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Who We Are

MIDHAS members

Meet the MIDHAS Experts and learn about their compelling research.

Prof. Dr. med. Johannes D. Bastian

Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Traumatology

Research Profile

Dr. Johannes Dominik Bastian is a Swiss orthopaedic surgeon and professor at Inselspital, University Hospital Bern. Trained in Bern, he specializes in hip and pelvic surgery, including primary and revision hip arthroplasty, femoral and acetabular fractures, periprosthetic fractures, and pelvic-ring injuries. At Inselspital, he established the orthogeriatric service and the Fracture Liaison Service (FLS) to improve acute care pathways and long-term outcomes for older adults with fragility fractures. He founded and serves as president of the Expert Group “Orthogeriatry and Geriatric Traumatology” within Swiss Orthopaedics, created the Orthogeriatric Research Center Bern—an interdisciplinary platform hosting the annual Swiss Orthogeriatric Day—and initiated the Fragility Fracture Network (FFN) Switzerland. These contributions have established him as a leading figure in orthogeriatric trauma care in Switzerland and internationally. His research focuses on hip and pelvic trauma, orthogeriatric care models, and clinical pathways for fragility fractures in ageing populations, with the aim of improving functional recovery, reducing complications, and advancing evidence-based care for older trauma patients.

Selected Publications
  • Egli RJ, Keel MJB, Cullmann JL, Bastian JD. (2017) Secure screw placement in management of acetabular fractures using the suprapectineal quadrilateral buttress plate: screw orientation and surgical guidance. BioMed Research International 2017:8231301. DOI: 10.1155/2017/8231301
  • Lizano‑Díez X, Keel MJB, Siebenrock KA, Tey M, Bastian JD. (2020) Rehabilitation protocols in unstable trochanteric fractures treated with cephalomedullary nails in elderly: current practices and outcome. European Journal of Trauma and Emergency Surgery 46(6):1267–1276. DOI: 10.1007/s00068-019-01294-z
  • Keel MJB, Siebenrock KA, Tannast M, Bastian JD. (2018) The pararectus approach: a new concept. JBJS Essential Surgical Techniques 8:e21. DOI: 10.2106/JBJS.ST.17.00060
  • Ivanova S, Prochazka O, Giannoudis PV, Tosounidis T, Tannast M, Bastian JD. (2025) Rehabilitation protocols for surgically treated acetabular fractures in older adults: current practices and outcomes. Journal of Clinical Medicine 14(14):4912. DOI: 10.3390/jcm14144912
Prof. Dr. Annalisa Berzigotti

Department of Visceral Surgery

Research Profile

Professor Annalisa Berzigotti (Dr. Med.) is a Full Professor of Clinical Hepatology at the University of Bern, where she is Chief of Hepatology and a Director of the Department of Visceral Surgery and Medicine, Inselspital Bern. She is internationally renowned for her research focusing on non-invasive methods for assessing liver diseases and the role of liver stiffness in the progression and regression of liver fibrosis.

Selected Publications
  • Berzigotti A, Albillos A, Villanueva C, Genescá J, Ardevol A, Augustín S, Calleja JL, Bañares R, García-Pagán JC, Mesonero F, Bosch J,Ciberehd SportDiet Collaborative Group. Effects of an Intensive 16-week Lifestyle Intervention Program on Portal Hypertension in Patients with Cirrhosis and Obesity: the SportDiet Study. Hepatology. 2017 Apr;65(4):1293-1305.
  • Stähli P, Becchetti C, Martiartu NK, Berzigotti A, Frenz M, Jaeger M. First-in-human diagnostic study of hepatic steatosis with computed ultrasound tomography in echo mode (CUTE). Comm Medicine 2023 Dec 9;3(1):176.
  • Karlsen TH, Rutter H, Carrieri P, Zelber-Sagi S, Engebretsen E, Hutchinson S, Voigt K, Guha N, Berzigotti A, Schomerus G, Gines P, Buti M, Burra P, Manns MP, Krag A, Kleinert S. The EASL-Lancet Commission on liver health in Europe: prevention, case-finding and early diagnosis to reduce liver-related mortality. Lancet. 2024 Apr 0;403(10436):1522-1524
  • Mendoza YP, Tsouka S, Semmler G, Seubnooch P, Freiburghaus K, Mandorfer M, Bosch J, Masoodi M, Berzigotti A. Metabolic phenotyping of patients with Advanced Chronic Liver Disease for better characterization of Cirrhosis Regression. J Hepatol. 2024 Jun 27:S0168-8278(24)02334-1.
  • Dajti E, Huber AT, Ferraioli G, Berzigotti A. Advances in imaging - Elastography. Hepatology. 2025 Apr 2. Online ahead of print.
Dr. med. Elias Bührer

Department of Rheumatology and Immunology

Research Profile

Dr. Elias Bührer is a board-certified physician in Rheumatology and Internal Medicine with a strong scientific background in tumor immunology. He is an academic clinician-scientist with active research interests in rheumatology and osteology, focusing on immune-mediated mechanisms of musculoskeletal disease and bone health. His work integrates translational immunology with clinical research to improve the understanding and management of inflammatory rheumatic diseases and osteoporosis.

Selected Publications

 

PD Dr. med. Lisa Christ

Department of Rheumatology and Immunology

Research Profile

PD Dr. med. Lisa Christ is attending physician and clinical scientist at the University Clinic for Rheumatology and Immunology at Inselspital. Her research focuses on vasculitis, specifically giant cell arteritis, and Sjögren’s disease. She conducted the GUSTO trial, a proof-of-concept study in giant cell arteritis. Dr. Christ is a founding member of the Vasculitis Association Switzerland (VASAS), national PI of the Swiss Sjögren Cohort and in the scientific commission of the Swiss Clinical Quality Management in Rheumatic Diseases Foundation (SCQM).

Selected Publications

  • Christ L, Bonel HM, Cullmann JL, Seitz L, Bütikofer L, Wagner F, Villiger PM. (2025) Magnetic resonance imaging to monitor disease activity in giant cell arteritis treated with ultra-short glucocorticoids and tocilizumab. Rheumatology 64(4):2059-2067.
  • Christ L, Seitz L, Scholz G, Sarbu A-C, Amsler J, Bütikofer L, Kollert F, Reichenbach S, Villiger PM. (2021) Tocilizumab monotherapy after ultra-short glucocorticoid administration in giant cell arteritis: a single-arm, open-label, proof-of-concept study. Lancet Rheumatol 3(9):e619-e626.
  • Christ L, Seitz L, Scholz G, Bütikofer L, Kollert F, Reichenbach S, Villiger PM. (2025) Efficacy of tocilizumab monotherapy after ultrashort glucocorticoid administration to treat giant cell arteritis: three-year follow-up. Rheumatology 64(11):5616-5621.
  • Zingg F, Ryser FS, Gloor AD, Polysopoulos C, Villiger PM, Christ L, Maurer B. (2024) Serum protein profiling reveals distinct patient clusters in giant cell arteritis. Rheumatology 63(10):2887-2896.
  • Christ L, Gloor AD, Kollert F, Gaber T, Buttgereit F, Reichenbach S, Villiger PM. (2023) Serum proteomics in giant cell arteritis in response to a three-day pulse of glucocorticoid followed by tocilizumab monotherapy (the GUSTO trial). Frontiers in Immunology 14:1165758
Prof. Dr. Yvonne Döring

Department of Angiology

Research Profile

Yvonne Döring is Professor of Translational Angiology at the University of Bern and Inselspital, where she leads research within the Swiss Cardiovascular Centre. Her work focuses on immunological and inflammatory mechanisms driving atherosclerosis and vascular disease, with particular emphasis on chemokine receptor signaling, immune cell recruitment, and vascular–immune interactions. She integrates mechanistic studies in experimental models with translational and human data to identify clinically relevant targets for cardiovascular therapy.

Selected Publications

  • Evans BR, Schulz J, Yerly Y, Thakur M, Angliker N, Siegrist M, Jansen Y, Yan Y, Maas SL, Gold C, et al., Döring Y. ChemR23 prevents phenotypic switching of vascular smooth muscle cells into macrophage-like foam cells in atherosclerosis. Cardiovasc Res. 2025; online ahead of print. doi:10.1093/cvr/cvaf258.
  • van der Vorst EPC, Mandl M, Müller M, Neideck C, Jansen Y, Hristov M, Gencer S, Peters LJF, et al., Döring Y. Hematopoietic ChemR23 fuels atherosclerosis by sustaining an M1 macrophage phenotype and guidance of plasmacytoid dendritic cells to murine lesions. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2019;39:685–693. doi:10.1161/ATVBAHA.119.312386.
  • Döring Y, Jansen Y, Cimen I, Aslani M, Gencer S, Peters LJF, Duchene J, Weber C, van der Vorst EPC. B-cell specific CXCR4 protects against atherosclerosis development and increases plasma IgM levels. Circ Res. 2020;126:787–788. doi:10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.119.316142.
  • Döring Y, van der Vorst EPC, Duchene J, Jansen Y, Gencer S, Bidzhekov K, et al. CXCL12 derived from endothelial cells promotes atherosclerosis to drive coronary artery disease. Circulation. 2019;139:1338–1340. doi:10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.118.037953. 
  • Döring Y, Noels H, van der Vorst EPC, Neideck C, Egea V, Drechsler M, Mandl M, et al. Vascular CXCR4 limits atherosclerosis by maintaining arterial integrity: evidence from mouse and human studies. Circulation. 2017;136:388–403. doi:10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.117.027646.
Dr. Vissarion Efthymiou

Department of Diabetology, Endocrinology, Nutritional Medicine and Metabolism

Research Profile

Dr. Vissarion Efthymiou is a preclinical senior scientist specializing in systemic metabolism, with a strong focus on adipose tissue and liver biology in the context of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and related metabolic diseases. His research integrates pharmacological and genetic in vitro and in vivo approaches, as well as single-cell omics and other state-of-the-art technologies, to better understand the role and function of human and mouse white and brown adipose tissue. He also aims to unravel inter-organ crosstalk in metabolic health and disease, including the metabolic actions of incretin-based therapies. Dr. Efthymiou leads multidisciplinary projects across academic and industry partnerships, has generated high-impact scientific publications and single-cell atlases of human adipose tissue, and is translating mechanistic insights into therapeutic strategies targeting metabolic disease.

Selected Publications
  • Efthymiou V, Ding L, Balaz M, Sun W, Balazova L, Straub LG, Dong H, Simon E, Ghosh A, Perdikari A, Keller S, Ghoshdastider U, Horvath C, Moser C, Hamilton B, Neubauer H, Wolfrum C. Inhibition of AXL Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Enhances Brown Adipose Tissue Functionality in mice. Jul 13;14(1):4162. doi: 10.1038/s41467-023-39715-8, 2023 Nature Communications
  • Efthymiou V, Patti ME. It Is Not Just Fat: Dissecting the Heterogeneity of Adipose Tissue Function. 22;177-187, 2022 Curr Diab Rep.
  • Efthymiou V, Ghosh A, Kodani SD, Caubit X, Fasano L, Ali W, Poulos LS, Camara H, Gupta A, Belaidouni Y, Booeshaghi AS, Yang S, Rastogi R, Shamsi F, Vernon A, Streets A, Tseng YH, Patti ME. Single-Nucleus Analysis of Human White Adipose Tissue Reveals Adipocyte Subsets with Distinct Metabolic Profiles. 2025 Sep 16 BioRxiv doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.09.14.673351; human adipose atlas published in CellxGene: https://cellxgene.cziscience.com/collections/6b701826-37bb-4356-9792-ff41fc4c3161 revisions completed in Nature Communications)
  • Efthymiou V*, Straub LG*, Grandl G, Balaz M, Challa TD, Truscello L, Horvath C, Moser C, Rachamin Y, Arnold M, Sun W, Modica S, Wolfrum C. Antioxidants protect against diabetes by improving glucose homeostasis in mouse models of inducible insulin resistance and obesity. 2019 Jul 15 Diabetologia. doi: 10.1007/s00125-019-4937-7. *equal contribution
  • Efthymiou V*, Rosenwald M*, Opitz L, Wolfrum C. SRF and MKL1 Independently Inhibit Brown Adipogenesis. PLoS ONE 12(1): 1-17, 2017. *equal contribution
Dr. Janine Gote-Schniering

Department of Rheumatology and Immunology

Research Profile

Dr. Janine Gote-Schniering is incoming SNSF Starting Grant Assistant Professor at the Clinic for Rheumatology and Immunology at Inselspital and a principal investigator within the Lung Precision Medicine Program at the Department for BioMedical Research, University of Bern. Since 2023, she has led an interdisciplinary research program dedicated to understanding and treating chronic inflammatory and fibrotic lung diseases.

Her research bridges fundamental and translational science, focusing on the pathomechanisms underlying impaired lung regeneration and the development of pulmonary fibrosis. In particular, she investigates how immune ageing, especially aged T cells, disrupts lung regenerative cellular networks and drives fibrotic remodeling of lung tissue.

To address these questions, Dr. Gote-Schniering integrates high-resolution imaging, AI-based radiomic analyses, and single-cell multi-omics approaches in preclinical models and deeply phenotyped patient cohorts. She further employs advanced human 3D tissue models to dissect cellular interactions and molecular pathways underlying immune-mediated regenerative dysfunction and pulmonary fibrosis.

Selected Publications
  • Single cell decomposition of multicellular aging programs associated with impaired lung regeneration. Gote-Schniering J, Melo-Narváez MC, Boosarpu G, Lauer D, Prakki SRS, Wang H, Brunner M, Khan S, Ansari M, Ammeter M, Jain E, Puda N, Wiedemann K, Steinchen C, Ashgapour S, Eceiza A, Dudek M, Mayr CH, Chen Y, Angelidis I, Yildirim Ö, Knolle P, Burgstaller G, Königshoff M, Kadri S, Mück-Häusl M, Theis FJ, Lehmann M, Schiller HB. bioRxiv. 2025 Jul 24:2025.07.24.666371. doi: 10.1101/2025.07.24.666371.
  • Targeting p16INK4a reverses alveolar epithelial cell dysfunction and induces lung regeneration in emphysema. Ribeiro-Baptista B*, Toigo M*, Justeau G, Abou-Atmeh P, de Freitas Castro T, Zysman M, Thibaut De Menonville C, Audureau E, Schnyder K, Wang H, Hu Y, Königshoff M, Lanone S, Chabot F, Zana-Taïeb E, Jourdan Le Saux C, Lehmann M, Thuret JY, Derumeaux G, Boczkowski J, Gote-Schniering J*, Boyer L*. bioRxiv 2025.09.05.674489; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.09.05.674489 . *contributed equally
  • Lang NJ*, Gote-Schniering J*, Porras-Gonzalez D, Yang L, De Sadeleer LJ, Jentzsch RC, Shitov VA, Zhou S, Ansari M, Agami A, Mayr CH, Hooshiar Kashani B, Chen Y, Heumos L, Pestoni JC, Molnar ES, Geeraerts E, Anquetil V, Saniere L, Wögrath M, Gerckens M, Lehmann M, Yildirim AÖ, Hatz R, Kneidinger N, Behr J, Wuyts WA, Stoleriu MG, Luecken MD, Theis FJ, Burgstaller G, Schiller HB. Ex vivo tissue perturbations coupled to single-cell RNA-seq reveal multilineage cell circuit dynamics in human lung fibrogenesis. Sci Transl Med. 2023 Dec 6;15(725):eadh0908. doi: 10.1126/scitranslmed.adh0908. *contributed equally
  • 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 Jul 16;9(15):e181757. doi: 10.1172/jci.insight.181757.
  • Schniering J, Maciukiewicz M, Gabrys HS, Brunner M, Blüthgen C, Meier C, Braga-Lagache S, Uldry AC, Heller M, Guckenberger M, Fretheim H, Nakas CT, Hoffmann-Vold AM, Distler O, Frauenfelder T, Tanadini-Lang S, Maurer B. Computed tomography-based radiomics decodes prognostic and molecular differences in interstitial lung disease related to systemic sclerosis. Eur Respir J. 2022 May 19;59(5):2004503. doi: 10.1183/13993003.04503-2020.
Dr. med. Judith Everts-Graber

Department of Rheumatology and Immunology

Research Profile

Judith Everts-Graber (MD) is a rheumatologist and clinical researcher at Inselspital Bern with a focus on osteoporosis and osteoimmunology. She leads a large multicenter osteoporosis registry (www.osteoregistry.ch) and oversees research on the effectiveness and safety of anti-osteoporotic therapies, fracture risk prediction, and osteoporosis care in Switzerland.

Selected Publications
  • Everts-Graber J, Schmid G, Häuselmann H, Huber C, Streit S, Ravensbergen W, Reichenbach S, Maurer B, Lehmann T, Pinedo-Villanueva R, et al. Post-fracture care and predictors of anti-osteoporotic treatment in Switzerland: a nationwide health claims analysis. Osteoporos Int. 2026; (accepted/in press).
  • Lehmann O, Mineeva O, Veshchezerova D, Häuselmann H, Guyer L, Reichenbach S, Lehmann T, Demler O, Everts-Graber J, Wenger M, et al. Fracture risk prediction in postmenopausal women with traditional and machine learning models in a nationwide, prospective cohort study in Switzerland with validation in the UK Biobank. J Bone Miner Res. 2024;39(8):1103–1112.
  • Everts-Graber J, Bonel H, Lehmann D, Gahl B, Häuselmann H, Studer U, Ziswiler HR, Reichenbach S, Lehmann T. Comparison of anti-fracture effectiveness of zoledronate, ibandronate and alendronate versus denosumab in a registry-based cohort study. Osteoporos Int. 2023;34(11):1961–1973.
  • Park KS, Jung SM, Park YJ, et al. Risk of osteonecrosis of the jaw under denosumab compared to bisphosphonates in patients with osteoporosis. J Bone Miner Res. 2021;37(10):2044–2052.
  • Everts-Graber J, Reichenbach S, Ziswiler HR, Studer U, Lehmann T. A single infusion of zoledronate in postmenopausal women following denosumab discontinuation results in partial conservation of bone mass gains. J Bone Miner Res. 2020;35(7):1207–1215.
PD Dr. med. Hossein Hemmatazad

Department of Radio-Oncology

Research Profile

PD Dr. med. Hemmatazad is a board-certified Radiation Oncologist and Senior Physician at Inselspital Bern, specializing in stereotactic body radiotherapy, radiosurgery, and online adaptive radiotherapy. He serves as single point of contact for advanced precision radiotherapy techniques, with expertise in gastrointestinal, neuroendocrine, and pediatric malignancies. His work combines clinical innovation with translational research, focusing on imaging-guided treatment, response assessment, and optimization of modern radiotherapy approaches. He is actively engaged in international collaborations, professional society leadership, resident education, and has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications.

Selected Publications

  • Radiological response assessment after stereotactic body radiotherapy for spine metastases using magnetic resonance imaging: a systematic review. Keivan Daneshvar, Mohammadamin Shahrbaf, Johannes Heverhagen, Katarina Bryjova, Daniel M Aebersold, Pejman Jabehdar Maralani, Arjun Sahgal, Matthias Guckenberger, Hossein Hemmatazad. Physics and Imaging in Radiation Oncology,  DOI: 10.1016/j.phro.2025.100840
  • Cone-beam computed tomography-based online adaptive radiotherapy of esophageal cancer in the neoadjuvant setting: Dosimetric analysis, toxicity and treatment response. Nicolas Bachmann, Maiwand Ahmadsei, Moritz Hürlimann, Hubert S Gabrys, Daniel Schmidhalter, Jenny Bertholet, Martin D Berger, Yves Borbély, Ekin Ermiş, Emanuel Stutz, Binaya K Shrestha, Daniel M Aebersold, Peter Manser, Hossein Hemmatazad. Radiother Oncol. DOI: 10.1016/j.radonc.2025.110981
  • Preoperative chemoradiotherapy for esophageal or gastroesophageal junction cancer: results from a retrospective study using extended CROSS regimen. Tobias Haltmeier, Jennifer Brazerol, Yves Borbely, Elena Riggenbach, Anna Stenger-Weisser, Burim Sermaxhaj, Martin D Berger, Hossein Hemmatazad. DOI: 10.1186/s13014-025-02637-4
  • Metastases-directed stereotactic body radiotherapy in combination with targeted therapy or immunotherapy: systematic review and consensus recommendations by the EORTC-ESTRO OligoCare consortium. Kroeze SGC, Pavic M, Stellamans K, Lievens Y, Becherini C, Scorsetti M, Alongi F, Ricardi U, Jereczek-Fossa BA, Westhoff P, But-Hadzic J, Widder J, Geets X, Bral S, Lambrecht M, Billiet C, Sirak I, Ramella S, Giovanni Battista I, Benavente S, Zapatero A, Romero F, Zilli T, Khanfir K, Hemmatazad H, de Bari B, Klass DN, Adnan S, Peulen H, Salinas Ramos J, Strijbos M, Popat S, Ost P, Guckenberger M. Lancet Oncol. 2023 Mar;24(3):e121-e132.
  • Dominik Henzen, Daniel Schmidhalter, Gian Guyer, Anna Stenger-Weisser, Ekin Ermiş, Robert Poel, Moritz Caspar Deml, Michael Karl Fix, Peter Manser, Daniel Matthias Aebersold, Hossein Hemmatazad. Feasibility of postoperative spine stereotactic body radiation therapy in proximity of carbon and titanium hybrid implants using a robotic radiotherapy device. Radiation Oncology, May 2022.
Dr. med. Samuel E. J. Knobel

Department of Rheumatology and Immunology

Research Profile

Dr. Knobel is a clinician-scientist operating at the intersection of medicine and digital health. With a dual background as an MD-PhD, he possesses extensive expertise in developing and validating digital biomarkers for neurodegenerative disorders. He is currently translating this methodological experience to the field of Rheumatology ("Digital Rheumatology"). His primary research focuses on the objective quantification of hand function, stiffness, and dexterity using sensor-based technologies. Dr. Knobel leads translational projects validating novel devices, such as the "DextEgg-System," to enable continuous home monitoring and early flare detection in patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis, Psoriatic Arthritis, and Systemic Sclerosis.

Selected Publications
  • Knobel SEJ, Pastore-Wapp M, et al. Usability of Two New Interactive Game Sensor-Based Hand Training Devices in Parkinson's Disease. Sensors (Basel). 2022;22(16):6278.
  • Schütz N, Knobel SEJ, Botros A, et al. A systems approach towards remote health-monitoring in older adults: Introducing a zero-interaction digital exhaust. NPJ Digit Med. 2022;5(1):116.
  • Saner H, Knobel SEJ, Schuetz N, Nef T. Contact-free sensor signals as a new digital biomarker for cardiovascular disease: chances and challenges. Eur Heart J Digit Health. 2020;1(1):30-39.
  • Knobel SEJ, Oberson R, Räber J, et al. Evaluation of a New Mobile Virtual Reality Setup to Alter Pain Perception: Pilot Development and Usability Study in Healthy Participants. JMIR Serious Games. 2024;12:e52340.
  • Knobel SEJ, Kaufmann BC, Gerber SM, et al. Development of a Search Task Using Immersive Virtual Reality: Proof-of-Concept Study. JMIR Serious Games. 2021;9(3):e29182.Schmid G, Häuselmann H, Huber C, Streit S, Ravensbergen W, Reichenbach S, Maurer B, Lehmann T, Pinedo-Villanueva R, et al. Post-fracture care and predictors of anti-osteoporotic treatment in Switzerland: a nationwide health claims analysis. Osteoporos Int. 2026; (accepted/in press).
PD Dr. Kerstin Klein

Department for BioMedical Research

Research Profile

PD Dr. Kerstin Klein is research group leader at the University Clinic for Rheumatology and Immunology at the Inselspital, Universitätsspital Bern. Her research projects focus on molecular mechanisms underlying connective tissue diseases, with special emphasis on Sjögren’s disease. Her research group follows a multi-OMICS approach using human biosamples, complemented with in vitro disease models for functional studies. The aim of Dr. Klein’s translational projects is the generation of comprehensive pre-clinical data sets underlying Sjögren’s disease to pave the way towards a personalized medicine and a better care for patients in the future.

Selected Publications
  • Brunner M, Guggisberg D, Sprecher M, Pastva O, Bürki K, et al., Klein K. Pro-inflammatory properties of salivary gland-derived fibroblasts—implications in Sjögren’s disease. Cells. 2025;14(8):558.
  • Pecorelli L, Klein K. Insights into patient heterogeneity in Sjögren’s disease. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2025;26(13).
  • Lauer D, Magnin CY, Kolly LR, Wang H, Brunner M, et al., Klein K. Radioproteomics stratifies molecular response to antifibrotic treatment in pulmonary fibrosis. JCI Insight. 2024;9(15).
  • Pastva O, Klein K. Long non-coding RNAs in Sjögren’s disease. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2024;25(10).
  • Elhai M, Micheroli R, Houtman M, Mirrahimi M, Moser L, et al. The long non-coding RNA HOTAIR contributes to joint-specific gene expression in rheumatoid arthritis. Nature Communications. 2023;14(1):8172.
Prof. Dr. Antje-Christin Knopf

sitem Insel School

Department of Radio-Oncology

Department of Digital Medicine

Research Profile

Prof. Dr. Antje-Christin Knopf serves as Director of the sitem-insel School and is full professor at the University of Bern, specializing in Applied Data Sciences and Decision Support Systems with a focus on radio-oncology. Affiliated with the Department of Radio-Oncology and the Department of Digital Medicine, she drives strategic development in digital medicine, data‑driven decision support, and interdisciplinary collaboration, often in international constellations.

She earned her physics degree from Heidelberg University and completed her PhD at MGH / Harvard Medical School. Her academic journey spans institutions in Switzerland, the UK, Japan, the Netherlands and Germany. Her research centers on personalized radio-oncology, particularly particle therapy.

Selected Publications
  • Knopf AC, Lomax A. In vivo proton range verification: a review. Phys Med Biol. 2013 Aug 7;58(15):R131-60. doi: 10.1088/0031-9155/58/15/R131. Epub 2013 Jul 17. PMID: 23863203.
  • Chang JY, Zhang X, Knopf A, Li H, Mori S, Dong L, Lu HM, Liu W, Badiyan SN, Both S, Meijers A, Lin L, Flampouri S, Li Z, Umegaki K, Simone CB 2nd, Zhu XR. Consensus Guidelines for Implementing Pencil-Beam Scanning Proton Therapy for Thoracic Malignancies on Behalf of the PTCOG Thoracic and Lymphoma Subcommittee. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2017 Sep 1;99(1):41-50. doi: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2017.05.014. Epub 2017 May 19. PMID: 28816159.
  • Knopf AC, Czerska K, Fracchiolla F, Graeff C, Molinelli S, Rinaldi I, Rucincki A, Sterpin E, Stützer K, Trnkova P, Zhang Y, Chang JY, Giap H, Liu W, Schild SE, Simone CB 2nd, Lomax AJ, Meijers A. Clinical necessity of multi-image based (4DMIB) optimization for targets affected by respiratory motion and treated with scanned particle therapy - A comprehensive review. Radiother Oncol. 2022 Apr;169:77-85. doi: 10.1016/j.radonc.2022.02.018. Epub 2022 Feb 18. PMID: 35189152.
  • Thummerer A, Zaffino P, Meijers A, Marmitt GG, Seco J, Steenbakkers RJHM, Langendijk JA, Both S, Spadea MF, Knopf AC. Comparison of CBCT based synthetic CT methods suitable for proton dose calculations in adaptive proton therapy. Phys Med Biol. 2020 Apr 28;65(9):095002. doi: 10.1088/1361-6560/ab7d54. PMID: 32143207.
  • Meijers A, Daartz J, Knopf AC, van Heerden M, Bizzocchi N, Vazquez MV, Bachtiary B, Pica A, Shih HA, Weber DC. Possible association of dose rate and the development of late visual toxicity for patients with intracranial tumours treated with pencil beam scanned proton therapy. Radiat Oncol. 2024 Jun 17;19(1):75. doi: 10.1186/s13014-024-02464-z. PMID: 38886727; PMCID: PMC11184872.
Prof. Dr. Lisa Koch

Department of Diabetology, Endocrinology, Nutritional Medicine and Metabolism
Department of Digital Medicine

Research Profile

Prof. Dr. Lisa Koch is an assistant professor for data science in diabetes care and leads the Machine Learning in Medicine Lab at the Department for Diabetology, Endocrinology, Nutritional Medicine and Metabolism and Department of Digital Medicine. Her research focuses on the development of certifiably safe, reliable, and effective machine learning methods for patient care. She received degrees in electrical and biomedical engineering from ETH Zürich and a PhD in computer science from Imperial College London, followed by research appointments at ETH Zürich and the University of Tübingen. Her work builds on experience across academia and the medical device industry, with a strong emphasis on trustworthy and safety-critical AI for clinical applications.

Selected Publications
  • Alceu Bissoto, Trung-Dung Hoang, Tim Flühmann, Susu Sun, Christian F. Baumgartner, Lisa M. Koch: “Subgroup Performance Analysis in Hidden Stratifications”. In: Proc. Medical Image Computing and Computer Assisted Interventions (2025)
  • Lisa M. Koch, Christian F. Baumgartner, Philipp Berens: “Distribution shift detection for the postmarket surveillance of medical AI algorithms: a retrospective simulation study”. In: npj Digital Medicine (2024)
  • Kerol Djoumessi Donteu, Indu Ilanchezian, Laura Kühlewein, Hanna Faber, Christian F. Baumgartner, Bubacarr Bah, Philipp Berens, Lisa M. Koch: “Sparse activations for interpretable disease grading”. In: Proc. Medical Imaging with Deep Learning (MIDL) (2023)
  • Tim Flühmann, Alceu Bissoto, Trung-Dung Hoang, Lisa M. Koch: “Label-free estimation of clinically relevant performance metrics under distribution shifts ”. In: Proc. Uncertainty for Safe Utilization of Machine Learning in Medical Imaging (UNSURE) (2025)
  • Indu Ilanchezian, Valentyn Boreiko, Laura Kühlewein, Ziwei Huang, Murat Seçkin Ayhan, Matthias Hein, Lisa M. Koch*, and Philipp Berens*: "Development and validation of an AI algorithm to generate realistic and meaningful counterfactuals for retinal imaging based on diffusion models". PLOS Digital Health (2025)
PD Dr. med. et phil. Matthias Moor

Department of Nephrology and Hypertension

Research Profile

Dr. Matthias Moor is a clinical nephrologist and translational research group leader working at the intersection of bone health and kidney disease. Dr. Moor earned an MD degree at University of Bern, an MD-PhD at University of Lausanne and was a visiting scientist at Karolinska Institutet.

His clinical activity focuses on chronic kidney disease-associated osteoporosis at the Department of Nephrology and Hypertension of University Hospital Bern. His research group addresses the heterogeneity of renal osteodystrophy, mineral and bone disorders, and the pathophysiology of bone hormone FGF23 excess. For his research work, he combines patient cohorts, animal and cellular models, population genetics and bioinformatics.

Selected Publications
  • Moor MB, Burmakin M, Levin A, Korkut GG, Brodin D, Wernerson A, Bruchfeld A, Bárány P, Witasp A, Patrakka J, Olauson H. The renal response to FGF23 shifts from phosphaturia towards inflammation in kidney disease. Journal of Cell Communication and Signaling, accepted, 2026.
  • Keele GR, Moor MB. Genetic dissection of tissue composition in genetically diverse mouse populations. bioRxiv preprint, 2025. doi:10.1101/2025.10.13.68204
  • Lindberg K*, Ovchinnikova O*, Moor MB*, Pirault J, Ketelhuth DF, Olauson H, Hansson GK, Larsson TE. Fgf23 expression increases atherosclerotic plaque burden in male ApoE deficient mice. Atherosclerosis. 2025;403:119158. (co-first authors)
  • Bartos K, Moor MB. FGFR regulator Memo1 is dispensable for FGF23 expression by osteoblasts during folic acid-driven kidney injury. Physiological Reports. 2023;11:e15650.
  • Bartos K, Ramakrishnan SK, Braga-Lagache S, Hänzi B, Durussel F, Prakash Sridharan A, Zhu Y, Sheehan D, Hynes NE, Bonny O, Moor MB. Renal FGF23 signaling depends on redox protein Memo1 and promotes orthovanadate-sensitive protein phosphotyrosyl phosphatase activity. Journal of Cell Communication and Signaling. 2023;17:705–722.
Dr. med. Seraina Netzer

Department of Geriatrics
BESAS Siloah

Research Profile

Seraina Netzer (MD) is an Internal Medicine specialist working toward her Geriatric Medicine certification, with a clinical and research focus on multimorbid older adults and functional outcomes after acute and post‑acute care. Her work centers on understanding functional performance, independence, and patient priorities during recovery, with growing expertise in geriatric rehabilitation pathways and functional assessment. Her developing clinical‑scientific profile integrates geriatric medicine, rehabilitation, and patient‑centered outcome evaluation, contributing to innovative models of care for older adults.

Selected Publications
  • Netzer S, Ruch C, Ivanova S, Limacher A, Meyer L, Eggimann AK. Difference in discharge disposition, adherence to clinical care standards and functional outcomes of older hip fracture patients receiving an orthogeriatric model of care versus routine care. J Orthop Surg Res. 2025 Nov 14;20(1):993. doi: 10.1186/s13018-025-06335-5. PMID: 41239506; PMCID: PMC12619141.
  • Merz N, Plessmann R, Netzer S, Meyer L, Limacher A, Eggimann AK. Impact of Sarcopenia Diagnosed by Point-of-Care Ultrasound on Geriatric Rehabilitation Outcomes: A Prospective Cohort Study. J Am Med Dir Assoc. 2025 Nov;26(11):105873. doi: 10.1016/j.jamda.2025.105873. Epub 2025 Oct 1. PMID: 40947099.
  • Netzer S, Chocano-Bedoya P, Feller M, Janett-Pellegri C, Wildisen L, Büchi AE, Moutzouri E, Gonzalez Rodriguez E, Collet TH, Poortvliet RKE, Mc Carthy VJC, Aeberli D, Aujesky D, Westendorp R, Quinn TJ, Gussekloo J, Kearney PM, Mooijaart S, Bauer DC, Rodondi N. The effect of thyroid hormone therapy on muscle function, strength and mass in older adults with subclinical hypothyroidism-an ancillary study within two randomized placebo controlled trials. Age Ageing. 2023 Jan 8;52(1):afac326. doi: 10.1093/ageing/afac326. PMID: 36721961.
  • Büchi AE, Feller M, Netzer S, Blum MR, Gonzalez Rodriguez E, Collet TH, Del Giovane C, van Heemst D, Quinn T, Kearney PM, Westendorp RGJ, Gussekloo J, Mooijaart SP, Hans D, Bauer DC, Rodondi N, Aeberli D. Bone geometry in older adults with subclinical hypothyroidism upon levothyroxine therapy: A nested study within a randomized placebo controlled trial. Bone. 2022 Aug;161:116404. doi: 10.1016/j.bone.2022.116404. Epub 2022 Apr 2. PMID: 35381390.
  • Blum MR, Sallevelt BTGM, Spinewine A, O'Mahony D, Moutzouri E, Feller M, Baumgartner C, Roumet M, Jungo KT, Schwab N, Bretagne L, Beglinger S, Aubert CE, Wilting I, Thevelin S, Murphy K, Huibers CJA, Drenth-van Maanen AC, Boland B, Crowley E, Eichenberger A, Meulendijk M, Jennings E, Adam L, Roos MJ, Gleeson L, Shen Z, Marien S, Meinders AJ, Baretella O, Netzer S, de Montmollin M, Fournier A, Mouzon A, O'Mahony C, Aujesky D, Mavridis D, Byrne S, Jansen PAF, Schwenkglenks M, Spruit M, Dalleur O, Knol W, Trelle S, Rodondi N. Optimizing Therapy to Prevent Avoidable Hospital Admissions in Multimorbid Older Adults (OPERAM): cluster randomised controlled trial. BMJ. 2021 Jul 13;374:n1585. doi: 10.1136/bmj.n1585. Erratum in: BMJ. 2022 Dec 1;379:o2859. doi: 10.1136/bmj.o2859. PMID: 34257088; PMCID: PMC8276068.
PD Dr. med. et phil. Tuyet-Vi Caroline Nguyen

Department of Cardiology

Research Profile

Dr. Tuyet-Vi Caroline Nguyen is a cardiologist and translational researcher specializing in valvular heart disease, advanced cardiac imaging, and transcatheter interventions. Her work integrates clinical phenotyping, echocardiography, and mechanistic insights to improve risk stratification and outcomes for patients undergoing structural heart interventions.

Her research focuses on the pathophysiology of valvular heart disease and the gut–heart axis, investigating how gut microbiota and microbial metabolites influence cardiovascular disease progression. Trained in France at Bichat Hospital, Paris, APHP, she now pursues an academic and clinical career in Switzerland, bridging clinical cardiology with translational and systems-based approaches while mentoring and fostering multidisciplinary collaborations.

Selected Publications
  • Chong-Nguyen C, Artiles RF, Pilgrim T, Yilmaz B, Döring Y. The gut-heart axis in coronary artery disease: a scoping and narrative review of sex-based microbial and metabolic disparities. Biol Sex Differ. 2026; Jan 30. doi:10.1186/s13293-026-00824-w
  • Chong-Nguyen C, Yilmaz B, Coles B, et al. A scoping review evaluating the current state of gut microbiota and its metabolites in valvular heart disease physiopathology. Eur J Clin Invest. 2025;55(6):e14381.
  • Chong Nguyen C, Duboc D, Rainteau D, et al. Circulating bile acids concentration is predictive of coronary artery disease in humans. Sci Rep. 2021;11:22661. doi:10.1038/s41598-021-02144-y
  • Kelly CP*, Chong Nguyen C*, Palmieri LJ, et al. Saccharomyces boulardii CNCM I-745 modulates fecal bile acids metabolism during antimicrobial therapy in healthy volunteers. Front Microbiol. 2019;10:336. (*equally first author)
  • Samim D*, Chong-Nguyen C*, Hausammann Y, et al. Midterm outcomes of transcatheter edge-to-edge repair for primary mitral regurgitation according to anatomical characteristics. Struct Heart. 2025;10(3):100763. (*equally first author)
Prof. Dr. Nikola Saulacic

Department of Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery

Research Profile

Prof. Dr. Nikola Saulacic is research group leader at the University Clinic for Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery at the Inselspital, University Hospital of Bern. His research focuses on the biological processes related to the bone regeneration with a strong translational character. His work integrates the development of different biomaterials including various types of bone grafts, titanium and biodegradable osteosynthesis devices and the 3D-printing technologies. For his research work he combines cellular and animal models, with the aim to improve the management and rehabilitation of patients with bone deficiencies.

Selected Publications
  • Fujioka-Kobayashi M, Marjanowski SD, Kono M, Hino S, Saulacic N, Schaller B. Osteoinductive potential of recombinant BMP-9 in bone defects of mice treated with antiresorptive agents. Int J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2022;51(4):566-575. doi:10.1016/j.ijom.2021.08.014
  • Lang NP, Imber JC, Lang KN, Schmid B, Muñoz F, Bosshardt DD, Saulacic N. Sequential osseointegration of a novel implant system based on 3D printing in comparison with conventional titanium implants. Clin Oral Implants Res. 2023;34(6):627-638. doi:10.1111/clr.14072
  • Strunz F, Gentil-Perret S, Siegrist M, Bohner M, Saulacic N, Hofstetter W. Bisphosphonates do not affect healing of a critical-size defect in estrogen-deficient mice. Bone Rep. 2024;20:101739. doi:10.1016/j.bonr.2024.101739
  • Saulacic N, Katagiri H, Fujioka-Kobayashi M, Ferrari SL, Gerbaix MC. Alternated activation with relaxation of periosteum stimulates bone modeling and remodeling. Sci Rep. 2024;14:11136. doi:10.1038/s41598-024-61902-w
  • Lang KN, Lang NP, Muños Guzon FM, Saulacic N. Bi-Layered Biphasic Calcium Phosphate Bone Substitute to Improve Bone Formation in Lateral Jaw Defects Applying the Principle of Guided Bone Regeneration (GBR)-A Pre-Clinical Randomized Controlled Study. Clin Oral Implants Res. 2025;36(9):1115-1125. doi:10.1111/clr.14460
Prof. Dr. Eva Segelov

Department of Clinical Research

Research Profile

Professor Eva Segelov (MBBS, PhD, FRACP) is Full Professor at the University of Bern where she is the Director of the Department of Clinical Research, and academic medical oncologist at the University Cancer Centre, Inselspital, Bern. She is a recognized international expert in the field of gastrointestinal and breast cancer, with over 30 years of experience in managing patients in a multidisciplinary setting. She has led multiple international oncology clinical trials, including investigator-initiated studies. Her research interests are values-based health care, patient-centered care, and global oncology.

Selected Publications
  • Chia J* and SEGELOV E*, Deng YH, Wei W, Ho G, Shama A, Ding K, Cheng G, Jeffreys M, Nott L, Zielinski R, Ahn J, Yau T, Chao T, Nabilah S, Ghandi M, Rothwell P, Simes J, Ali R, Toh H. 2025. Aspirin after completion of Standard Adjuvant Therapy for Colorectal Cancer (ASCOLT) – An International Multi-Centre Phase 3 Randomised Double-blind Placebo-controlled Trial. The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology.10:3:198-209. *equal contribution, 10.1016/S2468-1253(24)00387-X
  • Body A, Lal L, Srihari S, MacIntyre R, Buttery J, Ahern E, Opat S, Leahy M, Hamad N, Milch V, Turville S, Smith C, Lineburg K, Rawlinson W, SEGELOV E. 2025. Immune Response to COVID-19 Vaccination in Children with Cancer. Pediatrics.156 (3), e2024070209
  • Xi X, Lui L, Tuano N, Tailhades J, Mouradov D, Sieber O, Cryle M, SEGELOV E, Rosenbluh J. 2025. SRP19 and the protein secretion machinery is a targetable vulnerability in cancers with APC loss 2025. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 122.15 (2025): e2409677122
  • SEGELOV E, Thavaneswaran S, Waring P, Desai J, Mann K, Elez E, Chantrill L, Pavlakis N, Nott L, Underhill C, Khasraw M, Wasan H, Ciardiello F, Jefford M, Joubert W, Haydon A, Karapetis C, Price T, Wilson K, Shapiro J. 2016. Response to cetuximab with or without irinotecan in patients with refractory metastatic colorectal cancer harboring the KRAS G13D mutation: Australasian gastro- intestinal trials group ICECREAM study. Journal of Clinical Oncology 34(19), 2258-2264.
  • Arulananda S, SEGELOV E. 2022. Sarcopenia and cancer-related inflammation measurements in advanced gastric and junctional cancers. Annals Oncology, invited editorial 33:669-71.

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