Six research and innovation actions (RIAs) and one coordination and support action (CSA) calls are now open. Find the finalised topic texts and more information at Euresearch.

The Confederation and the cantons have approved the report of the platform «Zukunft ärztliche Bildung», which has been established in the framework of the «Massnahmen des Bundes zur Stärkung der biomedizinischen Forschung und Technologie» (Masterplan Biomedizin). The report contains a number of recommendations how the young academics can be promoted in clinical research through all careers stages.

Dialog nationale Gesundheitspolitik (German and French)
Report (German and French)

The 19th joint symposium will focus on nutrigenomics, the Human Brain Project and «Cognitive Computing» in the health care system. In addition, current topics in the areas of public health, clinical research and regulatory affairs will be presented by experts such as Prof Vincenzo Salavator, former head of legal services at the European Medicines Agency EMA and Dr Cordula Landgraf, responsible for networking at Swissmedic. The event is taking place on 3 December 2014. The conference language is English.

Further information on programme and registration is available here

For the next 30 days the World Health Organization welcomes a public consultation on the official WHO statement regarding public accessibility of clinical trial results. During the consultation period the public can send their feedback on the WHO statement to make all clinical trial results openly accessible. The WHO statement supports the disclosure of clinical trial results to enhance transparency for the public.

The deadline for comments is 15.11.2014. More information and link to the statement

The implementation of the new Human Research Act (HRA) in January 2014 has a significant impact on the development of research involving humans in Switzerland. As a result, a major revision of the Guidelines for Good Operational Practice (GGOP) became necessary. These quality guidelines for Swiss interdisciplinary academic trial centres were jointly developed by all CTUs and the partner network Swiss Group for Clinical Cancer Research (SAKK).

Under the lead of the SCTO, adjustments to reflect the new law and its ordinances as well as an inclusion of the SCTO Data Management Guidelines, the new SCTO Guidelines for Risk-adapted Monitoring and the inclusion of the consensus paper for Training and Education in Clinical Research in Switzerland have been taken into account.

The new Human Research Act and related ordinances have been in force since 1 January 2014. At the FOPH symposium, various experts who are directly affected by the new regulations take stock for the first time. At the same time the focus is on the new EU ordinance on clinical trials involving medicinal products for human use as well as its potential implications for Switzerland. The concluding outlook provides information on possible future developments for human research regulation in Switzerland.

The event will be held on 27 January 2015 at Hotel Bern in Bern, an official invitation will follow in November 2014.

The SCTO hosted this year’s ECRIN Summer School, the annual meeting of the ECRIN European Correspondents (EuCos). The event was held at the premises of the SCTO from 17 to 19 September 2014 and provided the EuCos an insight into current developments in the field of clinical research, such as the transition of ECRIN IA into ECRIN ERIC, the EU Clinical Trial Regulation as well as the Swiss Human Research Act. The Summer School also offered the different national networks – represented by over 20 nations – a platform to share lessons learned and to strengthen the cohesion of the whole European Correspondent team.

ECRIN is the Infrastructure supporting multinational, investigator-driven trials in Europe. Find more information here

Switzerland and the EU have found an agreement for a so-called partial association to Horizon 2020. The Federal Administration informed on 12 September 2014 that an agreement was found for a so-called partial association of Switzerland to Horizon 2020.
Info in English

On 9 July 2014 IMI launched its 1st Call for proposals under IMI 2. Read the press release here
The Call has the following topics:

• Translational approaches to disease modifying therapy of Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM)
• Discovery and validation of novel endpoints in dry age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy
Registration for the IMI 2 Info Day on 30 September 2014 in Brussels (Belgium) is open >>

Today the Federal Council approved interim measures in response to the unresolved situation regarding Switzerland’s association to Horizon 2020, the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation. Read more here

The report and further detailed information about the event on opportunities and challenges for Swiss academic clinical research will soon be available here

The adopted EU Clinical Trials Regulation was published in the Official Journal of the European Union on 27 May 2014. It will enter into force on the 20th day following its publication, which is 16 June 2014. Further information is available here

This update concerns proposals which are submitted to the Horizon 2020 challenge Health, Demographic Change and Wellbeing. Further Information here

The SCTO keeps you updated on its activities and publishes factsheets with all its activities at a glance as well as a brief review of the year 2013.

The report and the factsheets are available here

All CTUs from the network provide continuous support for questions concerning the Human Research Act (HRA). In addition, an online course (in German) is available for those who would like to receive an HRA training besides the GCP training.
 

The 5th Symposium of the Swiss Clinical Trial Organisation will take place on 18 June 2014 at Inselspital Bern, this time on the subject of «Is there a future for Swiss Academic Clinical Research?».
Leading national and international experts and stakeholders will discuss opportunities and challenges which Swiss academic clinical research is currently facing. After a first appraisal of the implementation of the new law on research in humans, funding schemes in Switzerland and other countries will be analysed and discussed from different perspectives.

More information on programme and registration is available here

The Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI) publishes its strategic research agenda and announces the indicative topics for the 1st Call. >>

Euresearch publishes frequently asked questions (FAQ) on H2020 and status Switzerland. >>

SNSF Consolidator Grant Call is open: The SNSF Consolidator Grant Call is part of the Temporary Backup Scheme, which offers researchers a temporary substitute for funding schemes of the European Research Council (ERC), from which Switzerland has been excluded. >>

The submission of applications via SNCTP is about to cease as of 14 April 2014. However, the obligation to register approved clinical trials in a WHO primary registry or clinicaltrials.gov and via the kofam website still applies.

Official announcement >>

In a letter to the Federal Council, the Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences, the Rectors of the Swiss universities and the Presidium of the Swiss National Science Foundation express their concern regarding the exclusion from the European research programmes. They request the Federal Council «to take all possible and conceivable measures and steps so as to enable an association to Horizon 2020 and Erasmus+».

Swiss Academy of Arts and Sciences >>
In this context Euresearch listet the most frequently asked questions >>

On 18 June 2014 leading national and international experts and stakeholders will discuss opportunities and challenges which Swiss academic clinical research is currently facing. After a first appraisal of the implementation of the new law on research in humans, funding schemes in Switzerland and other countries will be analysed and discussed from different perspectives.

Preliminary programme and registration >>

Over 80 experts attended the fourth Forum «Clinical Research» on 29 January 2014 in Bern. «Is it (still) attractive to perform clinical research in Switzerland? – a critical appraisal» – exponents of academic research, pharmaceutical industry as well as exponents of authorities presented their views on this topic during the first part of the event. The second part of the forum was dedicated to discussions, followed by an update on the implementation of the new law on research involving humans.

A short summary and the complete collection of presentations of the forum 2014 are available here

For older news and press releases please see our news archive 2013.