Dr. Dominika Ignasiak is a Researcher affiliated with the Institute of Biomechanics at ETH Zürich. Her work focuses on spinal biomechanics, musculoskeletal modeling, and computational analysis of spinal pathologies. She contributes to understanding the biomechanical implications of surgical interventions, spinal deformities, and age-related changes in spinal alignment and loading. Her research integrates clinical data with advanced musculoskeletal modeling techniques, particularly in predicting postoperative outcomes and assessing spinal load distributions under dynamic conditions. Key areas include spinal stenosis, idiopathic scoliosis, and the biomechanics of spinal fusion surgery. Dr. Ignasiak collaborates on translational studies bridging computational simulations with clinical applications. Her publications emphasize the role of personalized models in optimizing surgical strategies and understanding degenerative spinal conditions. While no formal awards are listed, her contributions to spinal biomechanics research are evident through her active publication record in high-impact journals. Dr. Ignasiak is based at ETH Zürich’s Institute of Biomechanics, where she engages in cutting-edge research and contributes to both academic and clinical advancements in orthopedic biomechanics.
Prof. Dr. Mike Martin is a leading researcher at the University of Zurich's Center for Gerontology . His work spans cognitive aging, social development in old age, and life-span developmental psychology, with a focus on ecological validity in aging research. Professor, University of Zurich Director, Zurich Longitudinal Study on Cognitive Ageing Co-editor, Journals of Gerontology series Key research areas include: Healthy aging and quality of life Cognitive-emotional interactions in aging Dyadic adaptation in dementia caregiving Mobile sensing of aging-related behaviors Participatory research methodologies Language use as a biomarker of aging His recent publications analyze: GPS mobility and cognitive function Machine learning in reminiscence detection Prospective memory trajectories Emotion regulation in couples Digital interventions for cognitive health Neuroimaging correlates of aging
Dr. Mattia Andreoletti is a Lecturer at the Department of Health Sciences and Technology at ETH Zurich, working within the Professorship for Bioethics. His research spans philosophy of medicine and bioethics, with a focus on the ethical dimensions of AI in healthcare, dementia policy, drug regulation, and clinical reasoning. PhD from the European School of Molecular Medicine (SEMM), affiliated with the European Institute of Oncology (IEO, Milan) ORCID: 0000-0003-1880-0770 His work intersects with clinical ethics, particularly examining replicability in scientific research, evidential pluralism in drug regulation, and the ethical landscape of digital biomarkers. He contributes to courses such as Ethics in Drug Development and Ethics Workshop: The Impact of Digital Life on Society . The 15 most recent articles (2025-2023) highlight his engagement with AI ethics, dementia prevention, regulatory science, and clinical reasoning. Topics include ethical frameworks for digital biomarkers, evidential pluralism in drug approval, and philosophical foundations of rehabilitation sciences.
Caroline Samer is an Associate Professor at the University of Geneva (UNIGE) Faculty of Medicine and serves as the Head of the Division of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology at the Hôpitaux Universitaires de Genève (HUG) . She also acts as the Delegate to the Dean's Office for Data Issues since July 2023. Medical Degree (2001), PhD in Pharmacogenomics, Postdoctoral Fellowship in Molecular Pharmacology (Sydney) President of the Swiss Society for Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology (SSPTC) and Swiss Society of Pharmacology and Toxicology (SSPT) Vice-President of Swissethics and the Geneva Research Ethics Committee (CCER) Her research focuses on personalizing drug therapy through pharmacogenomics and precision medicine , emphasizing gene-environment-disease interactions and omic technologies . Key themes include drug interactions , pharmacokinetic modeling , and therapeutic information . Recent publications highlight her work in pharmacogenomics , drug safety , and clinical pharmacology , with a focus on opioids , antiaggregants , and drug metabolism . Her collaborations span oncopediatrics , internal medicine , medical informatics , and pharmaceutical sciences . She leads the Samer-Daali Research Group , which integrates in vitro , in vivo , and in silico models to advance personalized therapy . Her work is supported by institutional affiliations with the Faculty Center of Translational Investigation in Biomarkers and CIOMS .
Prof. Oliver Faude is a Professor and Researcher at the Department of Motor Performance & Biomechanics within the University of Basel's Department of Sport, Exercise and Health (DSBG). His research focuses on exercise physiology, sports medicine, and the application of physical activity in managing chronic conditions like type 2 diabetes. He supervises doctoral students, including Vivien Hohberg, whose work on telephone-based health coaching for diabetes patients was published in the Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport. Faude collaborates on projects such as the dbcoach intervention, funded by Innosuisse and health insurers, demonstrating how personalized coaching increases physical activity in diabetic populations. His work also extends to musculoskeletal imaging innovations, such as the UMUD web application for ultrasonography data access, and the PrepAir study addressing chemotherapy-induced sensory dysfunction in children. Faude's interdisciplinary approach integrates clinical research, biomechanics, and public health, with a particular emphasis on aging populations and pediatric oncology. He contributes to injury prevention strategies in sports like badminton and soccer, while advancing methodologies for muscle volume assessment via 3D ultrasound and MRI comparisons. Key Projects: dbcoach program, PrepAir study, musculoskeletal imaging tools, agility training for frailty prevention. Grants: Innosuisse, SwissLife Foundation, Voluntary Academic Society of Basel. Students: Vivien Hohberg (PhD). Labs/Teams: Motor Performance & Biomechanics lab, collaborations with Prof. Bart Roelands (Vrije Universiteit Brussel) on overtraining syndrome research.
Professor Matthias Kliegel is affiliated with the LIVES Centre at the University of Geneva, where he conducts research on aging and cognitive processes. His work spans multiple interdisciplinary collaborations across Switzerland and internationally, focusing on memory, cognitive aging, and health outcomes in older populations. As a prominent researcher in gerontology, he contributes significantly to understanding age-related cognitive changes and their implications for healthy aging. Professor Kliegel's research interests center on cognitive aging, with particular emphasis on prospective memory, cognitive complaints, and the interplay between physical activity, health literacy, and cognitive function in older adults. His work examines how individual differences affect cognitive trajectories across the lifespan and investigates factors that contribute to successful cognitive aging. Recent research has expanded into technology applications, including AI and consumer-grade devices for cognitive health monitoring and early detection of cognitive decline. Analysis of Professor Kliegel's recent publications reveals a strong focus on longitudinal approaches to studying cognitive aging, with an increasing integration of technology in aging research. His work spans traditional psychological methodologies while incorporating contemporary approaches like AI analysis of aging research priorities and digital screening tools for preclinical Alzheimer's disease. The research consistently addresses practical applications for improving cognitive health outcomes in aging populations, with several studies focusing on modifiable factors like physical activity that could inform public health interventions. Professor Kliegel maintains active collaborations with numerous researchers across Swiss institutions including the LIVES Centre network, with co-authors spanning psychology, public health, and geriatric medicine. His work appears in high-impact journals across gerontology, psychology, and public health disciplines, demonstrating the interdisciplinary nature of his research program. The consistent funding evident from his publication record suggests successful grant acquisition supporting his longitudinal research initiatives. As a faculty member at the University of Geneva's LIVES Centre, Professor Kliegel contributes to a major interdisciplinary research platform focused on vulnerability throughout the life course. His work aligns with the Centre's mission to investigate social, economic, and health-related vulnerabilities across different life stages, with particular emphasis on aging populations in Switzerland and beyond.
Felix Gille is a researcher at the University of Zurich , affiliated with the Institute for Implementation Science in Health Care under the Faculty of Medicine. He leads the DSI-funded project "Data handling, security and protection: reaching conceptual equivalence for the concept of public trust in national electronic health records in Switzerland and neighboring countries," collaborating with Prof. von Wyl (IfIS/DSI, UZH) and Prof. Thouvenin (Faculty of Law, UZH). His work bridges health system and policy research, digital health, data law, and data security. Education: BSc in European Public Health, Maastricht University MMedSc in Health Economics, Policy and Management, Karolinska Institute PhD in Public Trust in Healthcare Systems, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Research Focus: Gille specializes in public trust dynamics within healthcare systems, particularly examining data governance, health policy, and ethical dimensions of digital health innovations. His projects analyze cross-national trust frameworks, biobanking ethics, AI in healthcare, and pandemic data sharing mechanisms. Scientific Contributions: His publications address critical issues such as GDPR impacts on research, trustworthiness of mHealth apps, and interdisciplinary approaches to health data policy. Articles span 2015–2025, emphasizing conceptual trust models, policy harmonization, and stakeholder engagement in health data systems. Awards & Roles: Fellow of the Swiss School of Public Health Associate Editor for Public Health Reviews
University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern SwitzerlandSwitzerland
Tiziana Sala Defilippis is a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Business Economics, Health and Social Care (DEASS) within the University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland (SUPSI). She coordinates the Human Rights and Nursing Award and serves as a reviewer for Nursing Ethics . Her expertise spans nursing ethics, moral resilience, and healthcare workforce challenges, with a focus on interdisciplinary ethical issues in clinical practice. BSc and MSc in Nursing from the University of Dundee (UK) PhD in Nursing from the University of Surrey (UK) Her research examines ethical concerns in outpatient care, pandemic impacts on elderly institutionalized care, and strategies to address healthcare workforce shortages. She leads projects on sex and gender integration in Swiss medical education and conceptualized moral resilience through a grounded theory model. Her work emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration and policy recommendations for ethical healthcare practices. Notable awards include the Rosemary Pope Memorial Fund Award for her PhD dissertation on moral resilience in Swiss intensive care nurses. She contributes to ethics education frameworks and has published key works on moral distress, pandemic-related isolation, and professional collaboration dynamics.
Katarzyna Wac is a researcher at the University of Geneva affiliated with the Faculty of Economics and Management and the Information Science Institute . Her work bridges Digital Health , Mobile Computing , and Human-Computer Interaction , focusing on leveraging wearable devices, smartphones, and AI for health and quality of life (QoL) quantification. Research Themes: Digital biomarkers for Alzheimer's and migraines, QoL assessment via ubiquitous computing, peer- and self-reported behavioral data, and QoE of mobile applications. Labs: Leads the mQoL Lab , a platform for interactive, mobile, and wearable-based studies. Her recent publications explore Transformer models for health data analysis, social robots in homecare, and ethical frameworks for digital mental health. She has contributed to standards for proxy-reported QoL measures and personalized drug delivery systems in digital health. The multimodal integration of emotional signals and context-aware QoS/QoE provisioning for m-health services are recurring technical themes. Key collaborations include the MobiHealth project and COPD24 , translating future internet technologies into telemonitoring solutions. Her work spans from foundational studies on mobile cognition to applied ambulatory assessment of affect and health risks.
Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW)Switzerland
Prof. Dr. Veronika Waldboth is a Professor for Family-Centered Nursing at the ZHAW School of Health Sciences (Institute of Nursing). Her work focuses on Advanced Practice Nursing (APN) , Rare Diseases , Digital Technologies in Nursing , and Participative Mixed Methods Research . PhD in Nursing (2013-2017) from King's College London MSc and BSc in Nursing from Zurich University of Applied Sciences and University of Verona Her research explores family transitions in chronic conditions, with emphasis on neuromuscular diseases and low-birth-weight infants . She leads projects like the Swiss Nursing Research Agenda and Care-NMD-CH , focusing on interprofessional care models and digital health platforms. Recipient of the 2015 Nursing Science Foundation Switzerland Young Researchers Award Active in Rare Disease Action Forum and ORCID ID 0000-0003-2785-3241 Current projects include Care Management for Neuromuscular Diseases and Global Bridge in Health Professions Education . Her teaching includes Advanced Practice Competencies and Rare Diseases Nursing Education .
Dominik Moser is a lecturer at the Swiss Distance University of Applied Sciences (FFHS), a postdoctoral researcher at the University of St. Gallen, and a division head at GZO Hospital Wetzikon/Zurich. He is also a PhD candidate at the Technical University Berlin and a visiting researcher at the University of St. Gallen's School of Medicine. His research focuses on health systems and policy , healthcare management , and climate change impacts on health systems . He leads the research group 'Performance and Resilience of Health Systems' at the Chair of Health Economics, Policy and Management. Health Economic Evaluation of healthcare systems Planetary Health and climate resilience in healthcare Digital transformation in healthcare governance Recent publications include studies on cost efficiency in hernia and bariatric surgery , quality indicators in obstetrics and breast cancer treatment , and governance models for sustainable healthcare systems . His work often involves interdisciplinary collaboration with institutions like the IHSRC International Health Systems Research Collaborative and the HSG Swiss Institute for Empirical Economic Research.
Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Taube is a leading academic at the University of Fribourg , affiliated with the Faculty of Science and Medicine and specializing in Motor Control and Neuroplasticity within the Movement and Sport Sciences department. His work bridges Neuroscience , Physiology , and Rehabilitation through rigorous experimental designs. Role: Professor Location: PER 21 bu. F429, Bd de Pérolles 90, 1700 Fribourg, Switzerland Contact: wolfgang.taube@unifr.ch ORCID: 0000-0002-8802-2065 His research explores neural mechanisms of motor learning , age-related adaptations , and interventions to enhance balance and sensorimotor function . Key areas include: Modulation of GABAergic inhibition through training fNIRS/fMRI studies on cortical activation patterns Biomechanical analysis in sports performance Neurorehabilitation strategies for chronic pain Recent publications demonstrate a focus on age-related neuroplasticity , external focus of attention , and technology-driven training interventions across sports like football and swimming. Methodologically, he integrates randomized trials , meta-analyses , and machine learning applications in motor control studies.
Prof. Stephen J. Ferguson is a Full Professor at ETH Zurich's Department of Health Sciences and Technology and Head of the Institute for Biomechanics. His research focuses on musculoskeletal biomechanics, biomaterials, and implant technologies addressing aging-related health challenges. He holds a Venia Docendi in Musculoskeletal Biomechanics and has led the Biomechanics Division at the University of Bern. Key honors include the ETH Golden Owl (2021) and ESB Clinical Biomechanics Award (2022). Education: Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering, University of Toronto (1991) Master's, Queen's University (1994) PhD, Queen's University (2000) Postdoc, University of Bern (2000-2002) Research Interests: Biomaterials for implants, musculoskeletal disorder mechanisms, computational biomechanics, and translational medical devices. Awards: ESB Clinical Biomechanics Award (2022) ETH Golden Owl (2021) European Spine Journal GRAMMER prize (2009) CTI Medtech Award (2005) Professional Activities: Five patent applications, course leadership in Biomedical Engineering and Spine Research, and director roles at ARTORG Spine Research Center. Labs/Teams: Leads the Institute for Biomechanics at ETH Zurich, focusing on cutting-edge biomechanical research and clinical translation.
Jonathan S. Skinner is a Professor at Dartmouth College, Department of Economics, and a professor at the Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice within the Geisel School of Medicine. He serves as the Aging Program Director at the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) and has contributed extensively to understanding healthcare productivity, technology adoption, and policy implications for aging populations. Key research areas: Health Economics, Economics of Aging, Public Policy Current projects focus on Medicare/Medicaid spending, geographic healthcare disparities, and pandemic impacts on vulnerable populations. Publications (2023–2010) reveal trends in healthcare fraud networks , racial segregation in hospital admissions , and end-of-life expenditures . His work often integrates Medicare claims data and network analysis to assess systemic inefficiencies. Recent scientific collaborations include partnerships with institutions such as the NBER and JAMA Network Open. He has analyzed regional mortality disparities and technology diffusion in clinical settings, with implications for public health strategy.
Gianvito Laera is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Geneva's Department of Psychology within the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences. He works in the Cognitive Aging Lab, focusing on prospective memory research with particular emphasis on time-based memory processes across the lifespan. His research integrates cognitive psychology, neuroscience, and gerontology to understand how people remember to perform future intentions. Dr. Laera received his PhD in Psychology from the University of Geneva (2018-2023), following a Master of Science in Neuroscience and Neuropsychological Rehabilitation from the University of Padua, Italy (2013-2016), and a Bachelor of Science in Psychological Sciences and Techniques from the University of Bari 'Aldo Moro', Italy (2010-2013). Prior to his doctoral studies, he worked as a Research Assistant at Keele University's Neuropsychology Lab (2016-2018) and completed a research internship at the University of Padua (2015-2016). His research primarily investigates prospective memory—particularly time-based prospective memory—which involves remembering to perform intended actions at specific future times. His work examines age-related differences in these processes, neural correlates using EEG methodology, strategic monitoring behaviors, and the impact of various contextual factors on memory performance. He employs both laboratory and web-based experimental approaches to study how people monitor time, check clocks, and manage cognitive resources when executing delayed intentions. His research has important implications for understanding cognitive aging and developing interventions to support memory in older adults. Analysis of his publication record reveals consistent focus on time-based prospective memory mechanisms across 15 recent publications. His work demonstrates sophisticated methodological approaches including meta-analyses, experimental manipulations of clock-speed, EEG measurements, and longitudinal assessments. Key trends include examining the cost of monitoring behavior, strategic clock-checking patterns, neural correlates of memory retrieval, and the relationship between personality factors and cognitive performance in aging populations. While no specific scientific awards are documented in the available information, his research has been published in high-impact journals across psychology, neuroscience, and gerontology, reflecting recognition within his field. As a postdoctoral researcher, Dr. Laera continues to develop his independent research program while collaborating with senior researchers in the Cognitive Aging Lab. His work bridges experimental cognitive psychology with real-world applications for understanding memory changes in aging populations.
