Team

Dr. Pruss is overseeing strategic development of genetic programs and their clinical applications at the Swiss Center for Genetics. Prior to taking charge over medical strategy and research, for many years Dr. Pruss worked as a general practitioner and clinical researcher. Much of her work was devoted to the immuno-inflammatory processes, different types of B-lymphocytes, pro-inflammatory cytokines, antibody response, role of the immune system in the appearance of atypical cells, activation of autophagy and its influence on the overall human body performance. Dr. Pruss has participated in various international studies involving the use of genetically modified immune lymphocytes in the treatment of tumors, as well as introduction of IPS cells in patients with aggressive forms of cancer. For the last twenty years Dr. Pruss has been heavily involved in studying the processes of premature aging of the body, including aging at the cellular level and identifying correlations between the realization of genetic information and long-lasting health effects.

Dr. Pierre-Alain Menoud is considered to be one of the leading experts in molecular diagnostics in Switzerland. He received PhD in embryology and molecular biology from the University of Fribourg, Switzerland. Before joining private sector, Dr. Menoud spent 20 years on fundamental research. Since 1997 he has been instrumental in launching and developing various laboratory projects and over the last 12 years he has been focusing on molecular microbiology and molecular genetics including cytogenetics.

Dr. Menoud is a member of the Swiss Society of Medical Genetics, European Society of Human Genetics, as well as the FAMH Society (the Association of the Medical Laboratories of Switzerland).

Maria Pruss is responsible for operational management of the Swiss Center for Genetics, which is one of the key divisions of RCLIN Life Sciences Group. She holds an MSc in Management from l’Ecole des Hautes Etudes Commerciales de l’Université de Lausanne. She is currently involved in a research project at the University of Oxford, UK within the Nuffield Department of Primary Care focused on epigenetic testing, as part of her work towards an MSc degree in Evidence Based Healthcare.

Brian Weber is responsible for development of personalized patient protocols based on epigenetic results. He holds a MSc in Life Sciences, Food, Nutrition and Health from the University of Bern as well as the Swiss Federal Diploma in Traditional European Medicine. His interest in genetic predispositions began more than 10 years ago when he was involved in research project of experimental design in the field of genetics and obesity at the University of Lausanne. Currently Brian Weber is regarded among leading experts in nutrigenomics in Switzerland, combining unique research expertise and practical experience of clinical patient follow up.

Mrs. Silacci is a biologist specializing in medical genetics. She has more than 30 years of laboratory experience. Over the last ten years, she has lead genetic departments of the major laboratories in Switzerland. Her expertise spans across the wide domain of medical genetics, with a special focus in:

• Prenatal and Postnatal Cytogenetics:
• Analysis and interpretation of DPNI (Prendia®, Panorama®)
• Cell culture (amniotique fluid, PVC, miscarrage, etc.)
• Caryotype
• CGH array (Genosensor Abbott, Affymetrix, Agilent)
• FISH (chromos. Painting, Aneuvysion, Microdeletions, oncological pathologie)
• Fertility:
• FISH in sperm cells
• FISH in first polar body
• Molecular Genetics:
• QFPCR (Aneusomy of chromosome)
• Fragment analysis
• Molecular Pathology:
• FISH
• PCR (Kras, Braf, EGFR etc.)

Mr. Perrenoud upon graduating with a diploma of a technician in biomedical analysis participated in two fundamental research projects under the leadership of Prof. Justine Collier (Department of the Fundamental Microbiology) and Prof. Bernard Schneider (Department of Degenerative Neurosciences) at the University of Lausanne.

He then joined the laboratory of molecular diagnostics at CHUV (University Hospital, Lausanne), where he worked as a technician for 7 years, before joining RCLIN. He has participated in several clinical studies in the field of microbiology.