Poster Prizes

DBMR Poster Prizes 2026 NOW open for applications!

At each DBMR Day of BioMedical Research, awards are given for the best poster presentations by young researchers. Posters are evaluated by clinicians and scientists of the University of Bern and of the Inselspital and consideration is given to scientific rigor, contribution to the field, and overall presentation.

Categories:

  • Best Preclinical Project (CHF 2’000)
  • Best Clinical Project (CHF 2’000)
  • Best Project by a Medical Student* (CHF 2’000)
  • Research Prize Alumni MedBern (CHF 2’000)

Eligibility: 

  • Eligible applicants are:
        - Master students
        - MD students
        - PhD students
        - MD-PhD students
        - Postdoctoral fellows whose graduation date was in or after January 2021
  • Applicant must be the first author of the poster
  • Applicant must be the presenting author of the poster
  • Only one poster/applicant will be considered for an award. If you plan to submit more than one abstract, you wil have to determine which one is the one you want to be evaluated
  • (*) Submissions for “the best project by a medical student” must be accompanied by a confirmation letter from the supervisor and a copy of the medical student’s matriculation pass.

How to apply for the awards:

On the abstract submission form, you select the prize category (Best Preclinical Project, Best Clinical Project, Best Project by a Medical Student) for which you want to be considered.  All posters under evaluation will be considered for the Research Prize Alumni MedBern.

Important Date:

  • Abstract submission ends:  Monday, April 20, 2026.

Poster preparation and poster sessions:

The information is available here.

Evaluation Criteria:

  • Background provides appropriate perspective/context for the subject.
  • Objectives/research questions are clearly stated.
  • Research design and methods are clear and appropriate. 
  • Research objectives are met/addressed.
  • Factual information is kept separate from interpretations or implications.
  • Clarity of presentation.

Specific Criteria - The Research Prize for the Alumni MedBern will be awarded to the poster that better meets the following criteria:

  • Collaboration between university and non-university partners
  • Collaboration between basic research and clinical research
  • Interdisciplinary collaboration
  • Collaboration between Faculties of the University of Bern 

Prize Committee

Members of the prize committees are appointed ad hoc from clinicians and scientists at the University of Bern and Inselspital who are affiliated with the DBMR. A member of the DBMR Board of Directors oversees the entire selection process. 

Evaluation Process for Awardees

  • Reviewers first score submitted abstracts, creating a shortlist of 8–10 top candidates per category, who are notified by email.
  • Reviewers then score the posters and presentations of shortlisted candidates during the DBMR Day of BioMedical Research.
  • Each prize committee finalizes the award recipients on-site at the event.

Committee decisions are final and non-appealable, with no legal entitlement to prizes.

Award announcement

The winners of all prizes will be announced and awarded on the DBMR Day of BioMedical Research, Wednesday, July 1, 2026.