Department of Clinical Research (DCR), University of Bern

📢 Exciting Career Opportunity at DCR!📢 We are looking for a Administrative Assistant to join our team by April 1st, 2025. If you're interested, please send your application to HR Administration at hr.dcr@unibe.ch by March 7th, 2025.

Shaping the Future of Clinical Research: Highlights & Leading Voices from Our recent DCR Day of Clinical Research We hope you didn't miss it! On 28 November 2024, researchers from across all medical disciplines came together for a Day of Clinical Research organized by the Department of Clinical Research (DCR), University of Bern. The event featured a diverse range of presentations—from Pecha Kucha-style talks by junior researchers to insights into ongoing research at the Universität Bern and the Insel Gruppe. We were so privileged to hear from two world-renowned keynote speakers: 🔹 Prof. Dr. Asma Khalil, who shared her expertise on Preterm Birth in Twins 🔹 Prof. Dr. Vincenzo Mazzaferro, who presented on Research Progress in Liver Transplantation Other scientific contributions that we are proud of came from speakers who emphasized the exceptional quality of clinical research at the Universität Bern: 🔹 Prof. Dr. Reto Auer – Electronic Nicotine-Delivery Systems for Smoking Cessation 🔹 Prof. Dr. Urs Fischer – Decompressive craniectomy plus best medical treatment versus best medical treatment alone for spontaneous severe deep supratentorial intracerebral haemorrhage: a randomised controlled clinical trial 🔹 Prof. Dr. Dino Kröll – Efficacy and Safety of Rivaroxaban for Postoperative Thromboprophylaxis in Patients After Bariatric Surgery: A Randomized Clinical Trial 🔹 Prof. Dr. Simeone Schietzel – Empagliflozin in non-diabetic individuals with calcium and uric acid kidney stones: a randomised phase-2 trial Last but not least, we were introduced to the future of clinical research by the following speakers: 🔹 Dr. Fabio Dennstädt – Automated Citation Screening using Large Language Models: An exploratory study in the biomedical domain 🔹 Dr. Severin Gloor – Antegrade balloon dilatation of the duodenal papilla during laparoscopic cholecystectomy versus endoscopic retrograde cholangiography in patients with acute choledocholithiasis: a case control matched study 🔹 PD Dr. Berna Özdemir – Sex specific efficacy and safety outcomes in operable Stage III Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC): pooled analysis of the SAKK Schweizerische Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Klinische Krebsforschung trials 16/96, 16/00, 16/01, 16/08 and 16/14 🔹 Dr. Christoph Ryffel – Colchicine to Reduce Arrhythmias after Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement: A Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial With contributions from speakers, attendees, and organizers, the event fostered discussions and collaborations. We look forward to presenting highlights from clinical research at our next Department of Clinical Research (DCR), University of Bern Day of Clinical Research 2025.

The Female Empowerment in Life Sciences (FELS) is an interdisciplinary association of female scientists specializing in medicine and life sciences. Our Director, Prof. Dr. Eva Segelov, serves as a board member of FELS, reflecting her strong commitment to gender equity and leadership in academia. 📅 Date: 21 March 2025 🕘 Time: 09:00–15:00 📍 Location: Room U1_007 (ASH), Inselspital Bern 📢 Abstract submissions are open now! 📝 Submission Deadline: 28 February 2025 🎖️ Prizes will be awarded for selected abstracts. This is a great opportunity for networking, learning, and sharing your research! Participation is free and open to all. 🔗 Register or submit your abstract: https://lnkd.in/dpW3sKis #UniBE #WomenInScience #Medical Research

Are Thiazides Truly Effective? Backing the INDAPACHLOR Trial to Uncover the Answers for Kidney Stone Prevention The INDAPACHLOR clinical trial evaluates whether indapamide or chlorthalidone are more effective than hydrochlorothiazide in reducing urine supersaturation - a key factor in kidney stone formation. The Department of Clinical Research (DCR), University of Bern, proudly supports this study with its clinical trial expertise. Kidney stones impact approximately 10% of the Swiss population, with 25,000–40,000 individuals suffering from painful episodes each year. Over a lifetime, an estimated 650,000 to 1.3 million Swiss residents are likely to develop kidney stones, with about half experiencing a recurrence within 10 years. Preventive measures such as staying well-hydrated and adopting a healthy diet are crucial. (https://lnkd.in/e_tD47_B). Medication-based approaches can complement these strategies. Developed and led by Prof. Dr. med. Daniel Fuster from the Department of Nephrology and Hypertension at Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, INDAPACHLOR builds on findings from his landmark NOSTONE trial, which showed that hydrochlorothiazide, the most commonly used thiazide, does not effectively prevent kidney stone recurrence. This study investigates whether indapamide and chlorthalidone - more potent and longer-acting alternatives - can reduce urine supersaturation, a surrogate marker for kidney stone formation. Should the results demonstrate efficacy, a larger randomized controlled trial with long-term follow-up and kidney stone recurrence as the primary outcome, similar to the NOSTONE trial, may be warranted for one or both of these medications. DCR is pleased to contribute its expertise in: 🔹 Statistics & Methodology 🔹 Document Development 🔹 Regulatory Support 🔹 Data Management 🔹 Monitoring 🎉 Milestone: The first participant was enrolled on December 4, 2024, with study completion projected for Spring 2029. This collaborative effort aims to close critical knowledge gaps in kidney stone prevention and advance nephrology care, offering hope to patients with recurrent kidney stones. #DCR #ClinicalResearch #HealthcareInnovation #KidneyHealth #Collaboration #Nephrology

Are you unsure what Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) is and how you could implement it in your clinical trial? We are here to help! For 2025, we’re excited to introduce a new course tailored for clinicians and researchers who want to deepen their understanding of PPI.  PPI for Clinicians course combines theoretical foundations with practical experience, offering: ✔️ An introduction to the principles of PPI ✔️ Its role and benefits in clinical research ✔️ Practical applications in ongoing PPI projects By integrating PPI into your research, you focus on working with patients rather than just conducting research for or about them, helping to keep patient-centered care at the forefront of your work. 📅 Date: March 20, 2025 ⏰ Time: 09:30 - 17:30 🌍 Languages: English & German Ideal for clinical researchers, and anyone interested in learning more about PPI. Register here: https://lnkd.in/eAJSmRP2 #PPI #ClinicalResearch #PatientInvolvement #PatientCare

🔍 Looking to advance your skill set? The DCR offers a range of courses designed to expand your knowledge and expertise in clinical trials. Plan ahead and choose the area that aligns with your professional development goals. Over the next six months the DCR will offer the following courses: GCP I, II & Refresher: https://lnkd.in/efbPG-Sn Medical Grant Writing for Clinicians: https://lnkd.in/eZ33PpMf REDCap Database: https://lnkd.in/eiQUnAFM Study Nurse Course: https://lnkd.in/ekivFMNd PPI for Clinicians: https://lnkd.in/eAJSmRP2 Fundamental Statistics for Clinicians: https://lnkd.in/eqmWDaRM Clinician Trials in Action for Clinicians: https://lnkd.in/eCeu37FQ Models of Contemporary Excellence in Clinical Research: https://lnkd.in/e5fsed8P These courses will help you improve your clinical trial skills, make informed decisions, and prioritize patient well-being in your research. 📚👩⚕️👨⚕️ Explore the range of DCR courses and improve your clinical research skills. Check the courses out here: https://lnkd.in/dc2HuEXj #DCR #UniBE #ClinicalResearch #GCP #MedicalEducation #ProfessionalDevelopment #ClinicalTrials

📢 Upcoming DCR lecture 📢 Reminder for this month’s DCR Lecture by PD Dr Kristina Keitel from the Department of Clinical Research. She will discuss the topic of “ IMCIPlus - undertaking pragmatic/embedded trials in Africa”. 🗓️ Date: Wednesday, 26 February 2025 🕛 Time: 12:45 PM - 1:30 PM 👤 Speaker: Dr. Kristina Keitel 🔗 Registration link: https://lnkd.in/ePKgbvXU 👉 More information: https://lnkd.in/eaQ_zx_5 #DCRLecture #DCR #ClinicalResearch #ClinicalTrials

Stay Informed with the Latest from the DCR! 🩺📊 In December, the DCR published its latest external newsletter, featuring updates on our ongoing projects, insights into important clinical research topics, details about upcoming events, and information on our new courses. The newsletter also highlighted DCR’s expertise in Data Management. Now available quarterly, the newsletter ensures you stay up to date on the latest advancements in clinical research and the work of the DCR. 👉 Subscribe today to stay connected: https://lnkd.in/eikrDBU3 #DCR #UniBE #ClinicalResearch #ExternalNewsletter

Möchten Sie klinische Studien sicher und effizient begleiten? Unser Weiterbildungskurs "Study Nurse Kurs" vermittelt Grundlagen und Kenntnisse, die in klinischen Studien benötigt werden. Der Fokus liegt hierbei auf den täglichen Aufgaben der Study Nurses und der Studienkoordinator:innen an der Klinik. 📋 Inhalt: ✅Studientypen und Studienkategorien gemäss Humanforschungsgesetz ✅Bewilligungsverfahren bei Ethikkommissionen und Swissmedic ✅Einführung in Good Clinical Practice ✅Wie lese ich ein Studienprotokoll? ✅Studienmedikamente / Medizinprodukte – Lagerung & Dokumentation ✅Quelldaten und Quelldokumente ✅ «Essential documents» – Führen des Trial Master Files / Investigator Site Files ✅Rolle und Verantwortung der Study Nurse / des Studienkoordinators oder der Studienkoordinatorin ✅Monitoring, Audits & Inspektionen ✅Spezifische Aspekte der klinischen Forschung am Inselspital   👥 Zielgruppe: Der zweitägige Kurs richtet sich an Study Nurses, Studienkoordinator:innen und weiteres Studienpersonal, unabhängig davon, ob erste Erfahrungen in der klinischen Forschung gesammelt wurden oder bestehendes Wissen vertieft werden soll. 🗣️ Sprache: Deutsch Melden Sie sich jetzt an, um Ihr Fachwissen und Ihre praktischen Fertigkeiten zu erweitern: https://lnkd.in/ePAbwyBh Mehr Informationen zum Kurs finden Sie auf unserer Webseite: https://lnkd.in/ekivFMNd #DCR #UniBe #ClinicalResearch #FurtherEducation

📢 Partner with DCR for your IICT 2025 Submission!📢 Are you planning to submit a proposal to the Swiss National Science Foundation SNSF's Investigator-Initiated Clinical Trials (IICT) program for 2025? The DCR has a strong track record of successful partnerships with researchers participating in the IICT program, and we are now offering researchers the chance to meet with our experts to discuss study ideas/proposals and get started on their 2025 submissions. The IICT program (focuses on studies that extend beyond the scope of standard SNSF project funding in terms of research scope, complexity, duration, and cost. Partnering with DCR early on ensures adequate time to develop a high-quality proposal and establish a successful collaboration. Whether you have a detailed plan or are starting with just an idea, our team is here to support you. DCR receives numerous grant partnering requests each year so we recommend scheduling an initial consultation as soon as possible. 📩 Schedule an appointment with the DCR team: https://lnkd.in/ecAUPRM5 #DCR #IICTCall #SNSF