Annual Report 2021

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Ready for the medicine of the future

Digitalization, collaboration across subject areas and the swift translation of research results into real-world applications: these are the strengths of the medical faculties at the University of Bern.

Key area

Health and Medicine

Working in collaboration with Bern University Hospital and other partner institutions, the University of Bern boasts top-notch achievements in the fields of biomedical sciences, medicinal technology, neurocognition, host-pathogen interaction as well as physical and mental health.

In 2021, two new multidisciplinary centers of excellence commenced their research activities in the areas of human and veterinary medicine, while new professorships were created and filled in the areas of biomedicine and artificial intelligence, for example. The highly interconnected relationship between experimental and clinical research, biotechnology and engineering sciences helps establish Bern as one of the world’s leading centers of medicine.

The pandemic shaped medical research activities again in the past year. Researchers in Bern made major contributions toward gaining a better understanding of the virus, its mutations and which repercussions it could have in the future. These insights, together with new research projects by the Multidisciplinary Center for Infectious Diseases (MCID), will help us fight future pandemics and epidemics even more efficiently.

Some of the highlights from the realms of health and medicine in 2021 include not only successes in COVID research but also new insights on how to lessen the use of antibiotics in animal husbandry, better alternatives that will help reduce animal testing and a stronger commitment to the health of wild bees.

Further Stories

Non-contagious and realistic model developed

New system developed for rapid SARS-CoV-2 variant characterization and facilitated drug development

Researchers led by the Nobel Laureate Charles Rice of The Rockefeller University and Volker Thiel of the University of Bern and Institute of Virology and Immunology have developed a non-contagious model of SARS-CoV-2 that makes it easier, faster and safer to study the virus and new variants. In addition, the realistic model can be used to better test drugs.

A «zoo» made of animal respiratory cells

In vitro Zoo helps in understanding SARS-CoV-2

A team of researchers from the Institute for Infectious Diseases (IFIK) at the University of Bern and the Institute of Virology and Immunology (IVI) have used a unique collection of advanced cell culture models of cells lining the airways from various domesticated and wildlife animals to determine which animals are susceptibly to SARS-CoV-2 infection. The team found that SARS-CoV-2 efficiently infected respiratory cells from monkey and cats, and proposes that SARS-CoV-2 surveillance in these animals and its close relatives is necessary.

Biological membrane made even more realistic

Bernese researchers create sophisticated lung-on-chip

In collaboration with clinical partners from the Inselspital, researchers from the ARTORG Center for Biomedical Research of the University of Bern have developed a second-generation lung-on-chip model with life-size dimension alveoli in a stretchable membrane, made of purely biological material. The new model reproduces key aspects of the lung tissue architecture not found in previous lungs-on-chip. This opens up new possibilities for basic pneumological research, understanding lung pathologies, drug screening and precision medicine.

Healthier animals thanks to reduced antibiotic use

Calf fattening: Fewer antibiotics also a viable option

Just a few simple steps let farmers drastically reduce their use of antibiotics and improve animal wellbeing without making them any less competitive. That was an insight revealed by Bernese researchers in a practical test of their specially developed “open air calf” method,

Preserving the populations of wild bees

New endowed lectureship in wild bee health

The University of Bern has established an endowed lectureship for wild bee health, which has been made possible thanks to support from the Vinetum Foundation. With it, the University and the Foundation intend to help combat the worldwide decline of wild bee populations.

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