From Idea to Impact: Your Partner in Clinical Research That Matters
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Annual Report
2025
The Department of Clinical Research is an umbrella organisation between the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Bern and the University Hospitals, including Inselspital and Universitäre Psychiatrische Dienste (UPD), that facilitates and professionalises clinical and translational research partnerships.
Welcome
As Director of the Department of Clinical Research (DCR), it is my pleasure to welcome you to our 2025 Annual Report.
Looking back on 2025, I am proud of what we have achieved together. It has been a year shaped by collaboration, curiosity, and a shared commitment to improving healthcare through high-quality clinical research.
Every day, our teams work closely with researchers and clinicians to turn ideas into meaningful studies and impactful results. The DCR supports this work through a broad range of services and expertise, including statistics and methodology, medical data science, research design, IICT Calls, as well as education and training, alongside many other areas that contribute to advancing clinical research. This report highlights a selection of the projects, studies, and initiatives we have been involved in over the past year.
Behind every achievement is the dedication and collaboration of our researchers, clinicians, partners, and staff. I would like to sincerely thank everyone who contributed to the DCR’s work and success in 2025.
Enjoy the report!
Warm regards,
Prof. Dr. Eva Segelov,
Director of the Department of Clinical Research
Who We Are
The Department of Clinical Research is an umbrella organisation
between the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Bern and the University Hospitals, that facilitates and professionalises clinical and translational research partnerships. It consists of several integral divisions under the DCR umbrella.
We support the full spectrum of clinical research, from early-phase studies to large multicentre trials, by providing robust infrastructure, methodological expertise, and streamlined processes. In addition, we are committed to fostering the next generation of researchers through targeted training, mentorship, and career development opportunities.
By promoting interdisciplinary cooperation and innovation, the department plays a key role in translating scientific discoveries into meaningful improvements in patient care.
01
Our Vision
Shaping the future of clinical research to improve health for patients and communities.
02
Our Mission
From idea to impact, we unite clinical expertise with smart design, creativity, operational excellence, and innovation to deliver evidence that matters.
We connect people, develop talent, and advance collborative and visionary research.
03
Our Divisions & Research Groups
Our Divisions:
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Research Design
Our Research Groups:
Some of the DCR staff
Department of Clinical Research
in Numbers
2025
Click on the boxes to learn more about the numbers.
Scientific Services
For a overview of 2025 publications with DCR affiliations, click here.
2025
Insights & Highlights
Click on the text in the boxes to learn more about our highlights.
And Public Involvement
PPI
2025
Clinical Trials & Research
A randomized trial evaluating empagliflozin and personalized nutrition strategies to prevent recurrent calcium kidney stones.
The DCR supported researchers across a range of clinical trials, including the following studies.
A multicenter trial assessing the safety and efficacy of intravenous thrombolysis in stroke patients receiving direct oral anticoagulants.
"Bern, get ready" (BEready) is a cohort study that represents the population of the Canton of Bern and will collect important long-term data to improve our understanding of existing infectious diseases and strengthen our preparedness and response to emerging health threats.
BEREADY
Community Outreach
Nacht der Forschung (University of Bern)
The Department of Clinical Research was represented at the University of Bern's Nacht der Forschung, an event focused on showcasing the breadth and diversity of research conducted at the University. Visitors had the opportunity to explore the world of research through interactive experiments, hands-on activities, and informative exhibits, bringing science to life for a broad public audience.
Media Feature: Beobachter Magazine
"Viele können während der Immuntherapie fast normal leben"
Prof. Dr. Eva Segelov, Director of the Department of Clinical Research, was featured in the Swiss magazine Beobachter, where she offered her perspective on one of the most significant shifts in modern oncology. Reflecting on the early days of immunotherapy, she discussed how clinical research has transformed initial scepticism into long-term hope for patients, tracing the journey from the first trials with checkpoint inhibitors to today's increasingly personalised approaches to cancer treatment. The interview provides an honest and forward-looking account of where cancer research stands today and what lies ahead.
Read more here.
Collaboration with the University of Bern: REDCap Research Database Platform
The DCR Data Management team collaborates closely with the University of Bern's IT Services Office to deliver REDCap to researchers across the University of Bern and Inselspital, with the DCR handling the service side while IT Services hosts the underlying system. Together, this partnership supports a tiered service model; a self-managed "REDCap Light" option and a DCR-supported "REDCap Full" option for clinical research, in which the DCR takes on complete database setup on behalf of research teams. The collaboration extends further into researcher support, with the DCR providing free training courses and access to the REDCap community forum and manuals to help teams get the most out of the platform
Read more here.
Swiss Clinical Trial Organisation (SCTO)
The Department of Clinical Research is a member of the Swiss Clinical Trial Organisation (SCTO) and actively collaborates on initiatives that advance clinical research across Switzerland. Its collaboration and work spans several key areas: developing practical tools for researchers, contributing to SCTO Platforms, which unite experts from across the country to share specialised resources and provide targeted guidance, and participating in Research on Research, an initiative that funds SCTO Network projects aimed at strengthening Switzerland's clinical research infrastructure and driving evidence-based improvements.
Movember
Embracing the global Movember (a portmanteau of the word 'moustache' and 'November') campaign, dedicated to raising awareness of men's health issues including prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and mental health by growing a moustache or a beard, a group of the Department of Clinical Research's employees took the initiative to participate on their own accord. With the aim to "change the face of men's health", they grew out their moustaches throughout November and proudly showcased their efforts with a catwalk at the annual Christmas Dinner, bringing both fun and purpose to the occasion.
Interactive Workshop: Klinische Forschung.Was ist das und wieso machen wir das?
In 2025, the DCR launched development of an interactive workshop, "Klinische Forschung. Was ist das und wieso machen wir das?", led by Anna Wyss, to introduce students aged 10–16 to the principles and societal relevance of clinical trials. Through this initiative, the DCR seeks to strengthen public science education and foster early interest in clinical research as a field of study.
The project was supported in part by the Kommission des Naturhistorischen Museums der Burgergemeinde Bern, allowing the DCR to expand its community outreach and engage local schools in promoting understanding of clinical research from an early age.
The Department of Clinical Research (DCR) works with a wide range of national and international partners to advance clinical research through the sharing of knowledge, expertise, and resources.
Learn more here.
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DCR Employee Event in 2025
Day of Professional
Development
Twice a year (in June and in November),
DCR employees come together for a
Day of Professional Development, dedicated
to learning more on a specific topic as an organization.
Discover more here.