Welcome words
Dear colleagues,
It is our great pleasure to welcome you to the LS2 Annual Meeting 2026, hosted on the Irchel Campus at the University of Zürich. Our Annual Meeting serves as a vibrant platform for scientists across Switzerland and beyond, bringing together researchers from all fields of life sciences to foster collaboration and share groundbreaking discoveries. This interdisciplinary exchange has been a cornerstone of LS2, enhancing the strength and diversity of our scientific community.
This year’s theme, "Fueling Life Across Scales", highlights the fundamental role of energy in driving biological processes, from the molecular to the organismal level. We are delighted to announce three outstanding keynote speakers: Sarah-Maria Fendt (VIB Center for Cancer Biology & KU Leuven, Belgium), Heidi McBride (McGill University, Canada), and Jennifer Lippincott-Schwartz (Howard Hughes Medical Institute, USA). Their lectures will span critical topics in metabolism, mitochondria, cancer, and advanced imaging technologies, providing unique insights into how energy fuels life at multiple scales.
The keynote lectures will be integrated into an exciting program featuring 11 scientific symposia organized by LS2 sections and partners. This includes 19 invited speakers and over 40 speakers selected based on abstract submissions. As always, we look forward to the laureate talks by the recipients of the Friedrich Miescher Award and the Lelio Orci Award. The meeting will also feature Young Scientist Satellite, 2 interactive poster sessions, and an extensive industry exhibition to encourage scientific discussions and networking.
The LS2 Annual Meeting is the largest life sciences gathering in Switzerland, offering a broad scientific program and facilitating connections across disciplines. We strongly encourage young researchers to engage in discussions, present their work, and take advantage of the rich networking opportunities.
We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to all our sponsors and exhibitors for their invaluable contributions, which make the 2026 Annual Meeting possible. We encourage you to visit their booths and engage with their representatives to stay informed about the latest technological advancements.
On behalf of the scientific committee and the entire meeting preparation team, we eagerly anticipate this event and look forward to welcoming many of you in Zürich for 2 ½ days of stimulating scientific exchange.
With best regards,
Tatjana Kleele (ETH Zurich) and Alexis Jourdain (University of Lausanne)
