The Swiss education, research and innovation institutions - the Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences, the ETH Board, swissuniversities, the Swiss National Science Foundation, the Swiss Science Council and Innosuisse - and the Swiss Confederation are jointly launching the National Science Advisory Network (NSAN). The purpose of this network is to anticipate potential crises for the country and provide the authorities with independent, interdisciplinary scientific analyses. 

The RNCS is based on a flexible, evolving structure around four thematic clusters deemed to be the most strategic for the country's security and resilience: public health, cyber security, disinformation and international challenges. Each cluster is led by a management group responsible for defining priorities, liaising with the authorities and proposing experts as required.

Several experts from the Faculty of Medicine will be contributing their scientific expertise to the 'public health' cluster.  Prof. Samia Hurst, bioethicist and Director of the Institute of Ethics, History and Humanities (iEH2), member of the Steering Committee and co-leader of the Pathogens sub-group, Prof. Dagmar Haller, Director of the University Institute of Family and Child Medicine (IuMFE), co-leader of the Health Systems sub-group, Prof. Isabella Eckerle, Director of the UNIGE/HUG Centre for Emerging Viral Diseases, member of the Pathogens sub-group, Prof. Alexandra Calmy, vice-dean of the Faculty of Medicine and head of the HIV/AIDS Unit at the HUG, members of the Pathogens sub-group, and Prof. Arnaud Perrier, honorary professor at the Faculty of Medicine, former medical director of the HUG and current president of the Swiss Academy of Medical Sciences, member of the Health Systems sub-group. 

The RNCS scientists will present the state of knowledge, uncertainties and possible scenarios, without interfering in the political decision-making process.