In view of the rising number of infections and hospitalizations resulting from COVID-19, the University of Bern will cancel its foundation celebration, the Dies academicus, on Saturday, December 4. For the time being, courses and, in particular, examinations can continue to be held in person, in accordance with federal and cantonal requirements.

A research team at Inselspital, the University of Bern and the University of Trieste (It) has investigated the effectiveness and economic efficiency of in-hospital preventive measures to protect healthcare workers. For this purpose, a mathematical model of SARS-CoV-2 transmission was developed, incorporating factors both inside and outside the hospital. Regular, broad-based, real-time PCR testing was found to be the most economical and effective method for screening and thereby maintaining hospital infrastructure.

Uncovering the mechanisms of learning via synaptic plasticity is a critical step towards understanding how our brains function and building truly intelligent, adaptive machines. Researchers from the University of Bern propose a new approach in which algorithms mimic biological evolution and learn efficiently through creative evolution.

Researchers led by the Nobel Laureate Charles Rice of The Rockefeller University and Volker Thiel of the University of Bern and Institute of Virology and Immunology have developed a non-contagious model of SARS-CoV-2 that makes it easier, faster and safer to study the virus and new variants. In addition, the realistic model can be used to better test drugs.

The Hans Sigrist Symposium will take place at the University of Bern on Friday, December 3, 2021. This year, the prize will be awarded to Garry Nolan for his research in single cell analysis. The symposium will examine how these insights can be used for individualized forms of therapy against diseases like cancer.

By implementing artificial intelligence techniques similar to those used in autonomous cars, a team from the UNIGE and the UniBE, in partnership with the company Disaitek, has discovered a new method for detecting exoplanets.

Three theologians from the University of Bern have published an interdisciplinary work on sexual violence in churches, which for the first time takes a scholarly look at the fundamentals of the problem.

The adoption of the initiative for a ban on animal and human experimentation would prevent biomedical research and new medical treatments in particular. The high quality of healthcare and responsible research in Switzerland to the benefit of the population and the environment are at stake.