Research Programs

With itsUniversity Research Priority Programs (URPPs), the UZH strengthens and promotes excellent scientific fields, connects researchers, and supports qualified young researchers. The focus of this research funding, which is awarded every eight years, is on socially relevant areas. Currently (2025), our faculty has the lead for one URPP:

• In the URPPAdaptive brain circuits in development and learning, the emergence and involvement of neuronal networks in behavior are investigated in animal models and in humans. 

In 2024, we concluded three of our very successful URPPs after they had reached their maximum funding period. Of course, the research continues!

• In the URPPEvolution in Action: From genomes to ecosystems, state-of-the-art genome analysis methods were applied to better understand biological change processes in medicine and biology.
• In the URPPGlobal change and biodiversity,  the causes and consequences of biodiversity loss and global change were studied, contributing to a much-needed better understanding of the mechanisms of climate change.
• In the URPPLightChEC: Converting Solar Light into Chemical Energy (Artificial Photosynthesis), the basics of directly storing solar energy into chemical energy with novel materials and processes was investigated - a key technology for sustainable energy supply in the 21^st century. 

In addition to these URPPs, researchers from our faculty were or are involved in additional URPPs led by other faculties. These areTranslational Cancer Research,Language and Space,Dynamics of Healthy Aging,Human Reproduction  andInnovative Therapies in Rare Diseases (ITINERARE). 

National Centres of Competence in Research (NCCRs) are lighthouses of research in Switzerland. Here, theSwiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) funds long-term research projects on topics of strategic importance.  

The UZH is the leading house for theNCCR Evolving Language, with prominent participation by the Faculty of Science. This multidisciplinary research priority program has set itself the task of researching language in all its aspects – from evolution, production and processing to change through digital means of communication. Researchers of the Faculty of Science are and have been involved in numerousother NCCRs.