Franziska Suter-Riniker

PD Dr. Franziska Suter-Riniker is a leading researcher at the University of Bern, serving as Head of the Department of Clinical Microbiology and Head of Virology at the Institute for Infectious Diseases (IFIK) within the Medical Faculty. Her work focuses on multidisciplinary approaches to infectious disease research, diagnostics, and vaccine development, aligning with the institute's mission to integrate clinical microbiology, virology, and public health initiatives. She plays a pivotal role in advancing One Health research and fostering collaborations with institutions like the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNF) and Innosuisse.

Research Interests

Dr. Suter-Riniker oversees projects in

• Gut microbiology and vaccine development against bacterial pathogens
• Intestinal colonization models for antibiotic-resistant bacteria using innovative approaches like Zophobas morio larvae
• One Health research exploring interactions between human, animal, and environmental health
• Antimicrobial resistance and novel bacterial therapeutics
• Food safety studies (e.g., arsenic metabolism in seafood)

Institute Highlights

The IFIK, where she leads, is recognized for its

• Accreditation as the first global laboratory for nanopore sequencing in bacterial identification
• Collaborations on spin-offs like Santella (vaccine development) and Enzoxa (plant-derived antibiotics)
• Contributions to national research programs such as NRP79 on 3R principles (Replacement, Reduction, Refinement in animal testing)
• High-security laboratory work on pathogens like SARS-CoV-2