News

September 2026: Event - Seminar series “Current topics in Pharmacology"

Integrating multiple dimensions to decode tumor evolution and design new therapies

Invitation to the seminar of Prof. Elisa Oricchio, Director of the Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research (ISREC) and a professor at EPFL in Lausanne (Switzerland). All interested persons are cordially invited. Please find flyer, biosketch and further information here.

August 2026: Kick-off research project

Modelling of lung lymphatic system on-chip

Prof. Carole Bourquin, Prof. Olivier Guenat (ARTORG Center, University of Bern) and Prof. Cornelia Halin (ETH Zurich) have jointly initiated a new collaborative project, which was recently launched with a kick-off meeting. This tripartite initiative will investigate the role of the lung lymphatic system in healthy and disease state. While the vascular and lymphatic systems are known to be essential for lung homeostasis, fluid balance, immune surveillance, and tissue repair, it remains poorly understood, how morphological and functional changes in these systems contribute to lung pathologies. To address this gap, the team will recreate the lung lymphatic system on-chip, modelling human blood and lymphatic vessels in a dynamic 3D microfluidic environment. Drawing on the combined expertise of the three research groups, spanning immunopharmacology, bioengineering and vascular biology, the resulting platform will enable researchers to study vascular-lymphatic interactions, lymphatic drainage, and immune-cell trafficking. The ultimate goal of this project is to develop and characterize a human-relevant model to study the underlying mechanisms and functional consequences of lymphatic dysfunction in lung diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), with future potential for pharmacological testing of new therapeutic approaches.

August 2026: Event - SWISS PHARMA SCIENCE DAY

Women’s Health and Gender Medicine

Past event (20.08.2026; Von Roll Campus University of Bern)

August 2026: Article von Gunten Group

Treating Appendicitis Without Surgery?

The research group led by Prof. von Gunten at the Institute of Pharmacology has identified a new pharmacological strategy for treating appendicitis and other so-called neutrophil-dominant diseases. This strategy could help avoid stressful surgical procedures, particularly in children. Laboratory results show that the anti-inflammatory effects of human antibody preparations are more effective at eliminating neutrophil inflammatory cells than steroid preparations. These antibody preparations could complement and significantly improve current non-surgical strategies involving antibiotics. This study was conducted in collaboration with the Inselspital and could inspire further clinical trials.

July 2026: Publication in Cell Death & Differentiation

Hitting two survival switches at once kills lung cancer cells within hours

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is notoriously hard to kill: the cells survive chemotherapy because proteins of the BCL-2 family keep their built-in self-destruct programme, apoptosis, switched off. Liyang Wu and colleagues from the group of Thomas Kaufmann screened ten human NSCLC cell lines with drugs that block these survival proteins one at a time — and found that blocking any single one has little effect. Blocking two of them together, BCL-XL and MCL-1, was a different story: most of the cell lines committed to apoptosis within a few hours, and the effect was irreversible, independent of the frequently mutated tumour suppressor p53, and strictly dependent on the mitochondrial cell death machinery. Cell lines that initially looked resistant were in fact simply not fully hit, and died once BCL-XL was blocked more effectively or removed altogether using the PROTAC degrader DT2216 — a platelet-sparing approach that addresses the main side effect that has held BCL-XL inhibitors back in the clinic. Together, the study reframes apoptosis resistance in NSCLC as a joint effort of two proteins rather than a dependency on one, and points to a fast, potentially exploitable therapeutic vulnerability. Figure from Wu et al., Cell Death & Differentiation 2026 shows: one week after treatment: lung cancer cells survive each drug on its own (dishes 2+3, purple colonies), but combined inhibition of BCL-XL (A-1331852) and MCL-1 (S63845) leaves no survivors.

June 2026: Event - Seminar series “Current topics in Pharmacology”

Molecules, Models and Mechanisms in Rare Diseases: Can We Integrate Computational and Experimental Approaches for Variant Interpretation and Personalized Drug Discovery?

Invitation to the seminar of Dr. Matteo Rossi Sebastiano, Computational medicinal chemist and postdoctoral researcher at the Department of Biotechnology of the University of Turin, Director of Computational Biology at SevenTM Inc. All interested persons are cordially invited! Please find Flyer, Biosketch and further information here.

June 2026: Event - Milestone Lecture

PD Dr. Georgia Konstantinidou - Exploring Cancer Complexity: Reflections from a Decade of Research

Juni 2026: Event - CRNB-retreat

Cancer research network Bern 2026

CRNB Annual Retreat 2026: Krebsforschung im Dialog - Keynote Speaker: Carole Bourquin. Auf dem Gurten.

May 2026: Event - Seminar series “Current topics in Pharmacology”

More Than Fat: Adipose Tissue Heterogeneity and its Multifaceted Roles in Metabolism

Invitation to the seminar by Dr. Vissarion Efthymiou, Senior Research Scientist, Department of Diabetology, Endocrinology, Nutritional Medicine & Metabolism (UDEM), Bern University Hospital (Inselspital), Department for Biomedical Research (DBMR), University of Bern, Department of Health Sciences and Technology (D-HEST), ETH Zürich. All interested persons are cordially invited. Please find flyer, biosketch and further information here.

April 2026: Event - SSPT meeting

Human Model Systems in Pharmacology and Toxicology

Inselspital Bern, Auditorium Langhans. Annual Spring Meeting 2026 of the Swiss Society of Pharmacology and Toxicology.

April 2026: SNSF grant

PD Dr. Georgia Konstantinidou - SNSF grant for lung cancer research

We are pleased to announce that the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) has recently awarded a project grant to Dr Georgia Konstantinidou. With this grant her lab will investigate how lipid metabolic heterogeneity drives tumor progression and therapy resistance in KRAS-driven lung cancer. By establishing a mechanistic framework linking lipid metabolism to tumor heterogeneity and therapeutic outcome, they aim to lay the foundation for more rational metabolic treatment strategies. We sincerely congratulate Georgia Konstantinidou and her team and wish them great success with their research.

April 2026: Publication in Cell Reports

Targeting PI3Kδ suppresses pancreatic cancer

We sincerely congratulate Georgia Konstantinidou and her team for the recent publication "Targeting PI3Kδ suppresses pancreatic cancer by dual disruption of fibrosis and immune evasion" in the journal "Cell Reports". In this study, the autors identify PI3Kδ as a key regulator of tumor-stroma-immune crosstalk in PDAC (Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma). Its inhibition simultaneously reduces fibrosis and alleviates immune suppression, leading to decreased tumor progression and metastasis. These findings highlight PI3Kδ as a promising therapeutic target to overcome key barriers in pancreatic cancer. DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2026.117188 or please follow link below:

April 2026: Event - Seminar series “Current topics in Pharmacology”

Early-life microbiota: Programming immunity and disease

Invitation Wednesday, 8 April 2026, 11.30h Dr. Ziad Al Nabhani Assistant Professor, ERC-StG fellow Department of Visceral Surgery and Medicine, Bern University Hospital (Inselspital), Department for Biomedical Research, University of Bern, Seminarraum, Institut für Pharmakologie, INO-F, F-703, 3010 Bern (Host: Prof. Dr. Dr. Carole Bourquin) All interested persons are cordially invited

March 2026: Career Programme - COMET

Marietta Margaréta Korsós - participant COMET 2026

We sincerely congratulate Marietta Margaréta Korsós on being selected as a participant in the 2026 COMET mentoring program. This career program for female postdoctoral researchers at the University of Bern supports individual academic career planning and offers one-on-one coaching on selected topics such as career planning, research funding, and work-life balance.

März 2026: Event - Departement of Digital Medicine (DDM)

Real-life AI implementation in pathology

An introduction to the Department of Digital Medicine (DDM) and a real-life AI implementation in pathology by Prof. Inti Zlobec and Dr. Amjad Khan. Alle Interessierten sind herzlich eingeladen! Flyer und weitere Informationen finden Sie hier.

February 2026: Symposium at the LS2-Annual meeting 2026

Advancing Cancer Therapeutics Through Patient-Derived Complex Models

Georgia Konstantinidou organized and chaired a symposium at the LS2 Annual Meeting 2026, held on February 11–12, 2026. The session, entitled “Advancing Cancer Therapeutics Through Patient-Derived Complex Models” was developed as part of the Swiss Society of Experimental Pharmacology and Toxicology (SSEP) scientific activities within the LS2 program and highlighted emerging strategies to accelerate translational cancer research. The symposium was co-organized together with Patrycja Nowak-Sliwinska (University of Geneva) and brought together leading experts working at the interface of pharmacology, oncology, and precision medicine. Discussions focused on how advanced patient-derived systems can improve drug discovery and therapeutic decision-making. An invited keynote lecture was delivered by Prof. Elisa Oricchio (ISREC, EPFL) on “Empowering personalized medicine for cancer patients using tissue explants for drug screening,” showcasing innovative approaches to functional precision oncology.

February 2026: SSEP poster prize

Poster prize Gonçalo Outeiro De Pinho

Gonçalo Outeiro de Pinho from the research group of PD Dr. Georgia Konstantinidou received the prize for the best poster presentation of the Swiss Society of Experimental Pharmacology and Toxicology (SSEP) at the LS2 Annual Meeting 2026 (Zürich, 12.02.2026) with the title - MRTX1133 resistant cells rely on EZH2 activity to sustain their aggressive traits and avoid cell death. Congratulations!

February 2026: Scientific exchange

Visit by Dr. Jin Lu from Shanghai

Dr Jin Lu recently visited Switzerland and the Institute of Pharmacology to explore opportunities for future collaboration. As a clinical pharmacist based in Shanghai, she is interested in strengthening international partnerships at the interface of pharmaceutical sciences, clinical pharmacy, and experimental pharmacology. The visit fostered scientific exchange and may potentially open new avenues for joint research initiatives between China and Switzerland.

January 2026: Certification award EuCP

PKI members awarded with prestigious European Certified Pharmacologist (EuCP) accreditation

We warmly congratulate Prof. C. Bourquin and PD Dr. G. Konstantinidou on receiving the prestigious European Certified Pharmacologist (EuCP) accreditation. With this achievement, they join Prof. S. von Gunten, who already holds this distinguished European certification. The EuCP, awarded jointly by the European Federation of Pharmacological Societies (EPHAR) and the European Association for Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (EACPT), recognises outstanding expertise, broad competency, and high professional standards across the full spectrum of pharmacology—from basic research to clinical and therapeutic applications. This recognition highlights the excellence and international standing of our team members and underlines the institute’s strong commitment to high-level pharmacological research and education. Congratulations to all three colleagues on this remarkable achievement! The picture shows the awarded PKI members f.l.t.r.: Georgia Konstantinidou, Carole Bourquin, Stephan von Gunten

January 2026: When art meets science

Visualizing cancer research

A recent study led by Prof. Bourquin was featured in the Art and Science project jointly organized by the Faculty of Science at the University of Geneva and the Geneva School of Art and Design (HEAD). This initiative aims to translate complex scientific concepts into a visually compelling image that can engage diverse audiences. As part of this collaboration, Eloise Dupuychaffray, then a PhD student in Prof. Bourquin’s laboratory, presented her research to HEAD students, who were invited to propose original artistic interpretations. The scientific study shows that although obesity is a major risk factor for cancer, it may paradoxically enhance the efficacy of cancer immunotherapy in males with melanoma. Using in vitro models and clinical data, the researchers demonstrate that increased estrogen production in the adipose tissue of obese males is associated with an improved response to anti-cancer immunotherapy. To illustrate these findings, Sophie Hache, a HEAD student, created a narrative drawing that guides the viewer from estrogen production in adipose tissue to immune-cell activation and the destruction of cancer cells. This illustration accompanies a lay summary of the study published in "The Science Breaker", making the research accessible to a broad public audience.

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)".

December 2025: Research funding

PD Dr. Georgia Konstantinidou and team receive project funding by the Swiss Cancer Research Foundation (KFS)

The Swiss Cancer Research Foundation (KFS) is the largest funding organisation for cancer research in Switzerland, supporting projects led by independent scientists at Swiss research institutions. We are pleased to announce that PKI member PD Dr. Georgia Konstantinidou has been awarded funding from the Swiss Cancer Research Foundation for her project “Defining the role of PI3Kδ in cancer-associated fibroblast regulation to advance pancreatic cancer therapy.” The project will be funded starting in February 2026. We congratulate Dr. Konstantinidou and her team and wish them every success with this research.

November 2025: Event - Zukunftstag

Be the Director – Girls in Pharmacology Leadership

Das Institut für Pharmakologie beteiligt sich mit dem Programm «Ein Tag als Chefin – Girls in Pharmacology Leadership» am Nationalen Zukunftstag (13. November 2025). Am Zukunftstag erhalten Schüler*innen der 5. bis 7. Klasse die Möglichkeit, verschiedene Arbeitsfelder und Lebensbereiche kennenzulernen. Der «Seitenwechsel» im Rahmen des Zukunftstags fördert somit frühzeitig die Chancengleichheit von Frauen und Männern bei der Berufs- und Lebensplanung. Angebot (nur auf Englisch): Be the Director – Girls in Pharmacology Leadership. Are you a curious and ambitious young girl? Have you ever wondered what it’s like to lead a scientific institute and make decisions that shape the future of medical research? Join us for a special day at the Institute of Pharmacology at the University – and step into the shoes of a director!

October 2025: Research visit from Kansai Medical University of Japan

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

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

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: Event - Inaugural lecture

The immune system as a weapon against cancer: Opportunities and challenges

We are pleased to announce the inaugural lecture by Prof. Dr. Dr. Bourquin, Director of the Institute of Pharmacology at the University of Bern. The lecture will take place in Bern on Monday, October 20th, 2025, and is dedicated to the topic, "The immune system as a weapon against cancer: opportunities and challenges." In her lecture, Prof. Bourquin will provide exciting insights into current research findings and future developments in her field.

October 2025: Research award

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:

September 2025: Poster prize

Poster prize SA2M 2025 - Philippe JeanRichard (image: left side)

We are delighted to announce that Philippe JeanRichard from the Kaufmann Research group won one of three poster prizes at the 13th Swiss Apoptosis & Autophagy Meeting (SA2M) 2025, held in Bern on September 4th and 5th, 2025. Their poster was titled "The link of BOK to uridine metabolism and mitochondrial function in cancer". Congratulations! Information about SA2M 2025 and the Kaufmann Research group can be found at the following link:

August 2025: Continuing education

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

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: 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:

April 2025: Bürgi-Prize

Research prize for Dr. Maria Petrosino and Dr. Karim Zuhra

The Institute of Pharmacology at the University of Bern is pleased to announce that the jury has selected the publication “Endogenously Produced Hydrogen Cyanide Serves as a Novel Mammalian Gasotransmitter” (DOI: 10.1038/s42255-025-01225-w) by Dr. Maria Petrosino and Dr. Karim Zuhra for the Bürgi Prize 2025. This award honors the best original publication addressing a research question in the field of experimental or clinical pharmacology. We are proud to honor the significant contributions of Dr. Petrosino and Dr. Zuhra. Dr. Petrosino and Dr. Zuhra will present their research at the SSPT Spring Meeting on April 24th, 2025, in Bern, Switzerland. The award ceremony will be conducted by Prof. Dr. Carole Bourquin, Director of the Institute of Pharmacology and Chair of the Jury. We congratulate Dr. Petrosino and Dr. Zuhra on this well-deserved recognition and look forward to their presentation at the upcoming meeting. You can find the original publication and information about the SSPT Spring Meeting 2025 here at the following links:

April 2025: Poster prize

SSPT Poster prize Simone Falco

Simone Falco from the research group of PD Dr. Georgia Konstantinidou received the prize for the best poster presentation of the Swiss Society of Pharmacology and Toxicology (SSPT) at the Spring Meeting 2025 (Bern, April 24th, 2025). Congratulations! Information on the research group of Georgia Konstantinidou can be found at the following link:

September 2024: New Director at the Institute of Pharmacology

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: