Funding That Makes a Difference: For 110 years, the Foundation for Scientific Research has supported projects across all faculties and disciplines at the University of Zurich. Applications are accepted from UZH professors and senior lecturers. The following examples illustrate the diversity of funded research.
The essence of democracy relies on voter participation—yet turnout is steadily declining, particularly among young people. Voting habits are often formed in early adulthood, making it all the more important to encourage civic engagement among youth who are not yet active participants. Changing social structures and the rise of digital interaction further complicate this challenge.
Prof. Dr. Lucas Leemann and his team are addressing this issue by identifying the various patterns of voter participation among different groups of young people in the 21st century. This typology allows for the development of targeted strategies to increase turnout within specific youth demographics.
Using both qualitative and quantitative experimental methods, the project focuses on three key factors: ability, motivation, and the influence of social norms. These approaches help measure the effectiveness of voter engagement strategies in targeted groups. Equipped with detailed data on which methods work best for different youth segments, the team is developing an intervention algorithm. This algorithm recommends customized engagement packages tailored to the sociodemographic profiles of local youth electorates, aiming to provide an optimal strategy for increasing voter turnout.
Understanding how to promote health in aging and identifying related genetic factors has long been of both theoretical and practical interest. Biological age can be measured using biomarkers—among them, epigenetic changes such as methylation patterns at CpG sites in the genome.
Prof. Dr. Anna Lindholm Krützen and her team are developing a novel "epigenetic clock" based on non-invasively collected fecal samples—an animal welfare-friendly alternative to traditional methods. The team draws on data from a 20-year UZH field study tracking behavior and lifelong fitness in wild house mice, as well as a parallel study on a UK island examining mouse behavior, ecology, and microbiomes.
Because these wild mice are observed from birth to death, they are ideal for identifying the factors that influence biological aging. By comparing aging patterns across both island and mainland populations, the researchers aim to derive broadly applicable insights. Their findings show that a higher epigenetic age correlates with lower adult survival, greater past reproductive effort, and smaller social networks. This animal-friendly research model may offer valuable parallels for human medical studies.
Alzheimer’s disease and the rare prion disease are progressive neurodegenerative conditions. Both involve the formation of harmful protein aggregates (amyloids), which cause nerve cells in the brain to die—leading to cognitive decline and motor dysfunction. Despite decades of research, no curative therapies exist. A diagnosis often brings major medical, social, and economic challenges for patients and families alike.
Passive immunotherapy using antibodies shows promise, but current approaches face limitations: antibodies often target only a narrow range of pathological aggregates. For better therapeutic outcomes, broader recognition of aggregate types is essential.
Prof. Dr. Simone Hornemann and her team are addressing this by developing a novel therapeutic conjugate. It consists of a synthetic molecule that binds a wide spectrum of harmful aggregates, combined with a ligand that activates the immune system to clear them. Early experiments using cultured brain tissue and cell models show encouraging results: the conjugate reduces neurotoxicity in prion-infected tissue slices.
The research team is now assessing the conjugate’s pharmacokinetics, acute toxicity, and therapeutic potential in mouse models of Alzheimer’s and prion diseases. This work could pave the way for innovative treatments for neurodegenerative disorders.
