With the special programme Investigator Initiated Clinical Trials (IICT), the SNSF is promoting clinical studies in under-researched areas that do not attract industry interest. The call is limited to prospective, randomised, controlled and multicentric intervention studies.

The submission deadline for proposals is 1 November 2017. Researchers wishing to participate need to submit a letter of intent by 1 September 2017. Further information is available at www.snf.ch.

The Human Research Act (HRA) permits under certain conditions a so-called general consent, which allows persons to agree to the use of their data and samples for research purposes. This proceeding requires comprehensive and understandable information about the benefits and risks of the use of these data.

Together with a working group, the Swiss Academy of Medical Sciences (SAMS) and swissethics have developed a model of general consent, which includes information and a consent form. Further information is available at www.sams.ch.

The detailed report on the successful event on 1 June 2017 at the University Hospital Basel as well as the anniversary publication of the CTU network can be downloaded under Symposium 2017.

The Swiss Academy of Medical Sciences (SAMS) and the Gottfried und Julia Bangerter-Rhyner-Stiftung are jointly launching the funding programme "Young talents in clinical research". The aim of this programme is to enable young, interested medical doctors to have a first research experience by funding 'protected time' for research and 'project grants'.

The submission deadline for the first call is 30 June 2017. The participation requirements, the programme regulations as well as the FAQ are available at www.sams.ch.

The Swiss National Science Foundation (SNFS) has approved seven investigator initiated clinical trials. With the programme Investigator Initiated Clinical Trials (IICT), the SNSF promotes clinical studies in areas that are not in the industry focus and therefore under-researched. In the 2016 call, the SNSF received 35 proposals, seven of which will be funded with an overall amount of 9.7 million francs.

The third IICT call will be launched in mid-July 2017. The approved projects can be found at www.snf.ch.

The SCTO looks back on an exciting and successful event: 170 participants attended the 8th SCTO Symposium on 1 June 2017 at the University Hospital Basel. This year’s event was dedicated to the theme "Adding value in clinical research: what‘s been achieved and how do we manage new challenges?"

The presentations are available under Symposium 2017.

The SCTO reports regularly on its activities and publishes a brief review of the year 2016.

The report is available under Publications. 

On 1 June 2017, international experts and stakeholders are addressing the topic "Adding value in clinical research" at the University Hospital Basel.

Read more about the interesting programme and register online by 22 May 2017.

The third Study Nurse/Study Coordinator Meeting is taking place on 15 September 2017 in Basel. Besides presentations on issues arising from daily practice and work processes, the network takes the opportunity to lay the foundation for the association "Swiss Professionals of Clinical Research Coordination".

For more information about previous Study Nurse/Study Coordinator Meetings please see our event calendar.

The Swiss Academy of Medical Sciences (SAMS) and the Gottfried und Julia Bangerter-Rhyner-Stiftung are launching the joint funding programme "Future generation in clinical research". The aim is to enable young physicians to acquire first research experiences through protected research time and project grants. The funding programme is taking account of the Roadmap for developing the next generation of clinical researchers presented by the Federal Office of Public Health in 2016.

Read more (in German or French) at samw.ch.

Between late 2015 and early 2016, the Swiss Science and Innovation Council (SSIC) assessed the multi-year plans of 30 research institutes, including the SCTO, on behalf of the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI). In December 2016, the Confederation made its funding decisions, among other things based on the analysis of the SSIC, for the period 2017-2020 under Art. 15 RIPA of the Federal Act on the Promotion of Research and Innovation (RIPA).

The SERI subsequently released the assessment report for publication, which is available in French and German at swir.ch.

What are the main sources of wasted resources in clinical research? What role can Clinical Trial Units, researchers, academic institutions, funders and scientific journal editors assume in enhancing clinical research quality in the future? Experts and stakeholders will discuss these and other important questions on 1 June 2017 at the University Hospital Basel.

The preliminary programme is available under event calendar.

Register online

ECRIN has announced the launch of the Paediatric Clinical Research Infrastructure Network (PedCRIN). The three-year project brings together ECRIN and the founding partners of the European Paediatric Clinical Trial Research Infrastructure (EPCT-RI) to develop capacity for the management of multinational paediatric clinical trials.

Beneficiary of this Horizon 2020 project in Switzerland is SwissPedNet, the Swiss Research Network of Clinical Pediatric Hubs and hence the Swiss hub of the EPCT-RI and PedCRIN. Further information is available at swisspednet.ch and at ecrin.org.

Close to 90 participants attended the 7th Forum "Clinical Research" in Bern on 25 January 2017. Once more, the SCTO successfully launched an important discussion: this year on the topic "A more patient- and research-friendly future thanks to dynamic consent and e-consent?". 

A summary of the event will follow shortly. The presentations of the forum are available under event calendar.

On 4 January 2017 IMI (Innovative Medicines Initiative) launched its 10th call for submission of project proposals under the IMI 2 programme. The deadline for submitting proposals under Call 10 is 28 March 2017.

Further information is available at euresearch.ch and at imi.europa.eu.

The E-Rare network launches its 9th transnational call for funding multilateral research projects in the field of "Innovative Therapeutic Approaches for Rare Diseases". The submission deadline for pre-proposals is 1 February 2017. Learn more about this topic at snf.ch and erare.eu.

The SCTO actively promotes adequate research funding, irrespective of the pathology. For more information see research promotion.

The media interest in clinical research is growing, both in Switzerland and abroad. The SCTO feels the effects of this trend, too. In the course of 2016, the SCTO as umbrella organisation commented on current themes and issues in the field of clinical research. The respective media releases and articles are available under Publications.

As the central cooperation platform for patient-oriented clinical research in Switzerland, the SCTO is committed to high-quality and independent information concerning clinical research issues and promotes a factual exchange on its risks and benefits.