Edith Hummler

Edith Hummler is an Associate Professor at the University of Lausanne (UNIL), affiliated with the Faculty of Biology and Medicine and based in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology. She leads a research group focused on the pathophysiology of sodium and potassium transport in various organs, with a particular emphasis on the amiloride-sensitive sodium channel (ENaC) and membrane-bound serine proteases. She was promoted to Associate Professor on August 1, 2016, and previously served as Director of the FBM Animal Transgenesis Platform.

Her research investigates the molecular mechanisms underlying electrolyte regulation and their role in human diseases such as hypertension, pulmonary dysfunction, and skin disorders. She employs advanced genetic engineering techniques, including the Cre-Lox system and TALEN tools, to develop in vivo models—most notably, her group was the first to publish on a knock-in rat model to study glucocorticoid receptor function in edema formation. These models are instrumental in understanding gene function and developing potential therapeutic targets.

Edith Hummler's research is supported by prestigious organizations including the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNF), the Leducq Foundation, and the NCCR. She has published nearly 80 articles in high-impact journals such as Nature, Nature Genetics, Nature Communications, Journal of Clinical Investigation, and Genes & Development.

• Member of several national and international learned societies and scientific committees
• Active in undergraduate and postgraduate teaching at UNIL
• Supervised multiple Master’s and doctoral students
• Former Director of the Animal Transgenesis Platform (TAF) of the Faculty of Biology and Medicine (2003–2013)

Her work bridges basic science and translational medicine, with strong implications for therapeutic development in renal, respiratory, and dermatological conditions.