Insel Gruppe Ag, University Hospital Bern

This study tests whether using a special algorithm to decide how long patients take two blood thinners after a heart stent procedure leads to better outcomes than the usual one-size-fits-all approach. About 2,788 adults who have received a drug-coated stent will be enrolled. The …

This study tests whether placing a balloon in the main artery (aorta) during CPR helps restart the heart more often than standard CPR alone. About 98 adults who have a cardiac arrest in the hospital will be randomly assigned to get either standard care or standard care plus the b…

This study looks at whether the kind of fluid given through an IV can improve outcomes for people who have had a brain bleed (subarachnoid hemorrhage). About 320 adults will be randomly assigned to receive one of two standard fluids. The main goal is to see if one fluid reduces d…

This study looks at whether removing the entire pancreas is better than removing just part of it for people with certain cancers in the head of the pancreas who are at high risk of complications. The main goal is to see if total removal helps patients live longer without making t…

This study tests whether a fast-acting drug called landiolol can keep heart rate below 90 beats per minute during major surgery, which may reduce the risk of heart injury. It involves 114 adults aged 45 or older with heart risk factors who are having elective non-cardiac surgery.…

This study tests a new approach for people with atrial fibrillation who have received a heart stent. Instead of taking multiple blood thinners together for months, the plan uses just one drug at a time: an antiplatelet for the first month, then a different blood thinner long-term…

This study tests whether adding high-dose steroids to standard aspirin treatment helps children aged 6 months to 18 years recover better from a stroke caused by inflamed brain arteries. About 70 children across 20+ hospitals will be randomly assigned to receive either steroids pl…

This study tests whether closing a small heart pouch (left atrial appendage) with a device, along with taking blood thinners, can better prevent another stroke in people with atrial fibrillation who already had a stroke despite being on blood thinners. About 482 participants will…

This study compares a newer MRI contrast agent, gadopiclenol, to the standard agent, gadobutrol, for imaging the kidneys and adrenal glands. About 104 adults with incidental findings on these organs will receive one of the two dyes during a single MRI session. The goal is to see …

This study tests whether a new type of PET scan called AzaFol-PET/CT can better diagnose giant cell arteritis (GCA), a condition that causes inflamed blood vessels. About 70 adults aged 50 and older with suspected GCA will receive one AzaFol-PET/CT scan. The results will be compa…

This study is a registry that will enroll about 816 adults with coronary artery disease. It compares two imaging techniques: a CT scan of the heart (CCTA) and a more detailed internal camera (OCT) placed inside the arteries. The goal is to see how well the CT scan can identify da…

This study tests whether an eHealth app that coaches parents can help lower the risk of obesity in children who already have a high body mass index (BMI). About 148 families will take part, with parents using the app to improve their child's eating and activity habits. The goal i…

This study compares two long-acting diuretics (indapamide and chlorthalidone) against a standard short-acting one (hydrochlorothiazide) to see which better prevents calcium kidney stones. About 99 adults with a history of recurrent stones will take each drug in a random order. Th…

This study tests whether a smartphone app can help parents reduce their young children's exposure to second-hand smoke. About 160 children under 6 who live with a smoking parent will take part. The goal is to lower the children's urine cotinine levels, a marker of smoke exposure,…

This study tests whether sleeping on a gently rocking bed (Somnomat Casa) for two months can help people with Parkinson's disease sleep better and ease their symptoms. Fifteen participants will use the bed at home, and researchers will check how well it works and if people like i…

This study tests a special training program called Mio-Training for children and teens with ADHD. The training combines thinking exercises and physical coordination tasks to improve metacognition — the ability to think about one's own thinking. Researchers will enroll 40 particip…

This study tests two treatments for insomnia in perimenopausal women: hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT-I). 54 women will receive one of these treatments or sleep hygiene advice for 8 weeks. The goal is to see which approach best reduces inso…

This study tests a new way to stimulate the brain (called Burst-DBS) to see if it can better reduce chronic pain after a stroke or from nerve damage in the face. About 20 adults will try both the new and standard stimulation patterns to compare which works better. The goal is to …

This study tests whether a nasal spray containing midazolam can quickly reduce sudden anxiety in adults receiving palliative care. About 36 participants will receive either the drug or a placebo, and their anxiety levels will be measured before and after treatment. The goal is to…

This study tests a patient-centered program to help adults aged 65 and older reduce their use of sleeping pills like benzodiazepines. These pills can be risky for older adults, and their benefits often fade after a few weeks. The program provides support and education to help par…

This study tests whether adding a gentle electrical stimulation glove to standard therapy can improve hand and arm function in children aged 6-18 with hemiparesis (weakness on one side). Participants will use the glove at home for 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week, for 5 weeks. Res…

This study tests if using a tiny ultrasound camera inside the heart during ablation for ventricular arrhythmias can reduce the need for X-rays. About 70 adults with premature ventricular contractions or ventricular tachycardia will be randomly assigned to receive ablation with or…

This study looks at whether it is safe to remove chest tubes on the same day as minor lung surgery. Currently, tubes stay in for at least 24 hours, which can slow recovery. The trial will compare patients who get their tube removed early to those who follow standard care, checkin…

This study tests whether starting a structured exercise and education program soon after a hospital stay for a pulmonary embolism (a blood clot in the lungs) can improve quality of life and reduce long-term symptoms like shortness of breath. About 160 high-risk adults will be ran…

This study is testing a mobile app called Mio-App designed to help children and teenagers with cancer improve their thinking and physical abilities. The app includes games and questions to strengthen metacognition—the ability to think about one's own thinking. Researchers will st…

This study tests whether a brain mapping technique called navigated transcranial magnetic stimulation (nTMS) can help doctors plan radiation more precisely for people who had surgery for a brain tumor near the movement area. The goal is to protect healthy brain tissue while still…

This study compares brain aging in 200 people—some with multiple sclerosis (MS) and some healthy—using new MRI techniques. The goal is to see if MS causes the brain to appear older than it should. Researchers hope this will help predict brain aging and disease progression.

This study explores whether a person's genetic makeup influences their risk of complications during and after surgery, such as nausea, vomiting, heart problems, and pain. Researchers will collect data from 20,000 adults scheduled for surgery to look for links between genes and ou…

This study looks at whether a new digital education and self-management program is practical and helpful for people with fibrotic interstitial lung disease. About 80 participants will use the program on their phone or computer during rehab or clinic visits. Researchers will compa…

This study tests whether injecting a small amount of fluid into the chest cavity and positioning the patient so the biopsy is in a gravity-dependent area can reduce the risk of lung collapse (pneumothorax) during CT-guided lung biopsies. About 198 adults with suspicious lung lesi…

This study looks at people with a broken back (thoracolumbar spine) who have no nerve symptoms. It compares surgery with wearing a brace for 6 weeks to see which leads to better recovery and fewer complications over 2 years. About 52 adults aged 18-70 will take part.

This study is testing whether computer analysis of speech can reliably detect changes in movement, mood, and thinking in people with Parkinson's disease. Researchers will record voices from 80 participants and compare them to standard clinical tests. The goal is to develop a simp…

This study looks at whether low levels of immunoglobulins (antibodies) are a treatable cause of fatigue in people with multiple sclerosis (MS). Researchers will compare fatigue levels and infection rates in 106 MS patients with and without low antibody levels. The goal is to unde…

This study looks at how well the bowel, bladder, and sexual organs work long-term in people who had organ-saving treatment for rectal cancer after chemoradiotherapy. Some patients had a small surgery to remove the scar, while others did not. The goal is to help patients and docto…

This study tests whether a structured communication tool called StOP? helps surgical teams talk more clearly during operations. Researchers will compare death rates and other outcomes between hospitals that use the tool and those that do not. About 400 patients will take part, an…

This study looks at people with a rare type of small intestinal cancer that has spread and cannot be fully cured. It compares those who had surgery to remove the main tumor plus other treatments, to those who had only other treatments. The goal is to see if surgery helps people l…

This study tests a new way to monitor movement during brain surgery. Researchers will use a small sensor on the patient's forehead and video from the surgical microscope to measure and reduce movement when stimulating the brain. About 203 people having brain surgery will take par…

This study looks at 500 people who have had a stroke and also have atrial fibrillation (an irregular heartbeat). The goal is to understand why some people still have strokes even when taking blood thinners. Researchers will collect blood samples and heart ultrasound images to fin…

This study follows 329 adults who have an infection after a hip or knee replacement. Researchers will track their treatment and recovery to see which factors—like patient health, bacteria type, and treatments used—lead to a cure. The goal is to learn how to better treat these inf…

This study is observing 5,000 adults having elective surgery to see if their genes influence how much pain they feel afterward. Researchers will also look at other factors like medication use and recovery after one year. The goal is to better understand why some people have more …

This study looks at how two blood thinners, rivaroxaban and apixaban, are processed by the body in people with mild to moderate liver cirrhosis (Child-Pugh class A and B). 24 participants will receive a single dose of one of the drugs, and blood samples will be taken over 12 hour…

This study looks at two ways to check for blocked heart arteries in people with severe aortic stenosis who need a valve replacement. One method is the usual invasive X-ray, and the other uses non-invasive risk management. The goal is to see which approach leads to better health a…

This study looks at two ways to teach medical residents how to use a special ultrasound technique (VExUS) to check for extra fluid in patients with acute heart failure. About 23 residents will be trained either in-person or remotely, and their skills will be compared to expert do…

This study looks at how a stroke can lead to long-term pain, called central poststroke pain (CPP). Researchers will use brain scans (MRI) to see if certain brain connections are linked to pain. The goal is to better understand why some stroke survivors develop this hard-to-treat …

This study follows 2000 adults who are having weight-loss surgery to understand how pain and daily activities change afterward. Researchers will ask patients about their pain, side effects, and ability to do everyday tasks. The goal is to learn what influences pain after surgery,…

This study tests a questionnaire called QUOCCAS, filled out by patients and their caregivers, to see if it can accurately identify children and teens with cancer who may have an inherited cancer predisposition syndrome. About 205 participants will complete the questionnaire, give…

This study looks at whether a structured conversation between doctors and patients helps people with severe aortic stenosis make a better choice between two heart valve treatments: TAVR (a less invasive procedure) or SAVR (open-heart surgery). About 140 patients aged 70 and older…

This study aims to make magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) — a technique similar to MRI — more sensitive and reliable for measuring natural chemicals in the body. Researchers will test new scanning methods in about 100 healthy volunteers, including during sleep or after exerci…

This study follows 400 women aged 40-60 to see if hormone replacement therapy (HRT) changes how often or how severely they get respiratory infections like colds or flu. Participants wear a smartwatch to track health signals, and researchers will use that data to build a model tha…

This study looks at whether having surgery to remove a returning glioblastoma brain tumor helps people live longer and feel better compared to skipping surgery. About 120 adults whose cancer came back after standard treatment will be randomly assigned to either have surgery plus …

This study looks at whether doing core muscle exercises right after abdominal surgery can prevent incisional hernias and long-term pain. About 588 adults having abdominal surgery will be randomly assigned to either standard care or a core exercise program. The goal is to see if e…

This study watches 40,000 adults in European hospitals to see what problems happen when doctors help them breathe during anesthesia. It records patient details and any breathing-tube issues to find ways to make anesthesia safer. No new treatments or drugs are tested—just careful …

This study watches how the eyes of 50 people with wet age-related macular degeneration respond to a higher dose (8mg) of the drug Eylea during the first two months. Researchers use eye scans to measure fluid changes and vision improvements. The goal is to understand early treatme…