The Local Research Unit – Institute of Clinical Neuroscience of Southern Switzerland (LRU-INSI) is dedicated to advancing academic and translational neuroscience within the INSI-EOC and USI framework. Our unit actively fosters collaborations with leading research institutions and industry partners, both nationally and internationally.
Our scientific mandate is grounded in translational and clinical neuroscience, aimed at bridging the gap between basic research and clinical applications. We pursue innovative diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to neurological disorders, particularly those affecting the central nervous system.
Through a multidisciplinary research approach, we emphasize high-impact studies in neurodegeneration, ophthalmology, stroke, neurosurgery, neuroimmunology, sleep medicine, neuromodulation, and neuromuscular while fostering rigorous academic training and dissemination of research outcomes.
From the different currently research projects of the LRU-INSI here we indicate a selection of our recent studies:
Neurodegeneration
- A study applied RT-QuIC to skin punch biopsies for the detection of tau protein aggregates in patients with suspected tauopathies and synucleinopathies. High diagnostic accuracy was observed for tauopathies, highlighting the technique’s promise as a non-invasive biomarker for neurodegenerative disease differentiation1.
Ophthalmology
- A prospective, real-world study assessed treatment-naïve patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration receiving faricimab. Longitudinal analysis revealed significant improvements in visual acuity and reductions in retinal thickness, confirming the therapy’s efficacy and safety in clinical practice2.
Stroke Neurology
- In atrial fibrillation patients with ischemic stroke, 51.1% had intracranial vessel occlusion, predominantly in the anterior circulation.Angiography-confirmed occlusion was linked to poorer 90-day outcomes (aOR: 1.95), regardless of anticoagulation status, highlighting its prognostic significance in stroke management3.
Neurosurgery (Neuro-Oncology)
- GLIOVIS, a novel automated tool for calculating safety margins in glioma resection, was evaluated using pre- and intraoperative imaging data. By integrating anatomical and tumor-boundary constraints, the tool enhanced intraoperative precision and surgical confidence compared to standard planning methods4.
Neurosurgery (Surgical Technology)
- The adoption of exoscope-assisted spine surgery was examined through operative metrics across multiple procedures. Analysis demonstrated improvements in performance, reduced complications, and enhanced image clarity over time, validating the exoscope as a valuable tool in complex spinal surgeries5.
Neurosurgery (Spine Surgery)
- A case series evaluated complex thoracolumbar fractures treated with “armed kyphoplasty” and posterior pedicle screw stabilization. Pre- and post-operative clinical and radiological assessments were performed. Results demonstrated the approach as a feasible, less invasive alternative to corpectomy, offering favorable outcomes in stability, pain relief, and recovery with fewer complications6.
Neuroimmunology
- A multicenter, prospective study studied multiple sclerosis patients switching from branded to generic glatiramer acetate. Patients were evaluated over time for adherence, relapses, MRI activity, and adverse events. The generic form showed comparable efficacy and tolerability, with high patient satisfaction, supporting its safe implementation in clinical practice7.
Sleep Medicine
- The Life-ON study followed over 1,000 women during pregnancy and postpartum. Sleep data, combined with hormonal, psychological, and sociodemographic variables, revealed a high prevalence of sleep disorders and their strong association with mood and hormonal fluctuations, underlining the importance of early detection and intervention8.
Neuromodulation
- Personalized transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) protocols targeting brain regions associated with mood, cognition, and behavior was applied to explore the feasibility and therapeutic potential of non-invasive neuromodulation in managing traumatic brain injury (TBI) -related psychiatric and cognitive disturbances. Results showed that tailored TMS protocols offer promising, non-invasive treatment options for psychiatric and cognitive symptoms following TBI9.
Neuromuscular
- Researches identified cytotoxic, Th1-like CD4⁺ T cells targeting myelin proteins in Acute Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyradiculoneuropathy and Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) patients using antigen screening and single-cell sequencing. These autoreactive T cells, absent in axonal variants, showed shared clonotypes and distinct T cell receptors, suggesting a direct pathogenic role and potential therapeutic targets in demyelinating GBS10.
