New endowed professorship to advance digital cancer medicine in Bern

The University of Bern and Inselspital, Bern’s University Hospital, have announced the creation of an endowed professorship in Clinical Cancer Informatics, supported by the Werner and Hedy Berger-Janser Foundation for Cancer Research. Endowed with CHF 2.1 million, the new position will focus on optimizing the use of clinical data from cancer patients and advancing digital medicine in Bern.

Cancer care generates vast amounts of information, from imaging and pathology to laboratory results and treatment records. To unlock the full potential of this “real-world data”, it must be converted into standardized, compatible formats. The new professorship will therefore focus on systematically integrating, managing, and securely storing this data while ensuring compliance with data-protection regulations.

According to Claudio Bassetti, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Bern, a key objective will be to guarantee interoperability between systems and institutions. “This creates a solid foundation for innovative research projects and the development of new digital tools in oncology,” he explains.

A platform for innovation and collaboration

The initiative aligns with the Faculty of Medicine’s digitalization strategy and will strengthen collaboration between the University Departments of Medical Oncology and Radiation Oncology. It also encourages partnerships with external stakeholders in research, industry, and healthcare. “The professorship offers a platform for innovation and supports the development of decision-making tools in clinical practice as well as advances in precision oncology,” says Daniel M. Aebersold, Director of Radiation Oncology at Inselspital.

The assistant professorship will be funded for six years, with an annual grant of CHF 350,000 from the Berger-Janser Foundation. Georges Bindschedler, Chairman of the Foundation’s Board, highlights the goal of driving forward digital medicine and increasing the international visibility of Bern’s cancer research.

Recruitment will be conducted both nationally and internationally, with the position expected to be filled by spring 2027.