Bernice Simone Elger

Professor Bernice Simone Elger serves as Head of the Institute for Biomedical Ethics (IBMB) at the University of Basel, holding a dual affiliation with both the Faculty of Science and Faculty of Medicine. Established in 2011, the IBMB operates as Switzerland's unique ethics institute bridging scientific and medical disciplines under her leadership.

Her research expertise spans biomedical ethics with particular focus on ethical challenges in emerging medical technologies, organ donation protocols, palliative care frameworks, and international research ethics. The institute's methodology combines empirical fieldwork with normative theoretical analysis, examining stakeholder perspectives across diverse healthcare contexts including developing countries and prison populations.

Recent publications demonstrate her commitment to improving medical communication, particularly through plain-language translation of complex research for patient understanding. The IBMB under her direction has published extensively on topics ranging from smart home health technologies to ethical considerations in AI-driven medical decision-making.

The institute maintains active research programs including the "Aging in Prison" project and hosts major international events such as the 2025 Experimental Philosophical Bioethics (BioXPhi) Summit. With over a dozen PhD students and multiple post-doctoral researchers, the IBMB receives consistent funding from major Swiss research bodies including SNF and SAMW.

Professor Elger oversees comprehensive teaching initiatives including the "Contemporary Issues in Bioethics" lecture series and specialized ethics courses for both undergraduate students and medical professionals, emphasizing practical application of ethical frameworks in clinical settings.