Overview - IM

The Institute

The Institute of Microbiology (IM) is the reference center for microbiology in the Swiss territory southern from the Alps. It integrates aspects of public health, environmental hygiene, microbial ecology, and biotechnology within a unified "One Health" approach. The institute operates BSL1, BSL2, and BSL3 laboratories in Mendrisio and Bellinzona, where staff carries out research and offer services and training in biosafety, environmental hygiene, vector control of pathogens, microbial ecology, and environmental biotechnology.
IM operates under the mandate of the Canton of Ticino and other partners, constantly updating its technical and scientific expertise through basic and applied research funded by external bodies. The institute supports activities in the field of "life sciences" within SUPSI and the region, and contributes to education by supervising students of all levels and organizing courses in collaboration with the Piora Alpine Biology Centre Foundation and the Alpine Life Sciences Foundation.

Mission

The Institute serves as the center of expertise for microbiology in the fields of biosafety, environmental biotechnology, vector ecology, microbial ecology, and hygiene and environment. As part of its mission, IM carries out activities in research, consultancy, and education. It actively collaborates with Swiss and international academic institutions and aims to strengthen and expand its network of partners both within SUPSI and with other organizations inside and outside the Canton of Ticino.

Research areas and fields

The Institute primarily focuses on public health, environmental hygiene, microbial ecology, and biotechnology. Its main activities are divided into areas of expertise and research fields..

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Our history

1964

The Institute of Microbiology (IM), formerly known as the Applied Microbiology Laboratory (LMA), was established within the Canton of Ticino’s Institute of Microbiology (ICM), founded in 1964 as the Canton’s Bacteriological Institute. It was created to address a gap in public health services for the population of Ticino.

2013-2014

Over the years, the activities related to public mandates, education, and microbiological research gained increasing importance. In 2013, the clinical microbiological analysis departments were integrated into the Canton Hospital (EOC). To maintain the necessary microbiological and biological expertise in Ticino to support and develop applied research in this field and carry out essential public health tasks, the Laboratory, which included three sectors (Biosafety, Microbial ecology, Hygiene and environment), was integrated into SUPSI in January 2014.

2016

The applied Microbiology Laboratory welcomed the Tiger Mosquito Operational Group, which became the fourth sector of the laboratory (Vector ecology).

2021

Following an increase in staff and activities, the Applied Microbiology Laboratory gained institute status and became the Institute of Microbiology in 2021. It became a key reference for microbiology both within the Department for Environment Constructions and Design (DACD) and across SUPSI, as well as at the cantonal and federal levels. In the same year, the Institute of Microbiology welcomed the Environmental Biotechnology Laboratory into its structure, which became the fifth sector of the institute (Environmental biotechnology).

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