Academy
31.08.2020
Thank you, Michelle Salathé, for almost two decades at the SAMS
Read more CloseMichelle Salathé, Head of the Ethics Department since 2001, is one of the people who have had a decisive influence on the SAMS. For almost two decades she has seen everything, heard everything and remembered so much that she is considered the institutional memory of the SAMS. She has worked tirelessly to solve the many ethical questions that arise in medical research, in practice and for society. We thank Michelle Salathé from the bottom of our hearts for her many years of great commitment.
Ethical issues, together with the promotion of research and young researchers, have always been a core area of the SAMS. We will miss Michelle Salathé's comprehensive understanding of medical ethics, her legal skills, the quality of her network and her diplomatic skills. In September she will hand over the management of the department to her successor Thomas Gruberski. The function of Deputy Secretary General will be taken over by Franziska Egli, Head of Communication, as of 1 October. Discover all the faces of the SAMS General Secretariat on our website and read the interview with Michelle Salathé in the SAMS Bulletin.
Download the interview (French) (PDF)
SPHN
11.08.2020
Swiss Personalized Health Network: Goodbye Adrien Lawrence
Read more CloseThe Swiss Personalized Health Network (SPHN) was launched in 2017 with the aim of facilitating the use and exchange of health data for research. As Managing Director of SPHN, Adrien Lawrence competently and efficiently set up the Management Office. After four years at the SAMS, he returns to EPFL where he began his career. We warmly thank him for his commitment and the work he has accomplished.
In his role as Managing Director, Adrien Lawrence has been closely involved in setting up the governance and structures of SPHN; he has defined the outlines of the two calls for proposals launched during the period 2017–2020, federated the various players in the field, allowed the conclusion of Collaboration Agreements with the University Hospitals and promoted SPHN abroad. His departure is an opportunity for the General Secretariat to review its internal organization. Myriam Tapernoux, already in charge of the Department Science, has taken over the lead a.i. of the SPHN Management Office since 1st August. To find out more about SPHN, visit its website or read the interview with Adrien Lawrence in the last Bulletin of the SAMS.
Download the interview (French) (PDF)
Ethics
18.06.2020
Recommendations on preimplantation genetic testing PGT
Read more CloseThe genetic testing of embryos created through in vitro fertilizsation has been regulated since 2017 by the Federal Act on Human Genetic Testing. Its implementation, however, confronts health professionals and cantonal authorities with a number of practical and ethical questions. The new recommendations of the SAMS deal with important ethical aspects of the PGT counselling and decision-making situation in order to contribute to consistent good clinical practice in Switzerland.
The recommendations deal, on the one hand, with the indication of PGT for couples with genetic diseases and, on the other hand, with the screening of embryos in the context of infertility treatment. In addition, they discuss how, for example, surplus information should be managed. The recommendations are available in German, French, Italian and English and can be ordered in printed form (German/French) free of charge.
Download the document (PDF)
Funding
15.06.2020
Young Talents in Clinical Research: Call 2020
Read more CloseWith the «Young Talents in Clinical Research» program, the Gottfried and Julia Bangerter-Rhyner Foundation and the SAMS aim at encouraging young medical doctors to venture into clinical research. CHF 1 million is made available for this call. Due to the COVID-19 situation, the submission deadline has been postponed to 30 November 2020.
The program is conceived in two consecutive steps: Young medical doctors can start out in clinical research thanks to a «beginner grant» which guarantees them protected time for research by covering a portion of their salary. Interested grantees can then apply for a «project grant» to consolidate the acquired research skills during the next two years. More information can be found on our website.
Flyer «Young Talents in Clinical Research» (PDF)
Funding
11.06.2020
Research in Palliative Care: numbers, topics and challenges
Read more CloseIn Switzerland today, around 90% of people do not die suddenly, but after a period of illness and nursing care; many of them will require palliative care. To decide on the best treatment option, research is necessary. Convinced that Switzerland was lagging behind in this field, the SAMS launched the funding programme «Research in Palliative Care 2014 – 2018». The final report on the programme presents an overview of projects, results and challenges for the future.
A total of CHF 4.4 million were made available through five calls, to support 34 research projects and to award 4 fellowships for an education and research stay abroad. The final report illustrates where the funds were invested, presents selected projects and outlines what is needed to establish research in palliative care in Switzerland on a sustainable basis. The brochure is available in German, French and English and can be ordered in printed form free of charge.
Download the report (PDF)
Projects
26.05.2020
Personalized health in dialogue
Read more CloseDevelopments in the field of personalized health and related issues such as data protection, handling of probabilities etc. affect the whole population. For this reason, the Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences conducted the dialogue project «Tailor-made people: personalized health». A recently published bilingual report summarizes the population's answers to an online questionnaire and from nine dialogue events.
As the questionnaire made no scientific claims, the answers were not evaluated according to scientific criteria. However, the publication «Personalized Health in Dialogue» reflects the diversity of views and may provide experts with food for thought for future research projects.
Download the publication (French/German) (PDF)
Academy
08.05.2020
Epidemiologist Marcel Tanner is President of the Swiss Academies
Read more CloseThe Assembly of Delegates has elected Marcel Tanner president of the Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences. The former director of the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute has already been President a. i. in the last months and is currently a member of the Federal Government’s Covid-19 Science Task Force.
As president of the Swiss Academy of Natural Sciences since 2016, Marcel Tanner is familiar with the concerns and needs of the scientific community that is united under the umbrella of the Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences. He sees the role and strength of its members in the dialogue between science, politics and society. Further information can be found in the press release of the Academies.
Download press release (PDF)
Academy
01.05.2020
Prof. Henri Bounameaux is President of the SAMS
Read more CloseToday, 1 May 2020, Henri Bounameaux takes over the SAMS presidency from Daniel Scheidegger. He was unanimously elected to this position by the Senate in November 2019 and, as the previous Vice-President, is well prepared.
In Bulletin 1/2020 (p. 4) we introduced the new SAMS president in a short interview. In the next few weeks there will be further opportunities to read about Henri Bounameaux, while personal encounters will have to wait a little longer depending on the situation. Daniel Scheidegger will remain an asset for the SAMS as Vice-President. The current composition of the SAMS Executive Board can be found on our website.
Download Bulletin 1/2020, French version (PDF)