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)
Ethics
13.06.2025
New topic page: Medical-ethical considerations on assisted suicide
Read more CloseAssisted suicide is a controversial topic, raising numerous medical-ethical questions. The SAMS has long been concerned with this subject. In the guidelines on «Management of dying and death», a separate chapter is dedicated to assisted suicide. The SAMS provides a sound medical-ethical framework for physicians who have to make complex case-by-case decisions on assisted suicide. A new topic page delves deeper into this complex issue and answers frequently asked questions (FAQ).
In Switzerland, every physician is free to decide whether or not to provide assisted suicide. The SAMS guidelines give medical-ethical guidance for those in the medical profession who are willing to consider it. The new topic page offers a comprehensive overview of the legal framework and the role of physicians, as well as the conditions for medical-ethical responsible assisted suicide in accordance with the guidelines. The FAQ section explains key aspects of the ethical, social, and political debate in easily understandable terms.
Visit the website
Academy
12.06.2025
The SAMS’ Senate is growing and becoming more female
Read more CloseIn its meeting on June 10, the Senate elected additional individual and honorary members from various disciplines and institutions. For the first time, there is a clear majority of women: eight of the nine newly elected members are women.
The Senate is the highest organ of the SAMS and comprises a total of about 280 members. Elections are usually held during the summer meeting in May/June, and new members are officially admitted during the Senate meeting in November. All names of the newly elected can be found in our newsletter of 12 June 2025 (in French).
Further information
Agenda
23.05.2025
Invitation to the Meet & Greet of the Biomedical Libraries
Read more CloseThe «Biomedical Libraries» Commission, hosted by the SAMS, is holding a Meet & Greet. This year’s event will take place on Tuesday, 12 August 2025 in Zurich. Participation is free of charge, registrations are requested until 13 July 2025.
Under the title «Innovative Teaching in Swiss Medical Libraries – Current Trends and Perspectives», the «Meet & Greet» is dedicated to teaching and training activities within Swiss medical libraries. The program will feature insights and discussions on self-education and e-learning tools, artificial intelligence (AI) in teaching and educational offerings for medical students and clinicians.
Download the program (PDF)
SPHN
22.05.2025
Register now: PHRT-SPHN Conference 28–29 August 2025
Read more CloseOn 28–29 August 2025, the Swiss Personalized Health Network (SPHN) and its sister initiative Personalized Health and Related Technologies (PHRT) from the ETH Domain host the conference «From Technology to Treatment: Advancing Precision Medicine» in Zurich. Register now and come explore with us the latest advances in personalized medicine.
The two-day event will bring together international leading experts from academia, healthcare, and industry to explore the latest breakthroughs in personalized medicine. The conference focuses on how cutting-edge technologies can transform clinical practice and improve patient care. Click the link below for the program and registration. The event will be held in English.
Visit the website
Projects
20.05.2025
The SAMW is ending its co-funding of the Cochrane Library
Read more CloseAt the end of 2024, the SAMW renewed its financial commitment to national license for the Cochrane Library for another year. This means that healthcare professionals and the entire Swiss population will continue to have free access to evidence-based information that helps them make informed healthcare decisions. However, the Academy will withdraw from this funding in 2026.
There are two main reasons why the SAMS has decided to end its financial commitment. Firstly, in its role as a catalyst, the Academy only funds projects for a limited period of time. Secondly, the development of federal contributions for the period 2025–2028 necessitates budget cuts in certain areas. Until the end of the year, the SAMS will continue to cover two thirds of the licensing costs. Unfortunately, we have not found an institution through our contacts willing to take over this share. If you have any questions or are interested in co-financing, please visit our website for more information and contact details.
Visit the website
Academy
29.04.2025
The SAMS Annual Report 2024 is online
Read more CloseThe year 2024 of the SAMS has featured inspiring ideas, revealing insights and successfully completed milestones. As a result, the Academy's activities attracted significant attention.
The retrospective continues to be the heart of our online annual report. It provides an overview of past year's activities. The different colours by department show the variety of our activities and our commitment to science, medicine and society. Scroll through the eventful year 2024 once again or download a printable PDF of the report (available in French or German).
Download the report, in French (PDF)