ETHZ is a public research university in Zürich, Switzerland. Founded by the Swiss Federal Government in 1854 with the stated mission to educate engineers and scientists, ETHZ focuses exclusively on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. It is part of the Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology Domain (ETH Domain), part of the Swiss Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research. The university is an attractive destination for international students with a world-class reputation in academia and industry. In the 2021 edition of the QS World University Rankings, ETH Zurich is ranked 6th in the world and 8th by the Times Higher Education World Rankings 2020. In the 2020 QS World University Rankings by subject it is ranked 4th in the world for engineering and technology (2nd in Europe) and 1st for earth & marine science.
Our group advocates the use of the human exhaled breath as a non-invasive alternative to the body fluids and tissues classically investigated in metabolomics studies and medical diagnostic tests. Specifically, the group has pioneered the design, development, and use of a secondary electrospray ionization source that can be coupled to mass spectrometry systems and perform advanced metabolomics studies in real time, with a primary focus on volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds. SESI-MS allows in-depth exhaled breath analysis, characterization, and untargeted identification of metabolites.
