I’m a Professor at the Institute of Experimental Immunology at the University of Zurich in Switzerland, and what is my research about? Cytokines, of course! Our teams research focuses on cytokine networks and their roles in immune regulation, chronic inflammation, and cancer. Regarding ICIS, I have been a member for many years and have attended numerous congresses, but beyond the scientific exchange, I genuinely value ICIS’s role in public outreach—helping to counter the gradual erosion of trust in science. Lastly, I just want to add that even if it may sound trivial, the best advice I ever received was: “There are times when you need to work hard, and times when you don’t. The key is to know which is which.”
Please tell us your name, degree, where you currently work, and position.
My name is Burkhard Becher, PhD. I’m a Professor at the Institute of Experimental Immunology at the University of Zurich in Switzerland.
Where did you do your training?
Initially at the University in Cologne in Germany, followed by McGill University in Montreal, Canada, where I trained with Jack Antel and a postdoc with Randy Noelle at Dartmouth Medical School in NH, USA.
Briefly, what is your research about?
Cytokines, of course. Our teams research focuses on cytokine networks and their roles in immune regulation, chronic inflammation, and cancer. We use preclinical models for those, but through clinical collaborations, we also study clinical material. More recently, we have also become interested in how cytokines shape mammalian development.
Tell us your thoughts about ICIS: how has being involved in the Cytokine Society helped your career?
I have been a member of ICIS for many years and have attended numerous congresses. It has always been the place where I meet most of my peers and keep up with the latest in the field. Beyond the scientific exchange, I genuinely value ICIS’s role in public outreach—helping to counter the gradual erosion of trust in science. And perhaps just as importantly, the tangible successes of cytokine-targeted therapies provide a compelling alternative to the enduring belief that crystals can cure disease or that water has memory.
Are there any particular friendships or collaborations that came specifically out of Cytokines meetings?
Plenty, for sure. Some of the most rewarding have been the unexpected encounters that spark fresh insights and new directions. I also feel a particular kinship with Chris Hunter, as we both share the slightly heretical—but increasingly evident—view that cytokines often manage to be pro- and anti-inflammatory at the same time. It’s reassuring to know that I am not alone in embracing this apparent paradox.
What Cytokines meeting(s) have been your favorites? Tell us about any special memories or anecdotes.
Vienna 2019 and Athens 2023 were particular highlights. In Athens, during my seminar I drew the analogy that the bifurcation of the razor into a twin blade is akin to the Th1/Th2 paradigm. From there, the discussion quickly escalated to the modern “22-blade” razor—an image that, to me, nicely illustrates the utility ever-growing T cell nomenclature. At some point, adding more blades (or more subsets) risks becoming more painful than useful. I also learned a curious fact in Athens: the original BIC single-blade razor was invented there, while the French later introduced the twin blade. Perhaps trivial, but I like to think of it as a memorable “did you know?” moment. Beyond these anecdotes, there are of course far too many special memories from ICIS meetings to recount here.
What do you like to do when not in the lab?
Not very original, but I am a passionate hobby cook/baker—it remains one of my favorite ways to combine patience, skill, and creativity. Perhaps more unusual: we recently bought an old farmhouse in Italy that we are renovating. Alongside the dust and the stonework, I have discovered a real enjoyment of welding. There is something wonderfully grounding about it—few things declutter the mind quite like a welding torch in hand.
What is the best life/career advice you’ve ever received?
It may sound trivial, but the best advice I ever received was: “There are times when you need to work hard, and times when you don’t. The key is to know which is which.” This has stayed with me to this day. Science is demanding, but it is not everything—there are other things in life that matter far more. And if you work all the time, you not only miss out on them, but your science also suffers, because creativity needs space to breathe.
What book or TV show are you reading/watching right now that you recommend?
I just finished Devils by Joe Abercrombie—dark fantasy at its finest, and surprisingly good reading material for the poolside. As for TV, Family Guy remains an all-time favorite for its irreverent humor. More recently, I really enjoyed Bad Sisters, a sharp Irish series, and of course The Bear, which is as intense and addictive as anything I’ve seen in 2025.
What is your favorite cytokine?
Can I really choose just one? If pressed, I would have to say GM-CSF—the eccentric member of the cytokine family, always full of surprises and still holding many secrets. Close behind are IL-12 and IL-23, long-standing companions in my research that continue to fascinate me just as much today as when I first began working on them more than 25 years ago.