Media releases 2025

Researchers at the Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, and the University of Bern, in collaboration with researchers at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, USA, have developed and tested a novel gene therapy that successfully corrects a life-threatening genetic cardiac arrhythmia in an animal model. The procedure restores the normal function of the affected cardiac ion channel and opens up new perspectives for the future treatment of both rare and common cardiac arrhythmias.

A simple change in species composition can impact the course of evolution: A research team from the University of Bern and the University of British Columbia in Canada shows that the presence of just one other fish species is enough to drive the emergence of new species in sticklebacks.

Thanks to the support of the Werner and Hedy Berger-Janser Foundation for Cancer Research, the University of Bern and Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, have been able to establish an endowed professorship for Clinical Cancer Informatics. The professorship is endowed with 2.1 million Swiss francs and aims to optimize the use of clinical data from cancer patients and strengthen digital medicine in Bern.

On Mars, dust devils and winds reach speeds of up to 160 km/h and are therefore faster than previously assumed: This shows a study by an international research team led by the University of Bern. The researchers analyzed images taken by the Bernese Mars camera CaSSIS and the stereo camera HRSC with the help of machine learning. The study provides a valuable data basis for a better understanding of atmospheric dynamics, which is important for better climate models and future Mars missions.

The Bernese Mars camera CaSSIS aboard ESA's ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter reveals the glowing atmosphere of Mars in unprecedented detail.

The University of Bern is being forced to take cost-cutting measures due to an ever-increasing deficit. These measures are necessary to guarantee the financial stability of the University and ensure its long-term performance. The planned cost-cutting measures will be implemented from 2026 onward with a two percent reduction of the basic funding budget. Further measures are currently being examined for implementation from 2027.

Bernese researchers are involved in all four consortia supported by Innosuisse as part of its call for "Flagship Initiatives". They will receive a multi-million contribution jointly provided by Innosuisse and industry partners. The transdisciplinary projects will contribute to the development of systemic innovations in the fields of dementia research, precision oncology and diabetes prevention.

Dr. Josef Steiner Cancer Research Award 2023, endowed with 1 million Swiss francs and originally referred to as the "Nobel Prize for Cancer Research", is awarded to Dr. Anna Christina Obenauf from the Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP) in Vienna for her research on therapy resistance in cancer. The prize will be awarded on Friday, September 19, 2025 at the University of Bern.

Researchers from the University of Bern have developed an Artificial Intelligence (AI) model capable of predicting the architecture of planetary systems and subsequently inferring the presence of yet-to-be-discovered planets. They use the so-called Transformer architecture which is the basis of the Large Language Models powering tools like the recently launched Swiss model Apertus or chatbots such as ChatGPT.

The University of Bern is participating in the international NASA Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe mission (IMAP), which is due to be launched no earlier than 23 September 2025. IMAP is dedicated to exploring the outer limits of the heliosphere, the protective bubble of solar wind in which our solar system is located. The findings should revolutionize our understanding of interstellar space, space weather and the protective function of the heliosphere for the Earth.

Three outstanding research projects: of a total of 3,928 project proposals submitted to this year's call for Starting Grants from the European Research Council (ERC), three projects from Bern will receive funding. The total funding amount for the Bernese researchers is around 5,1 million Swiss francs.

After the formation of the Solar System, it took a maximum of three million years for the chemical composition of the Earth's precursor to be completed. This is shown by a new study by the Institute of Geological Sciences at the University of Bern. At this time, however, there were hardly any elements necessary for life such as water or carbon compounds on the young planet. Only a later planetary collision probably brought water to Earth, paving the way for life.

In a groundbreaking study, researchers from the University of Bern and ETH Zurich have shown how climate change is intensifying supercell thunderstorms in Europe. At a global temperature increase of 3 degrees Celsius, these powerful storms are expected to occur more frequently, especially in the Alpine region. This research utilizes a state-of-the-art digital map that provides unprecedented precision in tracking these storms.

An international research group involving the University of Bern has discovered that soil microorganisms shift their seasonal rhythm more than plants in response to climate warming. The resulting discrepancy between plants and microorganisms could disrupt essential ecosystem processes and jeopardize their functionality.

Researchers from the University of Bern, in collaboration with researchers from Australia and New Zealand, have recreated an important process in the laboratory that enables organisms to obtain energy directly from components found in air. This confirms that certain organisms such as bacteria can actually live on air alone, without relying on sunlight or other energy sources. The findings point to new possibilities for sustainable energy production.

After more than two decades of dedicated service, Dr. Christoph Pappa, Secretary General of the University of Bern, will be taking his well-deserved retirement at the end of March 2026. Dr. Andrea Hungerbühler will succeed him as Secretary General.

A new study led by researchers from the Institute of Virology and Immunology (IVI) and the University of Bern in collaboration with the Lausanne University Hospital and the Spiez Federal Laboratory shows that the monkeypox virus can spread efficiently in brain organoids, causing neuronal cell death. The study provides important insights into a previously unexplored aspect of MPXV infections.

Researchers from the University of Bern, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital and Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin have discovered that the composition of our diet in early life can strengthen the immune system. Using a mouse model, the researchers showed that certain food components increase the production and diversity of antibodies in the intestine, regardless of the existing intestinal microbiota. The results could fundamentally improve the prevention and treatment of diseases in the future.

A new study by researchers of the University of Bern shows that the hilly surface of Mercury could be influenced not only by the cooling and contraction of the planet, but also by the tidal forces of the Sun. Future analysis will draw on new data from the BepiColombo mission, which is currently on its way to Mercury. BepiColombo is a joint mission of the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). The University of Bern is involved with two instruments.

Neuroimmunologist Britta Engelhardt from the Theodor Kocher Institute at the University of Bern has been awarded an ERC Advanced Grant by the European Research Council (ERC). As she is conducting her research project at the University of Bern, it is not expected to be funded by the EU, but by the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI).

Promoting legal innovation and developing new approaches to effectively combat climate change: This, in addition to teaching and research, is the goal of the new endowed professorship for climate law. The Bloom Foundation will support the establishment of this professorship for a period of ten years.

Research led by the Geneva University Hospitals (HUG), the University of Geneva (UNIGE) and the Universitäre Psychiatrische Dienste Bern (UPD) at the University of Bern (UNIBE) suggests that direct sleep-wake perception and regulatory systems are often intact in patients with insomnia disorder. This finding highlights the opportunity for patients and healthcare providers to contribute to improvements of sleep related complaints through cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) – the recommended first-line treatment for insomnia – rather than medication-based treatment. Results to read in the journal Scientific Reports.

A new study led by the University of Bern and Brown University in the U.S. casts doubt on one of the most tantalizing clues that water might be flowing on present-day Mars. Researchers analyzed a global database of 500,000 enigmatic streaks that occur on steep Martian slopes, concluding that they’re most likely caused by dry processes rather than liquid flow.

Several tectonic processes are occurring beneath the surface of Venus, according to a new study led by researchers from the University of Bern’s Center for Space and Habitability (CSH) and NASA. They found that many of the numerous “coronae” scattered all over Venus’ globe are associated with gravity field perturbations, hinting at the sub-surface tectonic processes. This surprising result, contradicting original assumptions about Venus’ interior being tectonically “dead”, was discovered using archive data from NASA’s Magellan mission.

Researchers at the University of Bern, together with scientists from Stanford University and the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), have discovered a new cellular mechanism that controls the stability of messenger RNA (mRNA) in cells. When this mechanism is disrupted, tumors can grow more quickly. The findings open new possibilities for cancer therapy.

Despite challenging conditions, the University of Bern conducted world-class research and registered a great deal of interest in its degree programs over the course of the past year. Other topics impacting the University included academic freedom under pressure, the sluggish pace of spatial development and shortfalls in basic funding, as can be seen in the 2024 annual report.

Researchers from the University of Bern, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, and ETH Zurich have developed an innovative technology which can clean implanted medical devices such as ureteral stents and catheters non-invasively, using ultrasound activation through the skin. This could significantly improve the quality of life of patients and at the same time reduce the financial burden on the healthcare system.

It is commonly assumed that countries with high gender equality give men and women a lot of freedom in their behaviors. However, in precisely these countries – such as Switzerland and Sweden – there are comparatively strong social beliefs for men to maintain the higher status of their gender group. This is shown by a recently published study by the Institute of Psychology at the University of Bern.

The University of Bern is represented in the Swiss Pavilion at Expo 2025 in Osaka, which officially opened yesterday. As part of the “AUGMENTED HUMAN” exhibition, two Bernese space instruments that are flying on international missions into space can be seen in the Swiss Pavilion. And the public has the opportunity to learn what comets really smell like.

A team from the University of Bern and the National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) PlanetS has developed a machine learning model that predicts potential planetary systems with Earth-like planets. The model could significantly accelerate and thus revolutionize the future search for habitable planets in the universe.

Researchers at the Inselspital, Bern University Hospital and the University of Bern have developed an AI-based tool that detects and classifies abnormalities of the coronary arteries in CT images with high precision. This could significantly improve the diagnosis and treatment of rare heart diseases. The study demonstrates the concrete applications of AI in clinical practice and underlines the close collaboration in the field of digital medicine between the University of Bern and the Inselspital.

Researchers at the University of Bern have analyzed a mechanism by which the coronavirus manipulates human cells to replicate itself. They show that a coronavirus protein, which is central to infection, has two independent functions. Only one function however occurs in several species of coronaviruses. These findings could drive the development of broad-spectrum antiviral drugs.

Atrial fibrillation is the most common cardiac arrhythmia worldwide. While exist-ing interventional treatment methods, such as catheter ablation, work better than medication, they still have their limitations and risks. In a recent study led by the Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, the University of Bern, and the Basel University Hospital, a new treatment method is now showing promising results: Pulsed Field Ablation (PFA) achieves a higher success rate than conventional catheter ablation, with fewer arrhythmia recurrences, while also offering a high degree of safety and a shorter procedure time.

Researchers from the University of Bern and the RIKEN research institute in Japan have made a significant advance in sustainable chemistry. They have succeeded in producing organic molecules through a chemical reaction based on the sustainable metals sodium and iron. This represents a more environmentally friendly alternative to conventional methods and has the potential to fundamentally change the production of pharmaceuticals and other fine chemicals.

A new special volume, initiated and edited by researchers from the University of Bern, examines the biological roots of the division of labor – from microorganisms to humans. It shows that task specialization and division of labor are fundamental characteristics of ecologically successful organisms and represent a milestone on the way to complex social structure.

Gastrointestinal inflammation can cause long-term gastrointestinal disorders. An international research team led by the Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, the Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, and the University of Bern has shown for the first time that inflammation damages nerve cells in the intestine. This causes intestinal function to deteriorate, which exacerbates the disorders. The team’s findings could lead to new approaches for treating long-term gastrointestinal disorders.

Two years ago, global sea surface temperatures rose sharply, considerably exceeding previous highs. A study by the University of Bern shows that such extreme temperature jumps would not be possible without the influence of climate change. The study also confirms that climate models simulate such events realistically.

In a survey, the public had a say in the names of the two fish species discovered by researchers from the University of Bern. The names have now been finalised – the Barbatula species are called "fluvicola" and "ommata".

The University of Basel and the University of Bern are setting up a new research center to enable the construction of superconducting quantum units. The Werner Siemens Foundation is supporting the project with a total of CHF 15 million over the next eleven years.

Extreme weather and climate events such as droughts and floods in Europe can be linked to shifts in the jet stream over the Atlantic. This has been demonstrated by a reconstruction of the jet stream over the Atlantic and Europe for the last 600 years by researchers at the University of Bern.

An international research team led by the University of Bern and Brown University in the US state of Rhode Island may have solved the mystery of the reddish color of Mars. The team identified the water-rich iron mineral ferrihydrite as the main culprit of the characteristic reddish Martian dust. This discovery could not only explain the planet's color, but also point to a wetter, potentially habitable Martian past.

Researchers from the University of Bern, in collaboration with the University of Science and Technology Houari Boumediene in Algeria, have made significant progress in astrobiology. In a recently published study, they were able to detect fossil microorganisms in Messinian gypsum, which is found in Algeria, using the Bernese mass spectrometer LIMS. This shows that LIMS could also be used to search for traces of life in similar deposits on Mars in the future.

In its first five years, the Wyss Academy for Nature has successfully implemented projects worldwide. An external interim assessment conducted in 2024 yielded positive results. The Wyss Foundation, the Canton of Bern, and the University of Bern have jointly decided to continue to fund the Wyss Academy for Nature until 2030.

Around one in ten diagnoses is wrong. In an extensive study, a research team led by Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, and the University of Bern has investigated whether an AI-based diagnostic system could improve diagnostic quality. The result is surprising: despite high expectations, the system that was tested showed no measurable advantage over conventional diagnostic processes.

Meteoroid impacts create seismic waves that cause Mars to shake stronger and deeper than previously thought: This is shown by an investigation using artificial intelligence carried out by an international research team led by the University of Bern. Similarities were found between numerous meteoroid impacts on the surface of Mars and marsquakes recorded by NASA's Mars lander InSight. These findings open up a new perspective on the impact rate and seismic dynamics of the Red Planet.

Hot Jupiters are giant planets initially known to orbit alone close to their star. During their migration towards their star, these planets were thought to accrete or eject any other planets present. However, this paradigm has been overturned by recent observations, and the final blow could come from a new study led by the University of Geneva (UNIGE). A team including the National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) PlanetS, the Universities of Bern (UNIBE) and Zurich (UZH) and several foreign universities has just announced the existence of a planetary system, WASP-132, with an unexpected architecture. It contains not only a Hot Jupiter but also an inner Super-Earth and an icy giant planet. These results are published in Astronomy & Astrophysics.

The fourth Antarctic campaign of the “Beyond EPICA - Oldest Ice” project, funded by the European Commission, has achieved a historic milestone for climate science. An international team of scientists with participation of the University of Bern successfully drilled a 2,800-meter-long and over 1.2 million years old ice core, reaching the bedrock beneath the Antarctic ice sheet.