The new research institute, the “Institute for the Science of the Aging Brain” (ISAB), opens today at the Switzerland Innovation Park Ost in St. Gallen. The ISAB conducts basic research and develops new approaches for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases of the aging brain. The canton of St. Gallen is providing a total of 1.25 million Swiss francs over five years to support the institute’s establishment and operations.
Opening of the Institute at Switzerland Innovation Park East
St. Gallen, September 9, 2026 – The opening will be celebrated with a scientific symposium and a first look at the new laboratory facilities. Several disciplines collaborate at ISAB: molecular biology, neuroscience, genomics, and the translation of research into medicine. The focus is on diseases of the aging brain, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, as well as prion diseases and related conditions in which defective proteins cause damage to the brain.
“Neurodegenerative diseases pose a major challenge for our aging society. Through ISAB, we in St. Gallen aim to better understand how these diseases develop—and to use that understanding to develop new approaches to diagnosis, prevention, and treatment.”
State Councilor Bruno Damann
Head of the Department of Health
Strengthening St. Gallen as a Research Hub
Close collaboration is planned between ISAB and regional partners from the fields of research, medicine, and industry, such as a strategic partnership with the HOCH Health Ostschweiz hospital network. In addition, ISAB works closely with Empa St. Gallen on an organizational level. This creates an interdisciplinary research environment that promotes the exchange of knowledge between basic research, clinical practice, and industry, and supports the establishment of spin-offs and biotechnology companies.
“The institute attracts skilled professionals, forges new connections between research, healthcare, and business, and raises the region’s international profile. The cantonal seed funding is an important investment in our canton’s innovative capacity.”
State Councilor Beat Tinner
, Head of the Department of Economic Affairs
In 2025, for the first time, there were more people aged 65 and older in Switzerland than there were under the age of 20. As the population ages, brain health is becoming increasingly important. To this day, many neurodegenerative diseases cannot be prevented or treated at their root cause.
This is exactly where the ISAB comes in: Using modern methods such as genome-wide genetic testing, human cell models, and research into misfolded proteins, the institute investigates the molecular mechanisms of brain aging and neurodegeneration, with the goal of developing new approaches to diagnosis, prevention, and treatment.
“When it comes to neurodegenerative diseases, there are no shortcuts from basic research to treatment. We must understand the mechanisms that trigger these diseases so thoroughly that they can lead to testable and ultimately clinically applicable approaches. The canton’s support enables us in St. Gallen to think long-term, foster scientific talent, and integrate our research with regional, national, and international partnerships.”
Prof. Adriano Aguzzi, CEO of the Institute for the Science of the Aging Brain,
Cantonal seed funding with a performance mandate
Following approval by the St. Gallen government, State Councilor Beat Tinner signed the agreement on June 30, 2026, regarding the state contribution for the establishment and operation of the ISAB. The agreement provides for a total of 1.25 million Swiss francs in cantonal seed funding for the years 2026 through 2030.
This funding comes with clear obligations on the part of the ISAB Foundation. The institute must be established and operated on a sustainable basis. This includes regular progress reports as well as contributions to research, collaboration, talent development, and regional innovation. Political support from the Department of Health and the Department of Economic Affairs was crucial to the establishment and development of the institute.
Close collaboration with Switzerland Innovation Park Ost
Switzerland Innovation Park Ost and the property owner, Gartenhof Immobilien, have invested heavily in infrastructure: ISAB will receive 500 m² of laboratory and office space tailored to its needs and built to the BSL-2 standard, the safety standard for handling biological material with moderate risk. As part of the institute, a “Co-Lab” is also being established, where visiting researchers or startups can rent workspaces and use ISAB’s infrastructure. In this way, ISAB is strengthening the ecosystem of Switzerland Innovation Park Ost: In the future, startups and companies in St. Gallen will find a first-class research partner in the field of molecular biology, complemented by the existing ecosystem comprising Startfeld and the HSG START Accelerator.
Science and the Public in Dialogue
At the opening event, guests from the fields of politics, research, healthcare, and innovation will discuss the societal significance of brain research. Among those in attendance will be State Councilors Bruno Damann and Beat Tinner, as well as Stanford neuroscientist and Nobel Prize in Medicine laureate Prof. Thomas C. Südhof.
About ISAB
Founded in 2026, the nonprofit Foundation Institute for the Science of the Aging Brain conducts basic biomedical research and teaching in St. Gallen. Its mission includes, in particular, research into the causes, progression, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. ISAB pursues long-term research programs and combines scientific excellence with the training of young researchers and the translation of fundamental findings into medically relevant strategies.
Venue
, Switzerland Innovation Park Ost, Feld 7
, Lerchenfeldstrasse 3, 9014 St. Gallen
Media Contacts
Canton of St. Gallen
Department of Economic Affairs
+41 58 229 34 87
info.vdgs@sg.ch
Prof. Adriano Aguzzi
CEO, Institute for the Science of the Aging Brain
adriano.aguzzi@isab.science
www.isab.science
