Projects
14.08.2025
Innovation Qualité: a prize to promote quality in healthcare
Read more CloseThe «Innovation Qualité» Prize of the Swiss Academy for Quality in Medicine (ASQM), a FMH-related organisation, is intended to highlight tried and tested projects, make knowledge in the field more visible in Switzerland and provide innovative impetus for debate among specialists. The SAMS supports this prize.
Projects can be submitted in two different categories: successful transition to outpatient care and patient safety. In addition, there is awarded a «Jury’s Special Prize». The prize money ranges from CHF 10’000 to CHF 15’000. The deadline for submissions is 1 December 2025, and the award ceremony will take place on 12 June 2026 in Bern. Further information can be found on the FMH website (French, German, Italian).
Visit the website
Projects
12.08.2025
New mandate for the National Coordination Platform Clinical Research
Read more CloseThe Coordination Platform Clinical Research (CPCR) will continue its efforts to strengthen the institutional cooperation between academic actors. The State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI) has given the SAMS a new mandate to pursue the platform’s work until 2028. As host of the CPCR, the SAMS has decided to invest additional resources of its own to support the ambitious program of the platform more effectively.
The CPCR was established in 2021 by the SAMS on behalf of the SERI. At the end of the pilot period, a large majority of members expressed the desire to continue working together within the CPCR. The aim is to strengthen cooperation between the main academic stakeholders of clinical research in the broadest sense, including public health research and data-based research. The new mandate summarizes the thematic priorities for 2025–2028. Further information and details of the CPCR's composition can be found on our website.
Mandate, in German (PDF)
Ethics
05.08.2025
Flyer on the medical-ethical guidelines
Read more CloseOur new flyer provides an overview of the medical-ethical guidelines of the SAMS. Available in four languages, it provides information on the role, function and legal significance of the guidelines. Three case studies illustrate how the guidelines help with difficult decisions in practice.
The guidelines cover a wide range of topics – from general to specific ethical issues. They have therefore been a key element of professional ethics for over five decades and an indispensable guide for health professionals. The flyer on the guidelines can be found on our website, where you can also order print versions free of charge in the desired quantity in English, German, French or Italian.
Flyer (PDF)
Projects
15.07.2025
smarter medicine: 40'000 francs to promote research
Read more CloseThe association «smarter medicine – Choosing Wisely Switzerland», of which the SAMS is a founding member, is committed to optimizing healthcare in Switzerland. This year, it is once again awarding a grant for research projects and supporting two applications with up to CHF 20’000 each. Applications can be submitted until 26 September 2025.
The focus of this year’s call is «Patient Involvement in smarter medicine». It is open to research projects that encourage the collaboration of healthcare professionals and patients in outpatient and/or inpatient care settings. Projects can be submitted by individuals, research groups, or organizations. Further information and the application form can be found on the smarter medicine – Choosing Wisely Switzerland website (in French or German).
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SPHN
14.07.2025
SPHN introduces new governance structure and funding scheme
Read more CloseWith the formal signing of the mandate 2025–2028 by the Confederation, the governance structure of the Swiss Personalized Health Network as well as its funding instruments are evolving. SPHN’s goal for the next four years is to firmly anchor the infrastructure it has built for personalized medicine in Switzerland and to support more research projects with expertise. The funding for the core activities of SPHN is secured. A newly established Steering Board strengthens strategic oversight, while a Sounding Board ensures broad stakeholder involvement.
SPHN’s core financing from the ERI Dispatch 2025–2028 covers the Data Coordination Center (DCC) and the essential core services and infrastructures of the federated network components at hospitals, BioMedIT nodes, and national repositories. This adapted setup aims to establish the optimal foundations for the long-term coordination of clinical and health-related data from 2029 onwards. The strategy will be developed with SERI’s mandated expert group, in close alignment with the DigiSanté program of the Federal Office of Public Health and the Federal Statistical Office. Further information is available on the SPHN website.
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Ethics
07.07.2025
Organ donation after assisted suicide? Medical-ethical considerations
Read more CloseThe number of assisted suicides is on the rise. In some cases, people who intend to end their lives wish to donate their organs after death. In Switzerland, organ donation after assisted suicide is currently not practised. If this were to change, new medical-ethical questions would have to be clarified. The Central Ethics Committee (CEC) of the SAMS has published a position statement to initiate a discussion.
Organ donation and assisted suicide have been practised independently of each other in Switzerland for many years. When combined, however, this practice raises extended medical and professional ethical challenges. In addition, legal and organisational issues must be clarified in advance. The CEC addresses all of these issues in its position statement, thereby providing a solid basis for further discussion.
Download the statement, French version (PDF)
Projects
17.06.2025
Ethical guidelines for animal experiments
Read more CloseThe Swiss Animal Welfare Act permits the use of animals for certain scientific purposes; at the same time, however, it requires that the dignity of animals be respected and their welfare protected. The revised ethical guidelines for animal experiments are designed to clarify the margin of discretion left by the legislation and to encourage researchers to reflect on the handling of animals in their experiments.
Almost 20 years after the last revision (2005), the Ethics Committee for Animal Experimentation (ECAE) – a body jointly operated by the SAMS and the Swiss Academy of Sciences (SCNAT) – has updated the ethical guidelines for animal experiments in the light of new scientific knowledge and research methods, as well as changes in the legal framework. The revised guidelines are available in three languages (English/German/French) and can be downloaded free of charge.
Download the guidelines (PDF)
Ethics
16.06.2025
Consultation: Guidelines «Determination of Death with Regard to Organ Transplantation»
Read more CloseSwitzerland is changing its organ donation system by adopting an extended presumed consent model. The new legislation requires revisions to the SAMS guidelines. The Academy is taking this opportunity to comprehensively revise the 2017 guidelines. The subcommittee responsible has examined the new medical developments and updated and expanded the guidelines accordingly. The three-month public consultation period begins today. Feedback can be submitted until 19 September 2025.
A medically reliable determination of death is a crucial prerequisite for post mortem organ removal. The SAMS medical-ethical guidelines establish a standardised procedure for this and provide clarity through defined processes, requirements for the training of specialists, as well as principles for transparent communication. All interested institutions and individuals are invited to comment on the draft guidelines. Detailed information and all necessary documents can be found on our dedicated webpage.
Invitation to comment, French version (PDF)