Metabolism I Inflammation I Digital Health to Advance Systems Medicine
MIDHAS
Connecting experts. Advancing evidence.
MIDHAS is an inter-disciplinary consortium of researchers in various domains
from fundamental to applied clinical and data sciences.
Learn more about our two flagship initiatives
Metabolism Digital Health Inflammation - - - Osteology Research Network
About MIDHAS
Vision & Mission
MIDHAS envisions a future where holistic medicine, driven by a systems-based approach, makes personalized, predictive, and proactive health management a reality for everyone. MIDHAS unites expertise from different medical research domains to tackle the complexities of chronic disease and support healthy aging.
Our mission is to integrate insights from different fields, leveraging advanced data integration and modeling to deliver precise diagnostic tools and individualized therapeutic strategies in an effort to advance systems medicine.
MIDHAS Board
MIDHAS Co-Chair
Prof. Dr. Britta Maurer
MIDHAS Co-Chair
Prof. Dr. Christoph Stettler
Research Profile
Prof. Dr. med. Britta Maurer is the Director and Chief Physician of the University Clinic for Rheumatology and Immunology at Inselspital, Universitätsspital Bern, and a full professor of Rheumatology. Her translational research focuses on systemic autoimmune diseases, with special emphasis on interstitial lung diseases; she works on developing and applying new molecular-tools, advanced imaging modalities, and AI-based analyses for personalized medicine. Prof. Maurer aims to ensure that her clinic encompasses the full spectrum of rheumatology, autoimmunity/inflammation, musculoskeletal medicine, and bone metabolism. She is also committed to mentoring young clinical and research staff, promoting diversity, and building strong academic and (inter)national collaborations.
Selected Publications
- Antoniou KM, Distler O, Gheorghiu AM, Moor CC, Vikse J, Bizymi N, Galetti I, Brown G, Bargagli E, Allanore Y, Corte TJ, Dieudé P, Cottin V, Fisher BA, Fabre A, Giles JT, Kreuter M, Lundberg IE, Poletti V, Maurer B, Renzoni EA, Müller-Ladner U, Strek ME, Sverzellati N, Studenic P, Mohammed J, Nagavci B, Stamm T, Tonia T, Crestani B, Hoffmann-Vold AM.
ERS/EULAR clinical practice guidelines for connective tissue diseases associated interstitial lung disease.
Ann Rheum Dis. 2025. doi: 10.1016/j.ard.2025.08.021. - Antoniou KM, Distler O, Gheorghiu AM, Moor CC, Vikse J, Bizymi N, Galetti I, Brown G, Bargagli E, Allanore Y, Corte TJ, Dieudé P, Cottin V, Fisher BA, Fabre A, Giles JT, Kreuter M, Lundberg IE, Poletti V, Maurer B, Renzoni EA, Müller-Ladner U, Strek ME, Sverzellati N, Studenic P, Mohammed J, Nagavci B, Stamm T, Tonia T, Crestani B, Hoffmann-Vold AM.
ERS/EULAR clinical practice guidelines for connective tissue disease-associated interstitial lung disease.
Eur Respir J. 2025. doi: 10.1183/13993003.02533-2024. - Seitz P, Bucher S, Bütikofer L, Maurer B, Bonel HM, Lötscher F, Seitz L.
2D-cranial T1-black-blood MRI in suspected giant cell arteritis – measurement of vessel wall thickness does not give a diagnostic advantage compared to visual scoring alone.
Front Radiol. 2025. doi: 10.3389/fradi.2025.1597938. - Brunner M, Guggisberg D, Sprecher M, Pastva O, Bürki K, Houtman M, Kreuzer M, Krättli SA, Jahnke L, Roceri M, Bruggmann R, Elhai M, Maurer B, Marti TM, Ospelt C, Klein K.
Pro-Inflammatory Properties of Salivary Gland-Derived Fibroblasts – Implications in Sjögren's Disease.
Cells. 2025. doi: 10.3390/cells14080558. - Velauthapillai A, de Vries-Bouwstra JK, Henes J, Czirjak L, Dagna L, Riemekastan G, Allanore Y, Foti R, Alegre-Sancho JJ, Maurer B, Cuomo G, Spierings J, Martin T, Truchetet ME, van den Ende CH, Vonk MC.
Longitudinal association between nailfold capillaroscopy and incident interstitial lung disease: A EUSTAR database analysis.
J Scleroderma Relat Disord. 2025. doi: 10.1177/23971983241307692. - Zhu C, Han Y, Byun J, Xiao X, Rothwell S, Miller FW, Lundberg IE, Gregersen PK, Vencovsky J, Shaw VR, McHugh N, Limaye V, Selva-O'Callaghan A, Hanna MG, Machado PM, Pachman LM, Reed AM, Rider LG, Molberg Ø, Benveniste O, Radstake T, Doria A, De Bleecker JL, De Paepe B, Maurer B, Ollier WE, Padyukov L, Wedderburn LR, Chinoy H, Lamb JA, Amos CI; Myositis Genetics Consortium.
Genetic Architecture of Idiopathic Inflammatory Myopathies From Meta-Analyses.
Arthritis Rheumatol. 2025. doi: 10.1002/art.43088. - Pabst T, Maurer B.
Therapies for systemic lupus erythematosus.
Lancet. 2024. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(24)02378-X. - Joye AA, Bogowicz M, Gote-Schniering J, Frauenfelder T, Guckenberger M, Maurer B, Tanadini-Lang S, Gabryś HS.
Radiomics on slice-reduced versus full-chest computed tomography for diagnosis and staging of interstitial lung disease in systemic sclerosis: A comparative analysis.
Eur J Radiol Open. 2024. doi: 10.1016/j.ejro.2024.100596. - Lauer D, Magnin CY, Kolly LR, Wang H, Brunner M, Chabria M, Cereghetti GM, Gabryś HS, Tanadini-Lang S, Uldry AC, Heller M, Verleden SE, Klein K, Sarbu AC, Funke-Chambour M, Ebner L, Distler O, Maurer B, Gote-Schniering J.
Radioproteomics stratifies molecular response to antifibrotic treatment in pulmonary fibrosis.
JCI Insight. 2024. doi: 10.1172/jci.insight.181757. - Dobrota R, Jordan S, Juhl P, Del Papa N, Maurer B, Becker M, Mihai C, Bay-Jensen AC, Karsdal MA, Siebuhr AS, Distler O.
Dysregulation of circulating collagen turnover markers in very early systemic sclerosis.
RMD Open. 2024. doi: 10.1136/rmdopen-2023-003306.
Research Profile
Prof. Dr. med. Christoph Stettler is the Director and Chief Physician of the University Clinic for Diabetology, Endocrinology, Nutritional Medicine & Metabolism (UDEM) at Inselspital, and a full professor at Universität Bern. His research is strongly translational, focusing on new technological approaches to improve diabetes care, human-computer interfaces such as AI and sensor/device data, and investigating metabolic processes under different conditions. Prof. Stettler also supports efforts to bring innovations from bench to clinic. He is recognized for contributions in various fields and has led numerous clinical trials, systematic reviews of device-based glucose management systems, and performed work on preventing hypoglycemia in exercise settings.
Selected Publications
- Kastrati L, Alvarez-Martinez M, Thomas A, Thevis M, Muka T, Stettler C, Herzig D, Glisic M, Bally L.
Effect of exercise on plasma insulin levels in individuals with type 1 diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Diabetes Obes Metab. 2025. doi: 10.1111/dom.16088. - Bano A, Künzler J, Wehrli F, Kastrati L, Rivero T, Llane A, Valz Gris A, Fraser AG, Stettler C, Hovorka R, Laimer M, Bally L; CORE‐MD investigators.
Clinical evidence for high-risk CE-marked medical devices for glucose management: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Diabetes Obes Metab. 2024. doi: 10.1111/dom.15849. - Endner N, Merz H, Wallace E, Lehmann V, Nett P, Penner IK, Stettler C.
Correlation of body metrics, assessed with a portable scanning device, with established anthropometrics in people with obesity.
Diabetes Obes Metab. 2024. doi: 10.1111/dom.15776. - Bérubé C, Maritsch M, Lehmann VF, Kraus M, Feuerriegel S, Züger T, Wortmann F, Stettler C, Fleisch E, Kocaballi AB, Kowatsch T.
Multimodal In-Vehicle Hypoglycemia Warning for Drivers With Type 1 Diabetes: Design and Evaluation in Simulated and Real-World Driving.
JMIR Hum Factors. 2024. doi: 10.2196/46967. - Lehmann V, Noti F, Laimer M, Stettler C, Züger T.
Glycaemic outcomes in adults with type 1 diabetes transitioning towards advanced automated insulin delivery systems - a real-world analysis at a Swiss tertiary centre.
Swiss Med Wkly. 2023. doi: 10.57187/s.3501. - Kühne T, Wallace E, Herzig D, Helleputte S, Scott S, Pickles J, Melmer A, Stettler C.
Combined intake of caffeine and low-dose glucose to reduce exercise-related hypoglycaemia in individuals with type 1 diabetes on ultra-long-acting insulin degludec: A randomized, controlled, double-blind, cross-over trial.
Diabetes Obes Metab. 2024. doi: 10.1111/dom.15580. - Melmer A, Martin-Niedecken AL, Wehrli W, Lüchinger P, Riederer Y, Scott S, Pickles J, Niedecken S, Flagmeier D, Villiger S, Jurt R, Kind N, Witthauer L, Schättin A, Stettler C.
Effects of home-based exergaming on cardio-metabolic and cognitive health in physically inactive individuals.
Diabetes Obes Metab. 2024. doi: 10.1111/dom.15540. - Bérubé C, Lehmann VF, Maritsch M, Kraus M, Feuerriegel S, Wortmann F, Züger T, Stettler C, Fleisch E, Kocaballi AB, Kowatsch T.
Effectiveness and User Perception of an In-Vehicle Voice Warning for Hypoglycemia: Development and Feasibility Trial.
JMIR Hum Factors. 2024. doi: 10.2196/42823. - Maritsch M, Föll S, Lehmann V, Styger N, Bérubé C, Kraus M, Feuerriegel S, Kowatsch T, Züger T, Fleisch E, Wortmann F, Stettler C.
Smartwatches for non-invasive hypoglycaemia detection during cognitive and psychomotor stress.
Diabetes Obes Metab. 2024. doi: 10.1111/dom.15402. - Hansen D, Beckers P, Neunhäuserer D, Bjarnason-Wehrens B, Piepoli MF, Rauch B, Völler H, Corrà U, Garcia-Porrero E, Schmid JP, Lamotte M, Doherty P, Reibis R, Niebauer J, Dendale P, Davos CH, Kouidi E, Spruit MA, Vanhees L, Cornelissen V, Edelmann F, Barna O, Stettler C, Tonoli C, Greco E, Pedretti R, Abreu A, Ambrosetti M, Braga SS, Bussotti M, Faggiano P, Takken T, Vigorito C, Schwaab B, Coninx K.
Standardised Exercise Prescription for Patients with Chronic Coronary Syndrome and/or Heart Failure: A Consensus Statement from the EXPERT Working Group.
Sports Med. 2023. doi: 10.1007/s40279-023-01909-x
MIDHAS Secretariat
Strategy Advisor
Dr. Usha Sarma
Scientific Coordinator
Dr. Laura Hackl
MIDHAS members
Our panel of experts covers diverse domains from fundamental science to applied clinical research with the overall goal to advance systems medicine.
The latest from MIDHAS
News & Events
MIDHAS News
Join our Patient Outreach Event
October 14th, 5-7 PM
@sitem Insel
Freiburgstrasse 3, 3011 Bern
Learn about the latest research findings, engage with researchers, and help shaping our future research efforts.
More information here → →
Patient Outreach Event 
Patient Outreach Event
MIDHAS Events
Upcoming
- October 3: Science Communication Workshop with Philipp Dexheimer
- October 14: Patient Outreach Event
- December xx: Day of Clinical Research
- February xx: MeDHI & ORN xx
- July xx: ENLIGHT Healthy Ageing Symposium
Good to Know
Research & Outreach
Latest Research
Check out the most recent publications from the MIDHAS Universe, learn about different research projects and external collaborations.
Selected Publications
L. Pecorelli, K. Klein, "Insights into Patient Heterogeneity in Sjögren's Disease," Int J Mol Sci (2025). DOI: 10.3390/ijms2613636
L. Christ, H. Bonel, L. Seitz, F. Lötscher, S. Reichenbach, P. Villiger, "Magnetic resonance imaging to monitor disease activity in giant cell arteritis treated with ultra-short glucocorticoids and tocilizumab," Rheumatology (2025). DOI: 10.1093/rheumatology/keaf317
J. Everts-Graber, et al., "The effect of romosozumab on bone mineral density depending on prior treatment," Osteoporos Int (2025). DOI: 10.1007/s00198-024-07282-
A. Gübeli, ... M. Laimer., "Dapagliflozin’s impact on hormonal regulation and ketogenesis in type 1 diabetes: a randomised controlled crossover trial," PMC / PubMed record (2025).
L. Christ, et al., "Concomitant Sjögren’s disease as a biomarker for treatment effectiveness in rheumatoid arthritis - results from the Swiss clinical quality management cohort," DOI: 10.1186/s13075-024-03302-z
Research Projects
- Project A
- Project B
- Project C
Collaborations
- ENLIGHT
- ...
- ...
- ...
MedHI & ORN
Kick-off
On August 22 2025 the MeHDI & ORN initiatives were launched.
Members presented selected projects and ideated on future ways to collaborate during the subsequent Apéro.
MedHI & ORN
@Forschungsnacht 2025
On September 6, 2025 a group of MeHDI & ORN members participated in the 'Nacht der Forschung'. It was a great opportunity to present the breadth of our research to a general audience.
Science Communication
Scientist and communicator Philipp Dexheimer & patient representatives helped clinical scientists shape research presentations to make them more accessible for non-scientists.
MIDHAS Blog
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