Computational Biology Symposium

Lausanne, 18-19. September 2025

Welcome to the

Computational Biology Symposium

18-19. September 2025

About

Computational biology is everywhere. As biology has developed into a vast field over the last century, available data size increased both in terms of the analyzed samples and assessed biological characteristics. Translating these data into knowledge requires computational approaches. Whereas the spectrum of their applications is vast, ranging from species evolution to protein structures, from bacterial communities to human diseases, the underlying methods analyzing diverse data sets often share fundamental approaches, such as mathematical modeling, statistics, and AI. This symposium aims at bringing together computational biologists from different fields to showcase the transversal nature of their work with a strong emphasis on the applied methods. This shift of focus will bridge seemingly distant fields and provide a fertile ground for synergistic collaborations and unprecedented innovation.

Hosted by the Department of Computational Biology of the University of Lausanne, Switzerland, this meeting will welcome you in a friendly and relaxed environment on the shores of Lake Geneva, with plenty of opportunities for discussing your work and exchange ideas with new friends and colleagues. Join us in Lausanne!

Speakers

Andrea Ganna
FIMM, University of Helsinki
MGH, Harvard Medical School

Anne-Florence Bitbol
SV, EPFL

Helene Morlon
Ecole Normale Supérieure

Mo Lotfollahi
Wellcome Sanger Institute

Marianna Rapsomaniki
BDSC, CHUV

Michael P. Brenner
Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences

Sonja Lehtinen
DBC, University of Lausanne

Roser Vento-Tormo
Wellcome Sanger Institute

Blagoje Soskic
Human Technopole

Joana Pereira
VIB, KU Leuven

Register or submit an abstract here

Submit

Programme (may be subject to change)

8:00 - 9:15
Open Registrations and Welcome Coffee
9:15 - 9:30
Opening Remarks
9:30 - 10:15
Keynote 1
Andrea Ganna
University of Helsinki, MGH - Harvard Medical School
10:15 - 10:45
Coffee Break
10:45 - 11:15
Invited Speaker
Anne-Florence Bitbol
EPFL
11:15 - 11:30
Short Talk
11:30 - 11:45
Short Talk
11:45 - 12:15
Invited Speaker
Helene Morlon
Ecole Normale Superiore, Paris
12:15 - 14:00
Lunch Break on Site & Poster Session
14:00 - 14:30
Invited Speaker
Mo Lotfollahi
Wellcome Sanger Institute, Cambridge, UK
14:30 - 14:45
Short Talk
14:45 - 15:00
Short Talk
15:00 - 15:15
Short Talk
15:15 - 15:45
Coffee Break
15:45 - 16:15
Invited Speaker
Marianna Rapsomaniki
CHUV
16:15 - 16:30
Short Talk
16:30 - 16:45
Short Talk
16:45 - 17:00
Short Talk
17:00 - 19:00
Poster Session and Apero

Time Event
9:30 - 10:00
Keynote 2 - Alma Dal Co Memorial Lecture
Michael P. Brenner
Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences
10:00 - 10:15
Short Talk
10:15 - 10:30
Short Talk
10:30 - 10:45
Short Talk
10:45 - 11:15
Coffee Break
11:15 - 11:45
Invited Speaker
Sonja Lehtinen
DBC
11:45 - 12:00
Short Talk
12:00 - 12:15
Short Talk
12:15 - 12:30
Short Talk
12:30 - 14:00
Lunch Break on Site & Poster Session
14:00 - 14:30
Invited Speaker
Roser Vento-Tormo
Wellcome Sanger Institute, Cambridge, UK
14:30 - 14:45
Short Talk
14:45 - 15:00
Short Talk
15:00 - 15:15
Short Talk
15:15 - 15:45
Coffee Break
15:45 - 16:15
Invited Speaker
Joana Pereira
VIB, KU Leuven
16:15 - 16:30
Short Talk
16:30 - 16:45
Short Talk
16:45 - 17:30
Invited Speaker
Blagoje Soskic
Human Technopole, IT
17:30 - 18:00
Concluding Remarks and Poster Prize
18:00 - 19:00
Apero

Practical information

Dates

Abstract submission deadline
30 June 2025 [Monday]
Notification of acceptance
11 July 2025
Early Registration closing date
11 July 2025
Final registration
1 September 2025
Conference dates
18-19 September
Social dinner
18 September 2025

Registration fees

Early
Late
Student/post-doc
150 CHF
200 CHF
PI
250 CHF
300 CHF
Industry
350 CHF
400 CHF

Venue

Address

Starling Hotel Lausanne ★★★★
Rte Cantonale 31, CH-1025 Saint-Sulpice

How to reach

The nearest international airport is Geneva Airport, located 60 km from Lausanne. Geneva Airport is serviced by numerous airline companies providing connections with European cities like Paris, London, and Frankfurt, as well as a few non-European destinations. To get from Geneva Airport to Lausanne, attendees can use the train from Geneva Airport to Lausanne train station (~45 minutes) Alternatively, Lausanne can be reached by car from Geneva Airport in approximately 45 minutes

Lausanne is well connected by train to all major cities in Switzerland. The main train station is located in the city center and offers frequent connections to cities like Zurich, Bern, and Geneva. Please see Swiss Railways website to access train schedules.

How to get to Starling Hotel from downtown Lausanne
  • Metro M2 + M1 From Lausanne-Flon or Gare (main train station), take Metro M2 to "Lausanne-Flon"
    Transfer to Metro M1 (direction: "Renens") Get off at EPFL station (~13 minutes)
    Walk ~5 minutes across the campus to the hotel (behind Rolex Learning Center)
  • Direct Bus (TL Bus Line 1)
    Take Bus from downtown. Get off near St-Sulpice, Parc Scientifique
    (journey ~18–20 minutes) Walk ~5 minutes to the hotel
  • Hotel Shuttle (Weekdays only)
    Starling Hotel offers a free shuttle service from Lausanne train station (available weekdays 7:00–10:30 and 16:30–21:30). You must book in advance with the hotel.
  • Taxi or Uber
    Distance: ~6 km from downtown. Duration: ~10 minutes by car
    Estimated cost: CHF 30–35

Other accommodation options

A large number of hotels located right in the city centre, not far from the symposium venue, close to Lake Geneva:

Hôtel Alpha-Palmiers ★★★★

Address: Rue du Petit-Chêne 34, 1003 Lausanne.

Hôtel Agora ★★★

Address: Avenue du Rond-Point 9, 1006 Lausanne.

Hôtel des Voyageurs ★★★

Address: Rue Grand-Saint-Jean 19, 1003 Lausanne.

Hôtel Elite ★★★

Address: Av. Sainte-Luce 1, 1003 Lausanne.

Auberge de Jeunesse de Lausanne

Address: Chem. du Bois-de-Vaux 36, 1007 Lausanne.

Hôtel du Marché

Address: Rue Pré-du-Marché 42, 1004 Lausanne.

About the Area

The University of Lausanne (UNIL) is nestled along the picturesque shores of Lake Geneva in Switzerland. The campus is a vibrant hub of academic and social activity, surrounded by lush greenery and stunning views of the lake and mountains. With modern facilities, including libraries, sports centers, and cafes, students have everything they need within walking distance. The nearby city of Lausanne offers a rich cultural experience with museums, theaters, and a lively nightlife. Whether you're attending a lecture or enjoying a leisurely stroll by the lake, the UNIL campus provides an inspiring and welcoming environment for all.

Organizers

Speaker Name

Zoltán Kutalik

Speaker Name

Giovanni Ciriello

Contacts

michelle.ncho@unil.ch

Michelle N'Cho

Sponsors