News EPFL

EPFL researchers put proximity tracing app to the test

Published:01.05.20 — Over the past two weeks, EPFL computer scientists have been testing and refining the smartphone-based system developed by the international Decentralized Privacy-Preserving Proximity Tracing project (DP3T), with the help of the Swiss Army. Their goal: to optimize the app’s ability to alert users after they’ve been in contact with someone contagious with COVID-19, while building trust around the open system. 

Covid-19: using wastewater to track the pandemic

Published:30.04.20 — EPFL researchers, working in association with the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag), have developed a method for detecting the novel coronavirus in wastewater samples. Their method has been tested successfully on samples collected during the first phase of the pandemic, paving the way to an early-stage warning system.

E-books to help families with children living under the lockdown

Published:29.04.20 — EPFL’s Center for Learning Sciences (LEARN) has published a trilogy of picture books to help parents and educators talk to young children about the struggles of life under the lockdown – from the dangers of fake news to limiting screen time and keeping in touch with loved ones. The stories, written by a consulting company specialized in education in collaboration with a psychiatrist, are free to download and available in English, French and German.

Containment measures avoid 200,000 hospitalizations in Italy

Published:27.04.20 — Researchers have modeled the effects of containment and social distancing measures implemented by the Italian government to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Their findings show that contagion transmission was reduced by 45% in March. The model will now be used to analyze possible future scenarios.

WIITE, the exoskeleton for backcountry skiing

Published:24.04.20 — While backcountry ski racers are disappointed that they won’t be starting the Patrouille des Glaciers, one disabled skier is happily strapping on the climbing skins once again. The designers of TWIICE adapted their exoskeleton so that it can be used to skin up mountains.

A new therapeutic target turns the immune system against lymphoma

Published:23.04.20 — EPFL scientists have identified a key mechanism that tumor cells use to take advantage of and avoid detection from the immune system. Targeting this mechanism offers a new therapeutic strategy for cancers like Non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

EPFL inaugurates its first Postdoc Association during lockdown

Published:22.04.20 — The newly inaugurated Postdoc Association aims to promote the professional development of EPFL postdoctoral researchers.