Innovative Research Structures

Researchers at the University of Zurich collaborate across disciplinary boundaries wherever it makes sense to do so in order to pursue new ideas and innovations. The University of Zurich encourages this type of collaboration by providing research structures that offer optimal conditions for joint research projects involving several disciplines and faculties.

The aim of the funding instrument called TRANSFORM (To Reach A New Structure For Optimal Research and Methods) is to create research structures that provide optimal conditions for interdisciplinary research across subject areas, departments and institutes, and faculties. Through TRANSFORM, funding is provided for a range of structures – for example, for the establishment of inter-university cooperation, the founding of a center, institute or research network, or the strengthening of a subject area by creating additional resources.

Read on below for an introduction to the research structures and research initiatives launched to date.

For humans, animals and the environment

The growing world population is leading to ever greater interdependence between the habitats of humans, animals and the environment. At the One Health Institute, researchers from veterinary medicine, human medicine and the natural sciences work together to investigate these interactions.
One Health Institute website

Computer-assisted collection, processing and evaluation of legal data

The growing world population is leading to ever greater interdependence between the habitats of humans, animals and the environment. At the One Health Institute, researchers from veterinary medicine, human medicine and the natural sciences work together to investigate these interactions.
Center for Legal Data Science website

Making population-related research more efficient

The UZH Population Research Center connects and supports scientists from the fields of epidemiology, biostatistics, psychology, medicine, politics, media research and communication who plan and conduct large-scale population studies.
Population Research Center website

Pioneering paths for surgical research and education

With Operation Room X (OR-X), Balgrist University Hospital is introducing a new type of translational research and education center for surgery, where state-of-the-art technologies and innovations can be developed and validated more efficiently. This will enable new technologies to find clinical application more quickly.
OR-X website

Consolidated expertise in Eastern European research

By pooling researchers from the fields of literature and cultural studies, linguistics and history, UZH is creating Switzerland's first Institute for Eastern European Studies. The new department aims to bundle UZH's extensive expertise in research on Eastern, Central Eastern and South Eastern Europe and the former Soviet republics in the Caucasus and Central Asia.
UZH NEWS: New Institute for Eastern European Studies

Digital analysis of biological image data

In life sciences, it is increasingly important to convert microscopy images into measurable, quantitative parameters. The amount of data generated is immense, and the analysis is correspondingly complex. The aim of the new center is to advance research and development in the computer-aided analysis of biological images and at the same time make it accessible to everyone.
Website BioVision Center