Raphaëlle Luisier has an ambitious vision: to develop AI-based algorithms that can decode the various functions of RNA in diverse contexts. When she presented this vision during the selection process for her new position, she sensed immediately that Bern was the right place for her to make her dreams come true. She is now in the process of making Bern a hub for AI in RNA biology and centerpiece of an outstanding international research network.
Raphaëlle Luisier believes that complex issues can only be solved through collaboration between fields of expertise, even if they are distant from each other. She embraces interdisciplinarity:
"I am a passionate networker and explorer. I find cross-disciplinary research exciting and important. I dream of finding the right experts in various fields and bringing them together to tackle major challenges. My work in Bern makes me feel like my dream is about to come true. There is a critical mass of experts from diverse fields, clinical and biological data, and an initiative that is unique in Switzerland: the Department of Digital Medicine, the DDM. This collaborative, interdisciplinary framework embodies my core beliefs. I’m happy to be part of the DDM and proud to contribute to this innovative concept. Outsiders are impressed whenever I tell them about the DDM."
Backed by the University of Bern and the Faculty of Medicine, Raphaëlle Luisier can network with the best technology hubs in Switzerland and around the world. This allows her to pursue her ambitious goals in the therapeutic use of RNA:
"RNA is a fascinating molecule. It is ubiquitous, has diverse functions, and can be used in many ways. However, to exploit its full potential, we must understand it in context, not in isolation. This is how we bridge the gap between RNA sequencing and RNA-based therapies. I lead an international alliance called SATURNO. Its goal is to accelerate the development of RNA-based therapeutics for complex human disorders. The alliance includes molecular biologists, clinicians, and AI experts from five leading technology institutes located in Switzerland and Singapore.
I find international cooperation to be very enriching. That’s why I support the Faculty of Medicine's internationalization efforts. They offer opportunities for research collaboration and enable students and early-career researchers to gain valuable experience abroad."
