Innovating through scientific excellence at the Roche site in Basel

When Jens Barthold steps into Roche’s state-of-the-art pRED (Pharma Research and Early Development) Center in Basel, Switzerland, he carries the memories of his grandmother. Jens, an organic chemist with a decade of experience researching cancer, now focuses on Alzheimer’s disease, which his 91-year-old grandmother, Berlinde, faces. “This is a big motivation for me,” he says. Personal connections to this disease drive him to excel in this advanced research environment dedicated to accelerating discoveries for patient treatment.

Opened recently, the Roche pRED Center in Basel hosts 1,800 scientists like Jens, working on cardiovascular, metabolic, immunological, infectious, neurological, oncological, ophthalmological and rare diseases. Isabel Bachmeier, working as a clinical imaging scientist at Roche, believes increased collaboration with discovery scientists and data scientists can help lead to even better and faster discovery of new treatments and biomarkers. She emphasises how the pRED Center’s collaborative design enhances research: “There are so many great conversations. These interactions can accelerate innovation for those who need it the most – patients.” 

Roche’s mission, grounded in over 125 years of innovative healthcare, continues through substantial R&D investments aimed at improving global patient care. The global pRED community, consisting of over 2,300 scientists from diverse disciplines like biology, medicine, technology, data and AI, thrives on collaboration and diversity to tackle healthcare’s toughest challenges. By bringing together the right people in the right spaces, we pave the way for success. We’ve created a workspace that attracts top scientists worldwide to support their best work, now and in the future.

The pRED Center in Basel exemplifies Roche’s commitment to transformative research. Designed with input from our global pRED research teams in Zurich, Munich, New York and Welwyn, the center’s labs and office spaces promote science, innovation and collaboration. Features like novel digital solutions and logistics zones on each floor enable seamless experimentation. Sustainability was also prioritised by incorporating energy-efficient features throughout.

The center’s two high-rise laboratory buildings, office building and convention centre form a unique complex. Hans Clevers, Head of pRED, notes, “I have seen many research buildings and institutes in my life but nothing compares to the new pRED Center. I know that this facility will foster innovation and inspire all of the scientists who come to work here.”

Workspaces are designed so that state-of-the-art laboratories sit side by side with office spaces to encourage idea exchange and creativity, creating an environment where teams can reach their full potential, innovation is nurtured and scientific boundaries are pushed. 

Alongside our internal innovations, Roche values external expertise, fostering innovation through partnerships with scientific and industry experts, academia and patient groups. The pRED Center aims to be a hub for Basel’s scientific network, sparking future collaborations with patients at the core of Roche’s endeavours. The pRED Center, located in Basel, the birthplace of Roche, exemplifies our commitment to delivering life-changing medicines and shaping the future of healthcare.