Research

The MCID is comprised of seven specialist, interconnected clusters that bring together subject area excellence, fostering innovative, multi- and interdisciplinary investigations. At the heart of the MCID and in service to the specialist clusters, lie the Center’s three founding Core Activities.

As a result of a funding call launched in September 2024, the MCID has announced the funding of 8 research projects, to begin by January 2026. Previous funding calls launched in June 2021 and March 2022 led to the funding of 23 research projects.

MCID Core Activities

At the center of the MCID lie three Core Activities, each with active research lines and with links to MCID-funded research projects

MCID BEready Cohort

Infectious disease monitoring of the Bern population

“Bern, get ready” (BEready) is a Canton of Bern-wide population cohort, designed to improve knowledge about existing infectious diseases and aid preparedness for emerging infection threats. The BEready Cohort team is lead by Prof. Dr. med. Nicola Low and Prof. Dr. med. Gilles Wandeler.

MCID BioPreparedness BioBank

Facilitating research on high consequence pathogens

The BioPreparedness Biobank enables the storage and the provision of highly pathogenic biologic agents, guaranteeing their quality, safety and traceability. It also provides a synthetic genomics pipeline enabling the safe and contained production of viral genomes and mutated derivatives. The BioPreparedness BioBank is lead by Prof. Dr. med. Stephen Leib and Prof. Dr. med. vet. Jörg Jores.

MCID Ethics and Policy Lab

Translating research into policy and advising on the ethical dimensions of research

The Ethics and Policy Lab (EPL) bridges the gap between science and public policy. As well as providing services to MCID Members and policymakers, the EPL conducts basic research on political and ethical aspects of infectious diseases, as well as applied research and policy evaluations on behalf of public administration. The EPL is lead by Prof. Dr. Fritz Sager and Prof. Dr. Dr. Claus Beisbart.

MCID Scientific Discipline Clusters

The MCID has seven interconnected clusters, each with active MCID-funded research projects and links to MCID Core Activities

Economics

Producing real-time indicators for the economic consequences of infectious diseases and evidence-based recommendations to prepare for future pandemics. The Economics cluster is chaired by Prof. Dr. Rudolf Blankart and co-chaired by Dr. Chantal Morel.

Epidemiology

Focusing on infections and infectious diseases at the population level. The Epidemiology cluster is chaired by Prof. Dr. med. Nicola Low and co-chaired by Prof. Dr. med. vet. Simone Schuller.

Immunity

Investigating functional immune responses in mammals to micro-organism challenge. The Immunity cluster is chaired by Prof. Dr. Stephanie Ganal-Vonarburg and co-chaired by Prof. Dr. Artur Summerfield.

Microbiology

Pursuing diverse aspects of research on microbial pathogens that cause infectious disease, including those with pandemic potential. The Microbiology cluster is chaired by Prof. Dr. med. vet. Jörg Jores and co-chaired by PD Dr. Lucy Hathaway.

Neglected Diseases

Applying advanced modeling and cutting-edge imaging approaches to understand co-infections and co-morbidity with other diseases. The Neglected Diseases cluster is chaired by Prof. Dr. Eva Gluenz and co-chaired by Prof. Dr. Deborah Stroka.

Patient-Focused Research

Pursuing evidence-based patient-oriented research in vulnerable populations. The Patient-Focused Research cluster is chaired by Prof. Dr. med. Petra Stute and co-chaired by Dr. med. Philipp Jent.

Society and Law

Meeting the challenge of unknown infectious diseases at a broader, societal level, while maintaining democratic decision making and ethically acceptable practices. The Society and Law cluster is chaired by Prof. Dr. Dr. Claus Beisbart and co-chaired by Prof. Dr. Fritz Sager.