The Swiss Academy of Medical Sciences (SAMS), with the support of associated faculties and private foundations, awards a limited number of individual MD-PhD scholarships each year. These grants are intended to support promising young physicians who wish to pursue a MD-PhD in natural sciences, public health, clinical research or biomedical ethics, in addition to their medical training. This year, of the 18 grants awarded, five went to people from the Faculty of Medicine.
Fanny Amrein
Prof. Olivier Michielin's laboratory, Precision Oncology Centre, Department of Medicine, Translational Research Centre in Onco-Haematology (CRTOH).
The project, supported by the ISREC Foundation, aims to decipher the role of TIM-1-expressing B cells in anti-tumour immunity.
Francesca Casalino
Laboratory of Gynaecological Tumour Biology and Development, Prof. Marie Cohen, Department of Paediatrics, Gynaecology and Obstetrics
The project studies the formation of giant polyploid cancer cells through cell fusion in ovarian cancer, analysing the role of syncytins and the Wnt pathway in limiting the emergence of these aggressive and resistant cells.
Lara Chavaz
CANSEARCH Research Platform in Paediatric Oncology and Haematology, Prof. Marc Ansari, Department of Paediatrics, Gynaecology and Obstetrics
The project aims to understand why some children treated with platinum-based chemotherapy develop severe hearing loss, by integrating the study of genetic susceptibility and drug interactions. By combining the analysis of paediatric clinical cohorts with cellular models of the inner ear, the team is exploring the role of genetic variants and the mechanisms of toxicity associated with the co-administration of vincristine. The ultimate goal is to contribute to more personalised and safer chemotherapy, improving the long-term quality of life of paediatric cancer survivors.
Konstantin Frank
Dr. Manel Essaidi-Laziosi & Prof. Isabella Eckerle, Centre for Emerging Viral Diseases
The project aims to refine polarised airway culture models in children and adults to better understand age-specific host responses to endemic and emerging respiratory viruses.
Loyse Lanz
Prof. Toso's Laboratory, Department of Surgery (Visceral Surgery)
The project, which is both fundamental and clinical, aims to study the impact of surgery on antitumour immunity in hepatocellular carcinoma, focusing on the neoadjuvant administration of immune checkpoint inhibitors. Its objective is to determine whether this strategy enhances the activation, persistence and efficacy of anti-tumour T cells despite the immunosuppression induced by surgical stress.