COST: against severe burns, for plant proteins
From the treatment of severe burns to the cultivation of plant proteins: The SNSF is supporting 16 Swiss projects with more than seven million francs as part of the COST European funding programme.
The disastrous fire in Crans-Montana at the beginning of the year put one medical discipline in the spotlight – the treatment of severe burns. A Swiss research project aims to make progress in this field (see box for details). The SNSF is supporting it as part of the COST funding programme (European Cooperation in Science and Technology).
Sixty-six proposals were submitted to the final COST call. After evaluation, the SNSF approved 16 projects, which it will fund with 7.2 million Swiss francs over the next few years.
Final COST call for proposals
The COST programme aims to strengthen scientific and technological research cooperation in Europe and worldwide. It brings together researchers from across Europe to jointly pursue ideas in international networks, known as COST Actions.
The Federal Council wants to reduce the SNSF's funding from 2027. Parliament is currently debating these budget cuts. As a result, the SNSF will not be launching any new calls for the COST funding scheme. The SNSF very much regrets this decision because basic research is central to innovation and progress in Swiss society. Switzerland will, however, continue to participate in international COST Actions.
Medicine, agriculture, space research: three of the approved Swiss projects
Better treatment of burns: For severe and deep burns, keratinocyte grafts – also known as cultured epidermal autografts (CEAs) – have been an important treatment option for decades. This procedure involves removing small, healthy pieces of skin from the patient. Cells (keratinocytes) are isolated and cultivated from these, ultimately yielding a large surface area of grafts. However, the long-term effects of CEAs on skin quality or scarring are still largely unexplored. In a study, Sophie Böttcher-Haberzeth (University Children's Hospital Zurich), Philippe Abdel Sayed (University Hospital of Lausanne) and Bong-Sung Kim (University Hospital Zurich) evaluate the results in patients who have been treated with CEAs in Switzerland over the last 40 years. The aim is to obtain verified data for future treatment strategies.
Promoting the cultivation of plant proteins: Animal husbandry has a significant impact on our environment. Despite growing demand for vegetable proteins, the local production of legumes in Europe is negligible. Joël F. Pothier (Zurich University of Applied Sciences, ZHAW) and Claire Prigent-Combaret (Université Lyon 1) are investigating how site-specific plant microbiomes – the totality of all microorganisms – can contribute to the sustainable production of soya beans, field beans and garden beans in Switzerland. The aim is to identify locally adapted microbial communities that support the plants during nutrient supply, water shortages and heat stress. In cooperation with two COST Actions, locally adapted biofertilisers are being tested under different agroclimatic conditions.
Detecting extraterrestrial life: Studies have shown that there are many planets outside our solar system that are the size of Earth and have a temperate climate. However, Earth is still the only known planet on which life exists. Caroline Dorn from the Institute of Theoretical Physics at ETH Zurich wants to use her project to improve our understanding of the habitability of planets. Her team is developing a universal model for this purpose. At its centre is the role of planetary biogeochemical cycles, in particular carbon and sulphur. These cycles can regulate the long-term climate of the Earth and, in a similar way, influence conditions on planets outside our solar system.