Insel Gruppe Ag, University Hospital Bern

This study tests whether the nicotine concentration in vape pods affects how well smokers can quit. 312 adult smokers who want to quit will use either low or high nicotine salt e-liquids for three months, plus receive counseling. The goal is to see if higher nicotine levels lead …

This study compares a new leadless pacemaker (Micra AV) to a standard dual-chamber pacemaker in 100 patients aged 70 and older with heart block. The goal is to see if the leadless version works just as well for exercise capacity. Participants are randomly assigned to receive one …

This study tests whether adding extra ablation to the back wall of the heart's left atrium improves outcomes for people with persistent atrial fibrillation (a type of irregular heartbeat). About 206 participants will receive either standard vein isolation or vein isolation plus b…

This study compares two ways to treat a heart condition called atrial fibrillation (AFib) that causes an irregular heartbeat. The standard method uses freezing (cryoballoon), while the newer method uses electrical pulses (pulsed field ablation). The goal is to see if the new meth…

This trial is testing a new way to treat prostate cancer that returns after the prostate has been removed. It combines a very short course of highly targeted radiation (just 5 sessions) with 6 months of hormone therapy. The goal is to see if this approach can control the cancer w…

This study investigates whether menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) can improve sleep quality in women going through menopause. Researchers will compare sleep in women who receive MHT to those who do not, using questionnaires and sleep diaries. The goal is to see if MHT can help wit…

This study looks at whether a tool called the Chelsea Critical Care Physical Assessment tool (CPAx) can accurately track recovery in 120 adults who developed muscle weakness after being on a breathing machine in the ICU. The goal is to find the smallest meaningful improvement tha…

This study looks at how blood flow to the urethra relates to bladder control. Researchers will use special ultrasound imaging in 70 women—35 with stress urinary incontinence and 35 without—to compare blood supply and pressure measurements. The goal is to better understand what ca…

This study looks at whether adults aged 70 and older with multiple chronic conditions (but no heart disease) can safely stop taking statins. Researchers are comparing those who continue statins to those who stop, tracking deaths and major heart events over 2-4 years. The goal is …

This study looks at how a common heart valve procedure called TAVI changes the gut microbiome in older adults with aortic stenosis. Researchers will collect blood and stool samples before and three months after TAVI to measure bacterial byproducts and diversity. The goal is to se…

This study is observing 209 adults undergoing planned abdominal surgery to understand how bacteria might travel from the gut to cause surgical site infections. Researchers collect samples (skin, rectal, blood, and tissue biopsies) during surgery and use DNA sequencing to track ba…

This study collects blood, urine, skin, and stool samples from over 1,200 surgery patients to see if changes in the body's chemistry can predict surgical site infections. The goal is to find a biological test that helps personalize surgical care. No treatment is being tested—only…

This study looks at how the bacteria in your gut change during abdominal surgery and whether those changes can lead to infections at the surgery site. Researchers will collect samples from 120 adults having planned abdominal surgery to track these bacteria. The goal is to better …

This study compares how well doctors can measure tissue firmness using their hands (palpation) versus ultrasound. About 40 medical professionals and students will test artificial tissue models. The goal is to see which method is more accurate and reliable, and whether practice im…

This study is observing 4,500 people who need pacemakers or similar heart devices. The goal is to create a tool that predicts who is at risk of developing a weakened heart from the device itself. By identifying high-risk patients early, doctors can choose better pacing methods to…

This study tests two emergency procedures for opening a blocked airway in infants, using a realistic rabbit model. Thirty pediatric specialists will try both a surgical scalpel method and a needle-guided technique. The goal is to see which works faster and causes less harm in a c…

This trial tests whether a simple computer alert can help doctors use antibiotics more wisely. The alert reminds prescribers to review antibiotic treatment after 72 hours (or 24 hours for surgery prevention) to see if they can stop or switch to a more targeted drug. The study inv…