Current

Newly appointed: Prof. Martin D. Berger

Prof. Martin D. Berger has been appointed Extraordinary Professor of Medical Oncology with a special focus on Gastrointestinal Oncology, effective March 1, 2023. Congratulations!

Newly appointed: Prof. Christoph Gräni

Prof. Christoph Gräni has been appointed Extraordinary Professor in Cardiac Imaging, effective February 1, 2023. Congratulations!

Newly appointed: Prof. José Garcia-Tirado

Prof. José Garcia-Tirado has been appointed Assistant Professor with tenure track in Diabetes Technology, Smart Control Algorithms and Applied Diabetes Research, effective January 1, 2023. Congratulations!

Brainweek 2023 in Bern: What is a myth and what is the truth?

This year's Brainweek will take place from March 13 - 16. In a rich program of lectures, discussions and a film screening, participants will learn from experts how to maintain brain and mental health. Common brain myths will be put to the test. Wednesday will be the researcher’s night.

The Dr. Lutz and Dr. Celia Zwillenberg Prize 2022 was awarded to 3 young talents, 2 of them from the Medical Faculty

The Dean congratulates Dr. Mitra Lovelin Gultom, Postdoctoral Fellow, Department for BioMedical Research, University of Bern and Dr. med. Dr. sc. nat. Joel Zindel, Senior Physician, Visceral Surgery and Medicine, Inselspital Bern for the Dr. Lutz and Dr. Celia Zwillenberg Award 2022. The award recognizes up to three outstanding scientific papers in the field of biological sciences each year. The prize is intended as an incentive for young talents who have presented an innovative work as a dissertation or a high-profile publication as a postdoctoral researcher. (Bild: ©Universität Bern, Bild: Manu Friederich)

Prof. Angelillo-Scherrer is the new President of the Swiss Society of Hematology SGH

Prof. Dr. med. Anne Angelillo-Scherrer, Director and Chief Physician of the Department of Hematology, Inselspital Bern is the new President of the Swiss Society for Hematology. The dean congratulates Prof. Angelillo-Scherrer on her appointment. (Image: ©Insel Gruppe)

Dr. Mattia Aime

Dr. Mattia Aime, Department for BioMedical Research (DBMR), Neurology, University of Bern, and Department of Neurology, Inselspital, University Hospital Bernhas discovered how emotions are processed during sleep and has recieved a Pfizer research prize. Congratulations! Read the interview with the award winner in the online magazine of the University of Bern. (Picture: © zvg)

Two calls for proposals to promote international academic networking and global health

As of 31.12.2022, the Medical Faculty has launched the Call for Applications for the Funding of Global Health Initiatives & for the Funding of International Networking Activities in Research. Please find the calls under "Current tenders".

Opening Swiss Sleep House Bern on November 29, 2022

On the festive occasion of November 29, 2022, the Swiss Sleep House Bern opened its doors. The Swiss Sleep House is open to all those who suffer from sleep problems or would like to learn more about sleep health.

Doctor honoris causa of the Medical Faculty awarded to Prof. M.D. PhD Masashi Yanagisawa

Every year on Dies academicus, the University of Bern commemorates its foundation in 1834. On the 188th Dies academicus, the honorary doctorate of the Medical Faculty was awarded to Prof. Masashi Yanagisawa of the International Institute for Integrative Sleep Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Japan. Congratulations! (Picture: Prof. Yanagisawa & Prof. Bassetti; Dean Medical Faculty / ©Universität Bern; Foto: M. Friederich)

Marco Sieber: ESA astronaut and graduate of the Medical Faculty in Bern

In November 2022, Marco was selected as an ESA career astronaut. (Foto: © ESA - P. Sebirot)

PD Dr. med. et MME Roman Hari is going to take up the position as “Lehrdekan” (“Dean of Teaching”) at the Medical Faculty

PD Dr. med. Hari is going to take up the position as “Lehrdekan” (“Dean of Teaching”), a newly created position at the Medical Faculty, as of February 2023. He was elected by the Faculty Council on November 16, 2022. Since 2014, PD Dr. med. Hari has been working at the Bern Institute of Primary Health Care BIHAM. In 2016, he took up the position as Head of Teaching at BIHAM and in the same year, he obtained the Master of Medical Education MME. In 2021, he habilitated in primary healthcare with a focus on medical teaching. Besides his academic duties, he is primary care physician and consultant for general internal medicine at the Regionalspital Emmental in Burgdorf. Already now, the Medical Faculty wishes PD Dr. med. Hari all the best in his new position and looks forward to working with him.

Information Event December 8, 2022 on Horizon Europe Health Work Programme for 2023-2024

In the upcoming Horizon Europe Health Work Programme for 2023-2024 there will be several collaborative calls on pandemic preparedness with the first deadlines in April 2023. For researchers based at a Swiss host institution, it is possible to join a consortium and receive direct funding from the Swiss government. The Grants Office / Euresearch Office University of Bern is organizing an information event to provide you with details on these calls and an opportunity for discussion and questions. The event will take place on 8 December (14:00-17:00 including an Apéro) in the Kuppelraum of the main university building (Hochschulstrasse 4). For futher information, please contact the Grants Office.

Successful participation of the Medical Faculty at the University of Bern's “Nacht zum Berufsteinstieg” 2022.

The Vice Dean Research, Prof. Mercader, the Dean Prof. Bassetti and Prof. Porz, Head of Medical Ethics and Continuing Medical Education, Insel Gruppe, participated at the University of Bern’s “Nacht zum Berufseinstieg” 2022 together with three representatives of the Student Council, Florin Kalberer, Arlette Journeaux and Nicole Wyss Fonseca. Topics, which were discussed in an informal setting, included the desire for a 42-hour work week for assistant physicians, research opportunities during and after studies, and a career in teaching.

Manuela Funke-Chambour wins Ewald Weibel Research Award

Prof. Manuela Funke-Chambour, MD, Chief Physician at the Department of Pneumology at Inselspital, University Hospital Bern, and University of Bern wins the Ewald Weibel Research Award. The researcher focuses on changes in lung tissue and is now being honored for her pioneering work in the field of fibrotic lung diseases. (Image: Insel Gruppe)

Interview with Prof. C. Gebhard on gender medicine in «Der Bund» on September 26, 2022 (in German): «Es wird von Frauen erwartet, dass sie sich hinten anstellen»

Fritz and Ursula Melchers Postdoctoral Award goes to Dr. Tim Rollenske

Dr. Tim Rollenske receives the 2022 Fritz and Ursula Melchers Award for his research on the role of intestinal mucosal antibodies in the reciprocal relationship between host and microorganisms. He was able to show in the laboratory of Prof. Dr. Andrew Macpherson how secretory IgA antibodies keep intestinal microbes under control. The findings could make an important contribution to the development of better vaccines and have been highly ranked published in the journal Nature

Better understanding of the development of intestinal diseases

Bacteria in the small intestine adapt dynamically to our nutritional state, with individual species disappearing and reappearing. Researchers at the University of Bern and University Hospital Bern have now been able to comprehensively study the bacteria of the small intestine and their unique adaptability for the first time. The findings contribute to a better understanding of intestinal diseases such as Crohn's disease or celiac disease and to the development of new therapeutic approaches.

Discovering New Cancer Treatments in the “Dark Matter” of the Human Genome

Discovering New Cancer Treatments in the “Dark Matter” of the Human Genome

Researchers of the University of Bern and the Insel Hospital, University Hospital Bern, have developed a screening method to discover new drug targets for cancer treatment in the so-called “Dark Matter” of the genome. They applied their method to non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the greatest cancer killer for which effective therapies are urgently sought. They could show that inhibiting identified targets could greatly slow down cancer growth, and their method is adaptable to other cancers.

New interfaculty Assistant Professor with Tenure Track for Machine Learning for Medicine at the Faculty of Science and Medical Faculty

New interfaculty Assistant Professor with Tenure Track for Machine Learning for Medicine at the Faculty of Science and Medical Faculty

Prof. Athina Tzovara has been elected by the University Executive Board as Assistant Professor TT in the field of Machine Learning in Medicine, effective September 1, 2022. The assistant professorship is held interfaculty by the Faculty of Science and the Medical Faculty. The Medical Faculty congratulates her on her election!

Prof. C. L. A. Bassetti received the Doctor Honoris causa of the University Iuliu Hatjeganu in Cluj-Napoca, Romania on 21 September 2022. Congratulations!

Prof. C. L. A. Bassetti received the Doctor Honoris causa of the University Iuliu Hatjeganu in Cluj-Napoca, Romania on 21 September 2022. Congratulations!

CAIM Research Symposium 2022

CAIM Research Symposium 2022

On 24 November 2022, CAIM will host a research symposium (CAIM Research Symposium) for its members from the University, Insel Gruppe AG, UPD and sitem-insel. The symposium will be held in the University's Kuppelsaal in the morning. It is intended to provide an opportunity for networking between all AI researchers in the field of medicine at our medical site in Bern.

CAIM Research Awards 2022

CAIM Research Awards 2022

On the occasion of the CAIM Research Symposium 2022, CAIM will for the first time present two research awards to Master and PhD students in this field in the categories "Translational Research" and "Diversity for AI Research in Medicine". The two winning projects will each receive CHF 500.00 from the “Standortförderung Bern” and the translational project will also receive coaching from be-advanced. Applications can be submitted until 7 November 2022.

Excellence needs equal opportunities! Excellence is the maxim for action in science.

Excellence needs equal opportunities! Excellence is the maxim for action in science.

The Better Science initiative calls for a new scientific culture enabling everyone to work excellently. Simultaneously to the ongoing initiative of the University of Bern, the Equal Opportunity Coordinator of the Med. Dean's Office - Ms. Svea Lehmann - was invited by the Clinic Director and Chief Physician of Neuroradiology (Prof. J. Gralla) to a lunch symposium. At this event, Ms. Lehmann presented the current gender equality measures of the Medical Faculty Bern and showed further options of gender equality promoting measures that could be taken by a clinic or an institute.

„DAIM Lunch Talk“ on 18 October 2022

„DAIM Lunch Talk“ on 18 October 2022

ARTORG Center and Center for AI in Medicine invite you on the scientific lunch talk „DAIM Lunch Talk“ with Dr. Lisa Koch, Institute for Ophthalmic Research, University of Tübingen. When: 18 October 2022, 12.00-13.10h Where: ARTORG Center, Murtenstrasse 50, F 502 & online The event is free of charge, participation is possible online or in person. Registration required.

Bern and Ticino join forces in human medicine

Bern and Ticino join forces in human medicine

The Medical Faculty of the University of Bern and the Biomedical Faculty of the Università della Svizzera Italiana USI will cooperate in future in the training of students in human medicine. From 2023, students from Ticino will be able to complete a bachelor's degree in human medicine in Bern.

From niche to world leader: 100 years Dentistry in Bern

From niche to world leader: 100 years Dentistry in Bern

Founded amidst resistance in 1921, the School of Dental Medicine of the University of Bern (ZMK) is today among the most renowned centers of their kind in the world. Hendrik Meyer-Lückel, Executive Director of the ZMK, tells what makes Bernese dentistry unique.

Technological advances in cancer therapy  

Technological advances in cancer therapy

Researchers from the University of Bern and Inselspital provide an overview of the latest technologies in precision oncology. Translating these into clinical application is still a major challenge. With research projects, the Bern Center for Precision Medicine (BCPM) contributes to bringing technological progress to the patient.

Young Investigator Grant for cancer research

Young Investigator Grant for cancer research

We congratulate Dr. Roberta Esposito from the Department of BioMedical Research (DBMR) and the Clinic for Medical Oncology for being granted 100’000 CHF to develop her research on cancer with the support from the Béatrice Ederer-Weber foundation. Her research will use patient derived organoids to study the role of lncRNAs in colorectal cancer.

With a Hydrogel Against Black Skin Cancer

With a Hydrogel Against Black Skin Cancer

Researchers at the Deparment of Pathology of the University of Bern have developed a treatment option that activates the body's own defense system against black skin cancer. Components of a bacterium are embedded in gel and applied directly to the area of the tumor. In the model, it was shown that the gel reduces tumor growth, inhibits its spread to other organs and thus prolongs survival. In a next step, the gel is to be tested for its effectiveness in patients in clinical trials.

Major US award for Bern and Geneva researchers

Major US award for Bern and Geneva researchers

A prestigious grant from the USA goes to the biomedical scientist Sven Rottenberg, University of Bern, and the clinical scientist Intidhar Labidi-Galy, University of Geneva and University Hospital of Geneva. They received a joint grant from the "Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs" for their project on ovarian cancer. This underlines the high quality of the collaborative research on ovarian cancer in Bern and Geneva.