Ethics
23.03.2023
Making advance care planning commonplace
Read more CloseAdvance care planning (ACP) strengthens self-determination, for example with regard to treatment after a serious accident, advanced illness or dementia. ACP should be possible for everyone. A national working group co-led by the SAMS and the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) has published a roadmap with 12 recommendations to establish ACP in everyday life.
Although ACP is voluntary, the importance of the topic was reflected in the more than 170 comments received during the public consultation that preceded the publication of the roadmap. The 12 recommendations address four topics: awareness raising, basic information, the role of professionals and improving the quality of instruments and processes. The roadmap is available online in four languages (d/f/i/e). Our website also offers in-depth information on the topic and on the future activities of the national working group.
Download the roadmap (PDF)
Academy
21.03.2023
SAMS Annual Report 2022 is online
Read more CloseThe year 2022 marked the end of the acute phase of the coronavirus disease pandemic, but also the beginning of reflections on several forward-looking topics. The SAMS has once again devoted itself to projects that will keep our team busy well beyond the year covered by our annual report, which thus offers a look back and a look forward.
Our online annual report is again structured around the retrospective. It provides an overview of the work carried out last year and serves as a gateway to further information. As usual, a printable PDF version is also available. We hope you will enjoy (re)discovering the highlights of 2022, which reflect our commitment to science, medicine and society – and which will continue to occupy us directly or indirectly in the future.
Download the report (in French) (PDF)
Publications
16.03.2023
Medicine of the future: the potential of new technologies
Read more CloseThe Swiss Academy of Engineering Sciences (SATW), sister academy of the SAMS, publishes a Technology Outlook report every two years, which identifies future technologies and evaluates their importance for Switzerland. In our current Bulletin, the floor is given to its President, Prof. Benoît Dubuis, who presents the technologies that have already begun to transform or could revolutionize medicine.
The new SAMS Bulletin not only looks at mRNA technology, artificial intelligence or virtual reality, but also, as always, at the people who are shaping our medicine: Young Talents in Clinical Research, a delegation from the British Academy of Medical Sciences or the winners of the Robert Bing Prize 2022, you will find faces and stories that shed light on the day-to-day work and progress of our projects. The Bulletin is available in French or German.
Bulletin 1/2023 (in French) (PDF)
Academy
28.02.2023
Training course for patients willing to be involved in clinical research
Read more CloseThe Department of Clinical Research of the University of Basel and EUPATI CH – the Swiss platform of the European Patient's Academy on Therapeutic Innovation – are launching a training course for patients who wish to become involved in clinical research projects. The SAMS supports this course which will start in May 2023. The 6 modules can also be attended individually, as long as the complete training is not fully booked.
Findings from research are particularly valuable when they address the specific needs of patients. This is best achieved when those affected, or people close to them, are already involved in the planning and design of new research projects. The University of Basel and EUPATI CH have developed a course that prepares interested people for this task. Further information and the link to register can be found in the flyer and on the EUPATI website.
Download the flyer (PDF)
Academy
16.02.2023
Cooperation with France: «Germaine de Staël» programme
Read more CloseOn behalf of the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI), the Swiss Academy of Engineering Sciences (SATW) is launching a call for the federal programme «Germaine de Staël» to promote scientific collaboration between Switzerland and France. The programme is open to all research disciplines. Applications for the funding period 2024–2025 are possible until 15 June 2023.
The «Germaine de Staël» programme promotes collaboration between French and Swiss researchers by providing funding for travel and accommodation expenses incurred by team members as part of attending meetings or conferences. The cost ceiling per project is around CHF 4500 per year, renewable once. More information and the application form can be found on the SATW website.
Visit the website
Funding
02.02.2023
Call for proposals: KZS Seed Grants for junior researchers in biomedical ethics
Read more CloseThis year the SAMS provides a total of CHF 250’000 from the Käthe-Zingg-Schwichtenberg (KZS) Fund to support junior researchers in biomedical ethics who wish to carry out an independent research project. The submission of deadline is 1 May 2023.
Per Seed Grant, up to CHF 80'000 can be awarded for a maximum period of 18 months. The contributions allow grantees to explore an innovative research idea, to realize a small, independent pilot project, and/or to prepare their own project proposal to be submitted to a larger funding agency. Visit our website for more information on the format and submission procedure.
Visit the website
Funding
20.01.2023
Foundations for a «smart» health care system
Read more CloseFor five years, the Swiss National Science Foundation has funded the National Research Programme «Smarter Health Care» (NRP 74). In the 34 projects researchers addressed a broad array of topics, from case management to interlinking of health data. The programme summary provides recommendations on how health care in Switzerland can be adapted to the challenges of both the present and the future.
To strengthen health services research in Switzerland, the SAMS and the Gottfried and Julia Bangerter-Rhyner-Stiftung conducted a joint funding programme from 2012 to 2016. This was the decisive step towards Switzerland becoming aware of the topic of health services research and the launch of NRP 74. The findings gained and the recommendations can be found in the programme summary and on the NRP-website.
Programme summary (PDF)
Funding
17.01.2023
The Robert Bing Prize goes to three remarkable neuroscientists
Read more CloseThe Robert Bing Prize 2022 goes to three remarkable clinical and experimental neuroscientists: Cristina Granziera and Mira Katan Kahles, Professors of Neurology at the University Hospital in Basel, and Johannes Gräff, Professor at EPFL. Each prize is worth CHF 20’000.
Every two years, the SAMS bestows the Robert Bing Prize. In accordance with the donor’s will, the Prize is awarded to researchers who have done outstanding work to improve the recognition, treatment and cure of neurological diseases. The award ceremony will take place on 1 June 2023. Further information about the laureates and the Prize can be found in the media release published today and on our website.
Media release (PDF)