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Swiss 3R Competence Centre (3RCC)

Have a look at the interview video of Prof. Mark A. Rubin where he discusses his 3RCC-funded research! Videos are available in German and English.

Dr. La Manna's project on prostate cancer awarded at SAKK Translational Urogenital Cancer Network Meeting

Congratulations to Dr. Federico La Manna, whose project was selected as one of the best projects presented at the 4th Swiss SAKK Translational Urogenital Cancer Network Meeting. The award sponsored by Advanced Accelerator Applications is endowed with CHF 10’000 and aimed at supporting ongoing prostate cancer research.

Prof. Dr. Yvonne Döring awarded with the Outstanding Achievement Award 2023

Congratulations to Prof. Dr. Yvonne Döring, who was awarded the Outstanding Achievement Award 2023 by the European Society of Cardiology on Basic Cardiovascular Science.

Recap of the Day of BioMedical Research with Mark Rubin

Highlights/impressions of the Day of BioMedical Research created by UniBEFoundation, featuring Prof. Mark Rubin, Director DBMR, about the challenges of young researchers and the importance of awards like the Johanna Dürmüller-Bol DBMR research award.

"Forever young? How we live better longer "- SRF Puls

Prof. Dr. Alexander Eggel, Translational Immunology, DBMR, spoke about sucessfully prolonging labour mice’s live in a SRF Puls report on «Für immer jung? Wie wir besser länger leben» (Forever young? How we live better longer.)

Prizes - DBMR BioMedical Research Day 2023

Congratulations to all awardees of the prizes announced at the DBMR BioMedical Research Day 2023! Read more.

Johanna Dürmüller-Bol DBMR Research Award 2023

At the DBMR BioMedical Research on Wednesday, 5 July 2023, Prof. Volker Enzmann announced the winner of the Johanna Dürmüller-Bol DBMR Research Award 2023. The DBMR congratulates Mattia Aime, for the project “REM sleep and emotions: the missing link for a better life quality”.

Best DBMR Publication 2022

At the DBMR Day of BioMedical Research, Dr. Jakob Zimmermann was announced as the winner of the prize for the best DBMR Publication 2022 for his paper capturing the transcriptional changes that occur in bacteria as they pass through the intestines, which was published in Science . Congratulations! Read more.

Benoît Pochon Prize 2022

At the DBMR Day of BioMedical Research on July 5, PD. Dr. Michaela Medova announced the winner of the Benoît Pochon Prize 2022. The DBMR congratulates Dr. Jana Remlinger, this year’s winner. Read more.

New target against cancer

Prof. Rubin and Dr. Augspach have identified a previously unknown weak point of prostate cancer cells. The study was just published in Molecular Cell. Read more.

TOR-DBMR Symposium 2023

The TOR-DBMR Symposium took place at the Ettore Rossi Auditorium on Wednesday, May 31, 2023. Read more

Dr. med Joel Zindel awarded with a Cloëtta Medical Research Position

Congratulations to Dr. med Joel Zindel, who was awarded a five-year research position by the Foundation Board of the Prof. Dr. Max Cloëtta Foundation!

The Annual Congress of the SSAI (Swiss Society for Allergology and Immunology) 2023 in Bern

Prof. Dr. Martin Bachmann, Prof. Dr. Monique Vogel and PD Dr. Mona Mohsen are delighted to announce the opening of registration of 2023 Congress of the Swiss Society for Allergology and Immunology (SGAI-SSAI) which will take place on 24th and 25th August 2023 at EVENTfabrik Berne.

Plenary lectures will be given by world leading immunologists: Prof. Dr. Tak Wah Mak and Prof. Dr. med. Reinhard Dummer. Several national and international pioneers in immunology and cancer research will present their findings in this lively event. Short communication sessions and poster tours will give a great opportunity for junior researchers.

NIH Grant for a personalized, antigen-directed immunotherapy project

Congratulations to PD Dr. Mona Mohsen (MPI), Bachmann Lab, and her project partner Prof. Eva Sevick (PI, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston) for being awarded NIH grant (NIH parent R01) with the project: “Personalized, antigen-directed immunotherapy delivered to lymph nodes”.

Promega Art + Science 2023 Collection

Congratulations to Anke Augspach, whose artwork "Lineage plasticity" was selected for the collection of the 2023 edition of the Promega Art Contest for Creative Scientists!

The DBMR Annual Report 2022 is now available!

Bladder cancer organoids as models to test personalized treatment strategies

Bladder cancer heterogeneity is the primary cause of treatment failure. In a study just published in Nature Communications, Martina Minoli from the Urology group (led by Prof. Marianna Kruithof-de Julio) used patient-derived bladder cancer organoids to develop a drug screening pipeline and identify potential markers of treatment response.

Innosuisse project to develop a translational bladder cancer-on-chip model

Congratulations to Prof. Marianna Kruithof-de Julio and Dr. Nina Hobi from AlveoliX for their successful Innosuissse project "iBloC: a ground-breaking translational bladder cancer-on-chip model to empower development of novel immuno-oncology drugs“. We are looking forward to seeing the results of this project.

DBMR researchers receive grant from the Wilhelm Sander Foundation

Congratulations to Prof. Marianna Kruithof-de Julio, Dr. Sofia Karkampouna, and Dr. Panagiotis Chouvardas! Their project "Identification of a spatial single-cell proteome atlas of bladder cancer to characterize disease heterogeneity by imaging mass cytometry" was selected for funding by the Wilhelm Sander Foundation, a foundation from Germany supporting experimental and clinical research with a focus on cancer research.

2023 Benjamin Castleman Award

Antonio Rodriguez Calero was awarded the 2023 Benjamin Castleman Award from the United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology (USCAP) for his 2022 Nat. Comm. paper on genetic alterations in prostate cancer brain metastases.

New discovery in prostate cancer signaling

A recent study led by Dr. Joanna Triscott (mentored by Prof. Mark A. Rubin) is the first to target PI5P4Kα in prostate cancer. Researchers suggest PI5P4Kα is a regulator of metabolism that supports cancer during hormone stress, which could offer a strategy for improving current treatments. With their ongoing projects, the authors hope to translate new knowledge in fundamental biology into opportunities for patients. Check out the publication in Science Advances.

An unexpectedly positive experiment (in German)

Interview in "uniaktuell" with Dr. Felix Baier, who is one of four Venture Fellows of the Innovation Office at the University of Bern. The surprising outcome of an experiment started his entrepreneurial journey, with the goal to develop a novel drug for certain liver diseases.

Bridge Discovery Project

Congratulations to Prof. Benjamin Gantenbein (DBMR) and his project partners Prof. Patric Eberle and Prof. Fabian Ille (University of Applied Sciences and Arts, Lucerne) on receiving 1.3 M CHF from the Bridge Discovery Program for their project to develop a novel cell therapy for the rescue of degenerated intervertebral discs.

SNF Starting Grant

Congratulations to Dr. Bahtiyar Yilmaz, one of the awardees of the SNF Starting Grant 2022!

Highly Cited Researchers 2022

Congratulations to our researchers, who are once again among the most cited in the world.

Prostate Cancer Foundation Challenge Award 2022

A project by Prof. Mark Rubin and Dr. Anke Augspach (DBMR), Prof. Kanadia (Univ. of Connecticut), and Prof. Rätsch (ETHZ) has received the prestigious Challenge Award from the Prostate Cancer Foundation. This multidisciplinary team has received $1 mio to study the mechanisms of minor intron splicing and how inhibiting its machinery can create a new cancer specific vulnerability.
Congratulations!

Emerging Therapies and Therapeutic Targets in Prostate Cancer

Mark Rubin talks with Alicia Morgans, GU Medical Oncologist from the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, about emerging therapies and emerging therapeutic targets in prostate cancer.

Technological advances in cancer therapy

Article in Cancer Cell "Clinical application of advanced multi-omics tumor profiling: shaping precision oncology of the future":
Dr. Dilara Akhoundara and Prof. Mark A. Rubin (University of Bern / Inselspital) provide an overview of the latest technologies in precision oncology. Translating these into clinical application is still a major challenge. With research projects, the Bern Center for Precision Medicine (BCPM) contributes to bringing technological progress to the patient.

Public Opening Event at Murtenstrasse 24-28 (in German) ahead of Night of Research

Ahead of the Night of Research around the University main building, there will be a Public Opening Event (in German) at the new research building at Murtenstrasse 24-28 between 1 and 4 pm. Three guided tours will be carried out every 30 minutes through different parts of the building (DBMR Core Facilities, virtual tour of Forensic Medicine and building technology). Please see for more details.

European Prostate Cancer Centre of Excellence (EPCCE)

Urology research and clinical care at the DBMR and Insel has been recognized as an EPCCE by the European Association of Urology. Our congratulations to the Department of Urology and the urology research groups in the DBMR!

SNF NRP 79 – Advancing 3R

Congratulations to Marco Osterwalder, Christian Zuppinger, Andrew Macpherson, and Fabian Blank on receiving funding for their projects to reduce animal testing.

Johanna Dürmüller-Bol DBMR Research Award 2022

At the DBMR Day of BioMedical Research on 6 July 2022, Prof. Dr. Volker Enzmann announced the winner of the Johanna Dürmüller-bol DBMR Research Award 2022. The DBMR congratulates Emma Britt Hodcroft, PhD, this year’s winner, for her project “Investigating the impact of pandemic restrictions on circulation and genetic diversity of a respiratory virus”.

Poster Prizes of the Day of BioMedical Research 2022

At the DBMR BioMedical Research Day on 6 July 2022, the following researchers were awarded a poster prize
Liana Hayrapetyan, Maria Natalia Rojas Velazquez, Cosima Meret Schmid, Tim Rollenske, Chantal Bachmann, Charlotte Kern
Congratulations!

3 mio CHF for collaborations between clinicians and basic biologists

The first TANDEM grant call received 28 applications from clinician-basic researcher pairs across Switzerland, each jointly addressing a question of direct clinical relevance, from two angles: that of understanding molecular mechanism and of directly improving cancer patient care. The awardees include Prof. Marianna Kruithof-de Julio and Dr. Bernhard Kiss, DBMR, Program Cancer Therapy Resistance CTR, Kruithof-de Julio Lab.

Major US award for Bern and Geneva researchers

A prestigious grant from the USA goes to the biomedical scientist Sven Rottenberg, University of Bern, and the clinical scientist Intidhar Labidi-Galy, University of Geneva and University Hospital of Geneva. They received a joint grant from the "Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs" for their project on ovarian cancer. This underlines the high quality of the collaborative research on ovarian cancer in Bern and Geneva.

The DBMR Annual Report 2021 is out now!

New paper: Alterations in homologous recombination repair genes in prostate cancer brain metastases

Congratulation to the DBMR Precision Medicine & Prostate Cancer Researcher! In the largest cohort of prostate cancer brain metastases yet studied, researchers at the DBMR led a pan-Swiss study that demonstrated that these metastases harbor common genetic alterations that may benefit from existing PARPi therapy.

President's Presenter's Award for an outstanding Abstract effectively furthering the objectives of the Society

Congress Society of Reproductive Investigation, USA, March 2022
Congratulation to our researchers Patricia Renz, Anda-Petronela Radan, Mafalda Trippel, Valérie Haesler, Luigi Raio, Daniel Surbek who received President's Presenter's Award for an outstanding Abstract effectively furthering the objectives of the Society. Title: Immunohistochemical evidence of SARS-CoV-2 in the placenta after infection during pregnancy: A prospective case-control study

Award for Best New Investigator Poster Presentation

Congress Society of Reproductive Investigation, USA, March 2022
Congratulation to our researchers Amanda Brosius Lutz, Patricia Renz, Valérie Haesler, Vera Tscherrig, Shane Liddelow, Andreina Schoeberlein, Daniel Surbek who received an award for "Best New Investigator Poster Presentation". Title: Investigating reactive astrocytes as therapeutic targets in acute perinatal white matter injury

Nuovo-Soldati Foundation for Cancer Research

Congratulations to Dr. Dilara Akhoundova for receiving a fellowship from the Nuovo-Soldati Foundation for her project on targeting of homologous recombination deficiency in prostate cancer using in vitro models.

Johanna Dürmüller-Bol DBMR Research Award 2021

At the Opening Symposium of the DBMR on 18 March 2022, Prof. Dr. Anne Angelillo-Scherrer announced the winner of the Johanna Dürmüller-Bol DBMR Research Award 2021. The DBMR congratulates Dr. Joel Zindel, this year’s winner.

Benoît Pochon Prize 2021

At the event celebrating the new premises of the DBMR on March 2022, PD. Dr. Michaela Medova announced the winner of the Benoît Pochon Prize 2021. The DBMR congratulates Dr. Noëlle A. Dommann, this year’s winner.

A novel painless and reliable allergy test

A research group led by Alexander Eggel from the Department for BioMedical Research (DBMR) at the University of Bern and the Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, together with Thomas Kaufmann from the Institute of Pharmacology at the University of Bern, has now developed an allergy test that, on the one hand, greatly simplifies diagnosis and, on the other hand, can reliably predict the success of immunotherapy. The test was recently presented in a publication of the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.

First UniBE Venture Fellowships have been granted

Congratulations to Dr. Felix Baier. For the first time, the InnovationOffice of the University of Bern has awarded four "UniBE Venture Fellowships" to support entrepreneurial young researchers and their promising innovation projects. Dr. Felix Baier received the "UniBE Venture Fellowship" for a new therapeutic method to treat liver disease.

Werner and Hedy Berger - Janser Foundation - Cancer Research Grant

Congratulations to Prof. Mark A. Rubin on receiving a Cancer Research Grant from Werner and Hedy Berger - Janser Foundation for his project on molecular characterization, in vitro modelling and therapeutic targeting of prostate cancer liver metastases.

Helmut Horten Foundation Grant

Congratulations to Prof. Dr. Ziad Al Nabhani on receiving the Helmut Horten Foundation Grant for his project on the influence of child intestinal microbiota on lifelong immunity.

Kurt and Senta Herrmann Foundation - Research Grant

Congratulations to Dr. Dilara Akhoundova on receiving a research grant from the Kurt and Senta Herrmann Foundation for her project on targeting of homologous recombination deficiency in prostate cancer using in vitro models.

ISREC Foundation - Translational Research Grant

Congratulations to Prof. Mark A. Rubin on receiving a Translational Research Grant from the ISREC Foundation for his project on advanced in vitro models of prostate cancer metastases.

Three Bernese researchers receive Pfizer Prize

Congratulations to Prof. Dr. Stephanie Ganal-Vonarburg, Dr. Julien Limenitakis and Dr. Hai Li on receiving the Pfizer Research Prize, one of the most important research prizes for medicine in Switzerland.

Immunoglobulin A antibodies control intestinal bacteria

An international team led by Researchers from the DBMR and Inselspital show how the intestinal immune system specifically recognizes our commensal bacteria and how IgA constrains microbial fitness in the intestine. The findings expand our fundamental understanding of mucosal antibody responses and how we keep homeostasis between the host and its microbiota.

Benôit Pochon Prize 2020

At the outset of the May 3 DBMR Research Conference, Prof. Dr. med. Daniel M. Aebersold announced the winners of the 2020 Benoît Pochon Prize.
The prize went to Dr. med. Haitang Yang and Dr. Nicolas Melin. The DBMR congratulates the two winners. Read more

DBMR Board of Directors

We welcome Prof. Anne Angelillo-Scherrer (Deputy Director), Dr. Marianna Kruithof-de Julio, Prof. Volker Enzmann and Prof. Carsten Riether to the DBMR Board of Directors for a period of two years and look forward to the involvement of active research members of the DBMR in the inter-workings of the department!

Nature Cancer

The contractual negotiations between swissuniversities and Springer Nature Verlag have finally been concluded, so we were able to license Nature Cancer and access is possible at https://www.nature.com/natcancer/.

Swiss 3RCC’s winning project

Congratulations to Dr Marianna Kruithof-de-Julio and Prof. Mark Rubin, DBMR, on their 3Rs project award. With this 3RCC funding they will develop a platform for GU cancer patient-derived organoids.