Network Funding of SNI members In the last six months, funding has been awarded to several members of our network. Here is a brief description of some of their projects. Data-based optimization of enzymes Professor Michael Nash (Department of Chemistry, University of Basel and ETH Zurich) has launched a new project in the field of enzyme engineering with a view to the targeted improvement of enzymes — for example, for medical applications. The challenge is to optimize multiple properties — such as activity, stability and specificity — at the same time. Supported for four years by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF), the project combines new experimental and computer-assisted ap- proaches to study enzyme variants more effi- ciently. Using a newly developed method known as en- zyme proximity sequencing, the researchers from Nash’s team will test thousands of enzyme variants in yeast cells simultaneously with a view to identi- fying those that are particularly efficient. Based on the example of the enzyme asparaginase, which plays a key role in cancer therapies, the aim is to demonstrate how enzymes could in the future be improved in more targeted way and based on data rather than trial and error. New approaches to nitrate production and photochemistry In the last round of calls, two ERC Advanced Grants were awarded to two long-term SNI members from the Department of Chemistry of the University of Basel. Professor Thomas Ward’s project will explore completely new approaches to produce nitrogen in a form that is available to plants. Ward wants to de- velop an efficient process for producing this key plant nutrient with lower energy consumption and lower emissions. Nitrogen for agriculture is often produced in the form of ammonia, based on the reduction of N2 to NH3. In his approach, Ward uses an oxidation process instead and plans to produce nitrate — which can Further information: Research group Michael Nash Research group Thomas Ward Michael Nash discusses results with his doctoral student Marco Ernst on the path to improving enzymes. 15 SNI INSight December 2025