Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Inselspital Bern

The Department is a leading medical center of Obstetrics and Fetomaternal Medicine, Gynecology and Gynecologic Oncology, and Reproductive Medicine/Gynecologic Endocrinology. The Department is at the international forefront of clinical as well as translational research in these specialized fields.

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Managing Co-Director and Chief Physician of Obstetrics and Feto-Maternal Medicine

Prof. Dr. med. Daniel Surbek

Division of Gynecology and Gynecological Oncology

Profile

  • Endometriosis: Investigate causes, treatment failure (non-response/recurrence), pain, and fertility issues (EndoDrug study); Develop non-invasive diagnostic tools (molecular tests & apps; studies ADOmiRNA, ENIGMA, Nalu, EndoImaging); Explore links to gynecological cancer (ENGYNE study).
  • Ovarian Cancer: Participate in major international and national studies to improve diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes (Remission, SUROVA, SAKK, OvCaR studies); Study the use of virtual reality for reducing anxiety before surgery (VRelax study).
  • Endometrial Cancer: Improve surgical staging using the sentinel lymph node technique and personalize treatment according to molecular markers.
  • Urology / Urogynecology: Assess quality of life changes before and after urogynecologic procedures (Lavic study) or gender-affirming procedures; Study the effects of exercise on pelvic floor changes.

External Partners

Scailyte; Roche Diagnostics International Ltd; Center for Gender Variance, Univ. of Basel; Berner Fachhochschule, Bern; Dell Medical School, Univ. of Texas, Austin; Croydon Univ. Hospital, London; Dept. of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Inst. for Molecular Biosciences, Queensland; Clinical Pathology & Cytology, Karolinska Univ. Hospital, Stockholm; Dept. of Urogynaecology, Princess-N-Hospital, Southampton; Dept. of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Ospedale Santa Chiara di, Trento; Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway

Grants

  • Foundation for clinical-experimental cancer research
  • Bern University Research Foundation
  • Urethral vascularisation and urodynamic measurement for stress incontinence
  • Innosuisse Project Nr.125.876 IP-LS (EndoDrug)
  • Bern Medtech Collaboration (CSEM / INSEL) (EndoImaging)
  • Angela Reiffer Stiftung, Dürmüller-Bol Stiftung, Parrotia-Stiftung (VRelax)
  • Fulbright Grant, SNF Exchange Grant, Medicus Exchange Grant
  • Further funding source: Roche Diagnostics International Ltd

Division of Obstetrics and Feto-Maternal Medicine

Profile

  • Stem cells and stem cell-derived non-coding microRNA for prevention and treatment of perinatal brain damage and neuroregeneration in preterm birth
  • Astroglial function as target for diagnosis and treatment of perinatal brain damage in preterm birth and intrauterine growth restriction
  • Clinical trials in novel procoagulant treatments of postpartum haemorrhage, preterm birth and preeclampsia
  • Clinical trial of wearable continuous glucose monitoring in gestational diabetes
  • Clinical trial of perinatal microbiota and neonatal and child development
  • Transmembrane transporter and biomarker in preeclampsia and preterm birth
  • Molecular signature of circulating free DNA in maternal blood in adverse pregnancy outcome
  • Development of novel wearable devices for AI-based diagnosis of maternal disorders and fetal condition in pregnancy
  • Viral infections in pregnancy including CMV and Sars-CoV-2: placental disease

External Partners

Obstetrics and Feto-maternal Medicine Departments at Universities of Basel, Zurich, and Lausanne; ETH Zurich
Departments of Pediatrics and Pathology, and Newborn Brain Research Institute, UCSF, San Francisco, California, USA; Department of Pediatrics and Papé Family Pediatric Research Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Oregon, USA;  Neuroscience Institute, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA; Eli and Edythe Broad Institute for Stem Cell Research and Regeneration Medicine, UCSF, San Francisco, California, USA; Department of Paediatrics and Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
CSEM Neuchatel and Bern, several industry partners in Europe.

Grants

  • EU Horizon / Innosuisse Grant: Remote wearable non-invasive monitoring in pregnant women
  • EU Grant COST: International network for translating research on perinatal derivatives
  • SNSF Ambizione Grant: Astroglial function in perinatal brain damage
  • SNSF Research Grant: Role of Klotho in fetal growth restriction and premature aging (joint grant with Prof Huynh-Do, Nephrology, University of Bern)
  • SNSF Research Grant: The Ethics of prenatal genomic testing in Switzerland: Understanding stakeholders views GENESIS project (joint with Prof Vayena lab, ETH Zurich)
  • Bangerter Foundation Grant: Mesenchymal stem cells-derived exosomes as a neuroregenerative therapy
  • BMCC Grants: Vidasense fetal surveillance technology
  • Konol Trust Grant: Clinical research in perinatal disoders
  • Focus Grant Medical Faculty: FemTech Digital Twin approach to improve Women’s Health
  • Focus Grant Medical Faculty: Harnessing extracellular vesicles for cell-based therapies
  • Medical Faculty PRT Grant (protected research time): Gestational diabetes
  • Medical Faculty PRT Grant (protected research time): Astroglial function in perinatal brain damage
  • Grant SGGG / Bayer: Astroglial function in perinatal brain damage

Highlights 2025

Sentinel Lymph Node (SLN) mapping, a minimally invasive surgery, benefits stratification of patients with endometrial cancer.

This retrospective study of 206 patients included 834 SLNs, and 197 tumor samples to evaluate if SLN status complements molecular classification (POLEmut, MMRd, NSMP, p53abn). We found that positive SLNs with macro-metastases were associated with worse outcomes in patients with a MMRd endometrial cancer. This combined SLN and molecular analysis supports future surgical stratification trials toward improved personalized care.

Siegenthaler F et al. Gynecol Oncol. 2025

Neovaginal Prolapse After Sex Reassignment Surgery

The present prospective study evaluated genital prolapse after neovagina creation in 68 transfemale patients following sex reassignment surgery. During a mean follow-up of 27.5 years, prolapse developed in 19.4% of cases. Risk was highest after peritoneal neovagina surgery, followed by intestinal and penile inversion techniques. Penile inversion demonstrated reduced prolapse on POP-Q score. Surgical correction of prolapse significantly reduced the patient's symptom burden.

Osswald R. et al. Int Urogynecol J. 2025

Results of umbilical cord blood units analysis collected for hybrid banking purposes.

Implementation of a novel hybrid cord blood banking model within a private-public-partnership

Background: Umbilical cord blood (UCB) stem cells can be collected at birth, cryopreserved, and used for transplantation in hematopoietic diseases. Typically, these stem cells are stored in public banks for allogeneic use or in private depositories for potential future utilization by the family. A proposed third option, hybrid cord blood banking, combines elements of both public and private storage. This method allows family-directed UCB to be HLA typed and included in the international registry, making it accessible to compatible patients globally.

Study design and methods: We describe the implementation of a novel hybrid cord blood banking model within a private-public partnership involving a university obstetric department, a national stem cell registry, and a private cord blood bank.

Results: From 2020 to 2023, 67 UCB units were collected for hybrid banking. Of these, 25 samples (37.3%) met the threshold of 120 grams for public banking. Before processing, 5 samples (7.5%) contained over 1.5 E9 total nucleated cells (TNC); after processing, 15 samples (22.46%) exceeded 1.0 E9 TNC. The viability margin of 85% was surpassed in 42 samples (62.7%). Cytofluorimetric analysis showed 36 samples (53.7%) had over 1.25 E6 CD34+ cells, with 63 samples (94.0%) exceeding 85% viability. For HLA typing and registry entry, 10 samples (14.9%) qualified for hybrid purposes, with one sample deemed unsuitable for processing.

Discussion: This study demonstrates the feasibility of the hybrid cord blood banking model within a private-public partnership. This new concept offers an extended option for parents to bank their child's cord blood stem cells.

Laue et al., Transfusion. 2025

Continuous glucose monitoring in pregnancy versus capillary measurements

Continuous glucose monitoring in the management of gestational diabetes in Switzerland (DipGluMo): an open-label, single-centre, randomised, controlled trial

This randomized controlled trial evaluated whether real-time continuous glucose monitoring (rtCGM) improves pregnancy outcomes in women with gestational diabetes compared with standard self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG). A total of 302 pregnant participants were recruited at a university hospital in Bern, Switzerland, and allocated 1:1 to either rtCGM or SMBG. The main outcome—a composite of adverse perinatal events—showed no significant difference between the two groups. Maternal skin irritation was the only adverse event, occurring slightly more often with rtCGM. Despite the lack of clinical benefit on outcomes, participants reported a stronger preference for rtCGM. These results indicate that rtCGM does not improve perinatal outcomes but may still support easier diabetes management, and future cost-effectiveness analyses are warranted.

Amylidi-Mohr et al., Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol. 2025

Wearable fetal ECG electrodes integrated into a textile belt, developed by CSEM and tested at Inselspital to enable non-invasive fetal cardiac monitoring in pregnancy

Advancing Digital Perinatal Monitoring through fetal ECG: Innosuisse and BMCC Grant in collaboration with CSEM, Venture Kick Success and Startup Launch

In 2025, the fetal ECG research program at the University Women’s Hospital Bern achieved several major milestones. The project received a competitive Innosuisse grant (> CHF 400,000) in collaboration with CSEM (Swiss Center for Electronics and Microtechnology) to develop an innovative, non-invasive fetal ECG monitoring system for home and clinical use. In parallel, the team secured the Bern MedTech Collaboration Call 2025 (> CHF 160,000) grant for the second time (after a successful closure of BMCC2023), supporting translational work toward AI-enhanced fetal monitoring. The project also passed two stages of Venture Kick, and is now progressing toward creation of a spin-off company focused on delivering next-generation wearable fetal monitoring technology as certified medical-grade system for clinical practices. Together, these achievements reflect a strong translational trajectory from basic research toward impactful digital health solutions in obstetrics.

To the Website of VidaSense

Perceived advantages and disadvantages of telemonitoring in pregnancy for (A) healthcare professionals (HCP) in their daily work and (B) pregnant women, comparing the perspective of physicians (n = 11) and midwives/nurses (n = 10).

Understanding Clinical Acceptance of Digital Perinatal Monitoring

In 2025, we published a key study examining how healthcare professionals perceive telemonitoring in pregnancy and early labor. Conducted within the European NewLife project, the survey assessed acceptance, perceived benefits, and implementation barriers among obstetricians, midwives, neonatologists, and prenatal nurses.

More than half of respondents viewed telemonitoring positively, particularly for early detection of complications. At the same time, concerns were raised regarding data reliability, usability, and the potential impact on patient-provider contact. These insights provide essential guidance for developing clinician-accepted digital monitoring pathways and directly support Bern’s ongoing innovations in wearable and home-based perinatal care.

Jockusch et al., Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2025

Placental weight in pregnancies complicated by fetal congenital heart defects

Fetuses with cardiac defects are at increased risk of being born small for gestational age. The incidence of small placentas is increased in fetuses with congenital heart defects, especially in isolated left-sided and univentricular fetal heart defects. Similar to the impact of an altered utero (maternal)-placental blood flow on the development of the intervillous space, disturbances of the fetal cardio-placental hemodynamics may alter the normal development of the villous tree. An even higher incidence of small neonates and placentas is found in pregnancies affected by both, preeclampsia and fetal heart defects, suggesting a “second hit effect”. Both factors may ultimately lead to impaired development of the placenta resulting in restriction of fetal growth and/or preeclampsia.

Zdanowicz et al., Placenta. 2025