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td-net co-hosted a special session at the 6th Swiss Social Sciences and Humanities Energy Research Workshop (SSH Energy 2026), which took place in mid-June and adresses various actors from inter- and transdisciplinary fields.

Advance care planning (ACP) provides a framework for discussing future healthcare decisions, documenting patients’ preferences and ensuring that these are respected when needed. Together with the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH), the Swiss Academy of Medical Sciences (SAMS) is committed to further strengthening ACP in Switzerland. This is not only the responsibility of specialised professionals: all healthcare professionals can initiate conversations about future health situations and support patients through an ACP process. To facilitate this, SAMS has published a new thematic page for healthcare professionals.

The latest issue of the SAMS Bulletin debuts with a fresh new look: inviting, reader-friendly and featuring topics from medicine, science and the Academy's various departments. At the heart of every issue remains the featured focus article. In this edition, Prof. Christoph A. Meier examines a key question: Are the limited resources in healthcare being used where they generate the greatest benefit?

The political debate on the future of Switzerland’s healthcare system is gaining momentum. In a recent resolution, PS60+, the seniors’ organization of the Social Democratic Party, echoes key proposals put forward by the SAMS. It reinforces the discussion on health as a societal responsibility and calls, among other things, for integrated healthcare, stronger coordination by the Confederation and a clear framework for the use of health data.

Switzerland is home to a diverse landscape of cohort studies that generate longitudinal health data. These valuable datasets can only reach their full impact when they can be found, compared, and used collaboratively for research. To meet this need, SPHN launched the Swiss Personalized Health Network Cohort Consortium (SPHN-CC) in 2021. Hosted on the Maelstrom Research metadata catalogue, the SPHN-CC brings together key information on study design, data collection, and variable content.

A lack of role models can slow down professional careers. This also applies to academic medicine and especially to women. Yet female role models do exist, and the Stern-Gattiker Prize is dedicated to them. This year's Prize, which is endowed with CHF 15’000, is awarded to Prof. Alessandra Curioni-Fontecedro.