News

January 2026: Symposium Advances in Pharmacology

26th continuing education congress - Pharmacotherapy for kidney disease

Prof. Stephan von Gunten and the Institute of Pharmacology at the University of Bern are organizing the 26th continuing education congress “Advances in Pharmacology” on January 29, 2026, in the Ettore Rossi Auditorium at the Inselspital in Bern. Due to its consistently high quality and practical relevance, this congress is very popular and attracts around 200 participants from all over Switzerland, mainly pharmacists and medical professionals, to the Ettore Rossi Auditorium at the Inselspital every year. This year congress will focus on "Pharmacotherapy for kidney disease". The Symposium is under the Patronage of the "Swiss Society of Pharmakology and Toxicology (SSPT)".

October 2025: Research visit from Kansai Medical University of Japan

Visit at the Institute of Pharmacology

Inselspital and University of Bern welcome scientific delegation from Japan

Following the motto 'Knowledge creates value' a three-day scientific exchange took place at the Sitem Bern end of October 2025, involving scientists from the Inselspital, the University of Bern and the delegation from Kansai Medical University (KMU) of Japan. Sincere thanks to the delegation from Japan for their visit at the Institute of Pharmacology and for the exciting exchange. Prof. C. Bourquin and Prof. H-U. Simon guided Prof. Tatsuo Kinashi and Prof. Koichi Tomoda through the Institute's laboratories. Please find further information about the three-day program under following link:

October 2025: New SNF Grant

University of Bern and ETH Zurich

Prof. Carole Bourquin - New SNF Grant backs innovative organ-on-a-chip approach to Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

We are pleased to announce the award of a new Swiss National Science Foundation (SNF) Project Grant to support a collaborative research project between Prof. Carole Bourquin (Institute of Pharmacology), Prof. Olivier Guenat (ARTORG Center, University of Bern), and Prof. Cornelia Halin (ETH Zurich). This project aims to advance our understanding of the human lung’s lymphatic vasculature in both healthy and diseased states, with a particular focus on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). By integrating advanced imaging, pharmacological approaches, and innovative microfluidic “organ-on-chip” technology, the interdisciplinary team will investigate lymphatic morphology, function, and immune cell interactions under physiological and pathological conditions. The results are expected to provide new insights into the inflammatory processes driving COPD progression and to pave the way for the development of targeted pharmacological strategies to restore lymphatic function and mitigate disease severity.

October 2025: Research funding

Expression and function of TRPV2 and BK ion channels
Darko Stojkov, Institute of Pharmacology Bern

PD Dr. Darko Stojkov - Project funding by EoE Foundation

We are pleased to announce that PD Dr. Darko Stojkov's project, entitled „Expression and function of TRPV2 and BK ion channels in the pathogenesis of eosinophilic esophagitis“, is funded by the EoE Foundation. Congratulations to Dr. Stojkov for this successful grant award!

October 2025: Research award

Stephan von Gunten and Lukas Mürner

von Gunten research team - Winner of Novartis FreeNovation 2025

Prof. Stephan von Gunten and junior researcher Lukas Mürner from the Institute of Pharmacology at the University of Bern are being awarded for innovative research, receiving research funding by the Novartis Research Foundation's FreeNovation 2025-Program. FreeNovation is intended to encourage unconventional thinking and to further strengthen Switzerland's research position. The funded research project focuses on complex sugar structures (Glycans) on the surface of pancreatic cancer cells, playing a key role in central biological processes such as tumor growth, metastatic spread and evasion of immunological defence mechanisms. Despite their promising diagnostic and therapeutic potential, these structurally diverse carbohydrates have so far eluded broad analysis using currently available methods. By using state-of-the-art technologies in combination with innovative screening strategies and novel methods for the production of glycan specific reagents, a more profound access to the functional and biological significance of glycane structures is to be made possible. This until today unachieved analytical depth not only promises an expanded understanding of the molecular properties of pancreatic tumors, but also the development of new diagnostic standards as well as the identification of potential therapeutic targets. Please find information on Stephan von Gunten's research group under following Link:

August 2025: Continuing education

Pictures by Vanda Sutkova

International Summerschool 2025

This year again, our 'International Summerschool' was met with great interest. 30 young researchers successfully presented their projects as well as discussed them together and with the group leaders. After the workshop the whole team went for an excursion and picnic to the Lake of Thun and to the Aare Gorge. We thank all participants for the exciting presentations and the nice atmosphere during and after the courses.

June 2025: Media - SRF TV report PULS

Thomas Kaufmann

Hope for Allergies - New approaches for diagnosis and therapy

We are pleased to announce that Swiss television channel SRF aired a segment on allergies in the health program "PULS," which also featured innovative developments in allergy diagnostics. The program was broadcasted on June 23, 2025 and includes contributions from Prof. Thomas Kaufmann from the Institute of Pharmacology as well as Prof. Alexander Eggel from the DBMR at the University of Bern and the Inselspital Bern. Starting at minute 29:50, the report shows their successful start-up company and its development of a new allergy test that is not only more precise, but also significantly less stressful for patients than conventional procedures. We express our sincere congratulations to Prof. Kaufmann and Prof. Eggel on this outstanding professional and scientific achievement and for bringing innovative and patient-friendly solutions from the lab to the public.

June 2025: Interview - Tumor center Inselspital Bern

Georgia Konstantinidou

Georgia Konstantinidou: The unexpected is what makes science what it is

Interview with PD Dr. Georgia Konstantinidou, research group leader at the Institute of Pharmacology. Georgia Konstantinidou - University Comprehensive Cancer Center Inselspital Bern. For the cancer researcher Georgia Konstantinidou, cancer research stands at a turning point. A shift is taking place – away from the view of tumors as uniform entities. You can find the interview (only in German) under the following link:

September 2024: New Director at the Institute of Pharmacology

Carole Bourquin

Prof. Dr. med. Dr. rer. nat. Carole Bourquin

The University Board has elected Prof. Dr. med. Dr. rer. nat. Carole Bourquin as Professor of Pharmacology, effective September 1, 2024. She succeeds Prof. Hans-Uwe Simon and will take over as Director of the Institute of Pharmacology. From March 1, 2025, she will also work as Chief Physician at the Inselspital's University Department of General Internal Medicine in the Division of Clinical Pharmacology. Please find the media release from the University of Bern under following link: