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Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences a+
European Academies' Award goes to Helen Keller
Helen Keller is the first Swiss from Switzerland to be awarded the Madame de Staël Prize for Cultural Values by the All European Academies (ALLEA). This is particularly in recognition of her role as a judge at the European Court of Human Rights from 2011 to 2020, where she played a special role in shaping Europe's cultural values.
The ALLEA Award honours researchers or intellectuals whose work represents a significant impact on the progress of Europe. “At the European Court of Human Rights, Helen Keller established herself as a particularly active, independent and respected judge and had a significant influence on the development and consolidation of jurisprudence," says Dick Marty, who, as a member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, was present at her election as judge in Strasbourg. Helen Keller is Chair for Public Law, European and Public International Law at the University of Zurich, as well as a judge at the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina since December 2020.
Swiss Academy of Medical Sciences SAMS
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Young Talents in Clinical Research: Call 2026
With the Young Talents in Clinical Research program, the Gottfried and Julia Bangerter-Rhyner Foundation and the SAMS wish to encourage young medical doctors to start out in clinical research. Dementia Research Switzerland – Synapsis Foundation is now supporting the program with additional funding in the field of neurodegeneration. In 2026, up to CHF 1.2 million is made available to finance protected research time and small research projects for junior researchers. The submission deadline is 30 June 2026.
Swiss Academy of Medical Sciences SAMS
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SPHN: From initiative to sustainable data infrastructure for research
Since 2017, the Swiss Personalized Health Network (SPHN) has been establishing a nationwide data infrastructure that makes clinical data from hospitals and other health data findable, interoperable, and securely accessible. In the main article of the current SAMS Bulletin, Prof. Matthias Baumgartner, SPHN Chair and member of the SAMS Executive Board, reflects on the two funding phases up to 2024 and provides an outlook through the end of 2028.
Swiss Academy of Medical Sciences SAMS
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smarter medicine: Top 5 list for Home Care published
The association «smarter medicine – Choosing Wisely Switzerland», of which the SAMS is a member, is committed to providing optimal healthcare in Switzerland. It encourages professional societies to draw up Top 5 lists defining interventions that should be avoided altogether or only used under specific conditions. In March 2026, the Academic Professional Group for Spitex Nursing of the Swiss Association for Nursing Science (VFP) published a Top 5 list.