Center for Artificial Muscles inaugurated this morning in Neuchâtel

The Center for Artificial Muscles was inaugurated this morning at Microcity in the presence of Jean-Nathanaël Karakash, the Neuchâtel State Councilor for the Economy and Social Action, and Martin Vetterli, the President of EPFL. The Center will allow EPFL - working first with the Bern University Hospital (Inselspital) and then with the Zurich University Hospital - to develop a less invasive cardiac assistance system for treating heart failure. The Center for Artificial Muscles was inaugurated this morning at Microcity in Neuchâtel following the announcement of a 12-million-franc donation by the Werner Siemens-Foundation a little over six months ago. The event was attended by Jean-Nathanaël Karakash, who is Neuchâtel's State Councilor for the Economy and Social Action, EPFL President Martin Vetterli and representatives from the Werner Siemens-Foundation. Under this ambitious initiative, EPFL is responsible for setting up the Center for Artificial Muscles, collaborating initially with the Bern University Hospital (Inselspital) and then with the Zurich University Hospital. The first project, slated to span the next four years, will focus on developing a less invasive cardiac assistance system for treating heart failure, which many forms of heart disease lead to. In such cases, patients can be saved only by a heart transplant or a complicated assistance system.