Science Advice Network - Ideenpapier für einen klaren und steten Dialog zwischen Wissenschaft und Politik

The Ethics Committee for Animal Experimentation (ECAE) is a joint commission of the SAMS and the Swiss Academy of Sciences (SCNAT). It acts as an expert and advisory body in the field of animal experimentation. At its meeting in November 2025, the SAMS Senate elected Prof. Michael Hottiger, Zürich, as chair of the ECAE. It also approved the entry into force of the revised by-laws. These describe the Commission’s composition, define the processes and clarify the roles of the two Academies.

At the end of the year, CH Media spoke with Arnaud Perrier, President of the SAMS, about rising healthcare costs, increasing administrative responsibilities, and other challenges within the healthcare system. Prof. Perrier advocates for easily accessible primary care organized through networks and a better distribution of tasks between doctors and nurses. He also explained why Switzerland needs an article on health in the Constitution.

The Central Ethics Committee (CEC) of the SAMS identifies and discusses ethical challenges in medicine. Together with its subcommittees, it releases medical-ethical guidelines and publishes position statements on current issues. The CEC comprises physicians from various specialties as well as experts in nursing, ethics and law. As of 1 January 2026, the Committee will have a second Vice President: Professor Regina Aebi-Müller, a long-standing member of the CEC, has been elected to the Board.