Education Platform

Empowering Excellence in Clinical Research Education

Shaping the future of academic clinical research in Switzerland, the SCTO Education Platform makes high-quality training more visible, accessible, and harmonised.

The Education Platform has set five main objectives for 2025–2028, supported by several ambitious projects.
We invite you to contact us at education@scto.ch if you would like to learn more.

SCTO Course Label

To improve the visibility, consistency, and accessibility of training within the SCTO Network, we are introducing the SCTO Course Label. This label is awarded to courses that meet defined quality standards, making it easy to identify trusted training opportunities across Switzerland.

Recognised courses are carrying the SCTO Course Label
All labelled courses are listed on the “SCTO Network Courses & Trainings”

Establish the SCTO as a National Course Facilitator/Provider

The SCTO is implementing a centralised platform to host platform-created trainings and educational resources.

Expected outcomes:

Technical solution for creating and hosting SCTO course
Online platform for uploading and distributing training material
Programs and tools for modern education solutions

Collaboration with SCTO Platforms and Research Infrastructures

The Education Platform collaborates with SCTO Platforms and other national infrastructures to identify training needs and co-develop targeted learning opportunities. These include information sheets, online seminars and trainings, as well as hands-on sessions designed to support researchers and CRCs staff in their daily work

Focus areas:

Training materials for study team members and CRCs staff
Development of online HRA training
Safety training materials
Tools and programmes using modern didactic methods

Support Education in Patient and Public Involvement (PPI)

Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) is a growing priority in academic clinical research. The Education Platform works with the SCTO Multistakeholder PPI Working Group to design training opportunities tailored to specific needs.
Planned outcomes:

Training and material for PPI(E)
Guidance and training on writing lay summaries
Resources for patients, families, carers, and the public

Extend Training Offers for Researchers with Samples and Data

Human Research Ordinance (HRO)-related projects represent the majority of submissions to ethics committees in Switzerland. To address evolving training needs, the Education Platform will expand targeted support:

Continuing the HRO Lunch series
Developing an interactive HRO Knowledge Base connected to the Easy-GCS tool
Helping project leaders and teams plan, conduct, and complete HRO projects with confidence

Here is an overview of the important work the Education Platform has delivered in recent years.
All tools are also searchable in the SCTO Tools & Resources Navigator at the top of this page.

Facts and Pitfalls of Observational Studies – HRO Lunch Seminar Series

This seminar series offers concise overviews and interactive discussions on key topics related to HRO projects. Aimed at researchers and study teams, the sessions are in lunch seminar format and cover diverse issues, from BASEC submissions over general consent to data sharing, and multicenter projects.

Each training session includes presentations, Q&A resources, and videos to provide practical guidance.

HRO Lunch Series 1 – 2024

Ethics approval: Insights from the ethics committees
🔗Presentation
Data governance and protection: How to navigate the regulatory jungle
🔗Presentations, Video and Q&A
Registries and biobanks: Background, obstacles, and practical views
🔗Presentation, Video and Q&A
Quality: Law, practice and common hurdles
🔗Presentation, Video and Q&A

HRO Lunch Series 2 – 2024

BASEC – A practical walk-through for HRO projects
🔗Video, Q&A
Mastering Consent: Key insights into general and informed consent for HRO projects
🔗Presentation, Video and Q&A
Data sharing and open research data – details for HRO projects
🔗Presentation, Video and Q&A
Sample management and biobanking: Essentials for HRO projects
🔗Presentation, Video and Q&A

HRO Lunch Series 3 – 2025

Registries: Guiding principles before, during and after their creation
🔗Presentation, Video and Q&A
De-identification: Definition, types, relevance and operational approaches
🔗Presentation, Video and Q&A
International multicentre HRO projects: Some kind of challenge
🔗Presentation, Video and Q&A
Research projects according to HRO Chapters 4 and 5: The rare cases
🔗Presentation, Video and Q&A

HRO Lunch Series 4 – 2026

18 March 2026, 12:00-13:00 | Clinical data from 800,000 patients unlocked: The SPHN Federated Clinical Routine Dataset
🔗Presentation, Video and Q&A
20.05.2026, 12:00-13:00 |Successful paediatric HRO research projects: From feasibility to sampling, age-dependent design and data reuse
Register now for this interesting session.
23.09.2026, 12:00-13:00 | Presentation by Swiss Biobanking
25.11.2026, 12:00-13:00 Presentation by Swiss Cancer Institute

HRA Ordinance Revision

This section offers a concise and practical summary of the main updates introduced in the revised HRA ordinances, highlighting their implications for clinical research practice and compliance.

🔗HRA Ordinance Revision 2024/2025: Comparing old and new requirements

Core Competencies

Core competencies define the essential skills and knowledge that clinical research professionals need to design, conduct, and manage clinical trials effectively.

Clinical Research Core Competencies Matrix
Outlines the knowledge, skills, and attitudes required to conduct clinical trials effectively, ethically, and safely. These domains are based on the internationally recognised Joint Task Force for Clinical Trial Competency (JTF) framework and adapted to Swiss human research legislation.
(document available soon)
Clinical Research Core Competencies Framework in Swiss Medical Weekly
A scientific publication describing the Clinical Research Core Competencies Framework.
Clinical Research Core Competencies Framework in Swiss Medical Weekly
Core Competencies HRO
Defines the essential competencies required to conduct HRO projects effectively, ethically, and safely.
Core Competencies HRO
Core Competencies SPCRC
Specifies the knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed for Clinical Research Coordinators to conduct clinical trials effectively, safely and ethically.
Core Competencies SPCRC

Meet the Platform Team

Meet the individuals whose expertise and collaboration drive each Platform forward. Together, they help strengthen clinical research across Switzerland through shared knowledge, leadership, and innovation.

Team Members

Sandra Kohlmaier – Coordinator, DKF Basel
Verena Golz – Coordinator, DKF Basel
Aurélie Fayet – Member, CRC Lausanne
Andreja Vujicic-Zagar – Member, CRC Lausanne
Claudia Fila – Member, CTC Zürich
Amélie Guyon – Member, DCR Bern
Simone Kälin – Member, CTU HOCH St.Gallen
Antoine Poncet – Member, CRC Geneva
Clelia Di Serio – Member, CTU-EOC Lugano
Heidi Baumgartner – Voluntary Contributor, Swiss Cancer Institute
Stephanie Maissen – Scientific Affairs Manager & Liaison Officer, SCTO

Verena Golz

Coordinator, DKF Basel

Aurélie Fayet

Member, CRC Lausanne

Claudia Fila

Member, CTC Zürich

Amélie Guyon

Member, DCR Bern

Anastasios Stathis

Member, CTU-EOC Lugano

Simone Kälin

Member, CTU HOCH St.Gallen

Antoine Poncet

Member, CRC Geneva

Andreja Vujicic-Zagar

Member, CRC Lausanne

Stephanie Maissen

Scientific Affairs Manager & Liaison Officer

Other Platform Contributors

Team Members

Verena Golz – Coordinator, DKF Basel
Aurélie Fayet – Member, CRC Lausanne
Claudia Fila – Member, CTC Zürich
Amélie Guyon – Member, DCR Bern
Simone Kälin – Member, CTU HOCH St.Gallen
Antoine Poncet – Member, CRC Geneva
Anastasios Stathis – Member, CTU-EOC Lugano
Andreja Vujicic-Zagar – Member, CRC Lausanne
Stephanie Maissen – Scientific Affairs Manager & Liaison Officer

Heidi Baumgartner – Voluntary Contributor, Swiss Cancer Institute