cultures, organoids, organoids-on-chips, and in silico modelling to better understand human disease and accelerate the development of new therapeutics and diagnostics. Human model systems are simple representations of human tissues that also have the potential to reduce reliance on animal testing. The institute leverages its unique setup, multidisciplinary expertise and new state-of-the-art facility in Building 92 to foster innovative collaborations and stay at the forefront of biomedical research. By bridging basic research discovery and industry application, the institute will facilitate the rapid translation of groundbreaking science into patient-focused solutions.
For more information, please visit: institutehumanbiology.com.
Human Model Systems
:quality(90)/ "Bioengineered human model of micro-vasculature. Image Creator: Dr. Mike Nikolaev, Roche’s Institute of Human Biology (IHB), Switzerland")
:quality(90)/ "Bioengineered human model of retinal vasculature. Image Creator: Dr. Mike Nikolaev, Roche’s Institute of Human Biology (IHB), Switzerland")
:quality(90)/ "Patient-derived human intestinal organoid. Image Creator: Ninouk Akkerman, Roche’s Institute of Human Biology (IHB), Switzerland")
:quality(90)/ "Bioengineered intestinal epithelium. Image Creator: Dr. Mike Nikolaev, Roche’s Institute of Human Biology (IHB), Switzerland and École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Switzerland")
:quality(90)/ "Human model systems of colorectal cancer, treated with T-cell bispecifics (on right). Image Creators: Harold Gómez*, Floriana Cremasco*, Adrian Mihai**, Dr Leo Kunz*, Dr Sara Colombetti*, Dr Nikolche Gjorevski**, Dr Lauriane Cabon** *Roche Pharma Research and Early Development (pRED), Switzerland **Roche’s Institute of Human Biology (IHB), Switzerland")
:quality(90)/ "Human intestinal organoid with a tissue-resident immune compartment. Image Creators: Marius F. Harter**, Timothy Recaldin*, Bruno Gjeta**, Linda Steinacher**, Lukas Adam**, Mikhail Nikolaev**, Rok Krese**, Umut Kilik**, Doris Popovic*, Marina Almató-Bellavista*, Kristina Kromer**, Michael Bscheider*, Lauriane Cabon**, J. Gray Camp**, Nikolche Gjorevski** *Roche Pharma Research and Early Development (pRED), Switzerland **Roche’s Institute of Human Biology (IHB), Switzerland")
:quality(90)/ "Bioengineered intestinal organoid. Image Creator: Dr. Mike Nikolaev, Roche’s Institute of Human Biology (IHB), Switzerland and École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Switzerland")
:quality(90)/ "Bioengineered human mini-colon-on-a-chip. It mimics the natural anatomy of the gut epithelium (labeled in pink) and physiologically important mucus production by secretory cells (labeled in blue). Credit: Dr Olga Mitrofanova, Roche’s Institute of Human Biology (IHB), Switzerland Dr Mikhail Nikolaev,Roche’s Institute of Human Biology (IHB), Switzerland")
:quality(90)/ "Confocal image of human lung explants with live cells (green), ECM (cyan) and dead cells (red). Image credit: Dr. Elisa D’Arcangelo,Roche’s Institute of Human Biology (IHB), Switzerland")
:quality(90)/ "Confocal image of whole mount human jejunum tissue with epithelium (red), vessels and muscle (pink) and fibroblasts (green). Image credit: Arianna Mei, Roche’s Institute of Human Biology (IHB), Switzerland")
:quality(90)/ "Bioengineered human gastric epithelium Image Creator: Ninouk Akkerman and Dr. Mike Nikolaev, Roche’s Institute of Human Biology (IHB), Switzerland")
:quality(90)/ "Human small intestinal organoid with six genetically engineered cell type reporters Image credits: Ninouk Akkerman, Yannik Bollen, Jannika Bosch, Rya Riedweg, Roche’s Institute of Human Biology (IHB), Switzerland")