The Swiss Academy of Medical Sciences (SAMS) is a network that provides a wide range of services, resources, and information. Their main arms of service include publications, projects, and ethics. Their publications cover a wide berth, from guidelines and handbooks to position papers and annual reports. With their projects A-Z, they also oversee various initiatives in scientific and health-focused research that include programs for young talents in clinical research, palliative care, and funding for national MD-PhD grants. Particular attention is given to the ethics of medical research, with guidelines and committees dedicated to scrutinizing and understanding the implications of medical research and practice.
One main arm of the SAMS is the Swiss Personalized Health Network (SPHN). The SPHN takes up the vital role of coordinating the development of infrastructures for the ethical use of health-related data in Swiss research. A recent Academies report shines a light on the future requirements for sustaining the data infrastructures and coordination work set to continue beyond the life of the initiative, which ends in 2024. This comprehensive report outlines how the continuation of the SPHN Data Coordination Center (SPHN-DCC), along with the non-central support structures at the university hospitals and universities, can be assured in the future.
The Swiss Academy of Medical Sciences, along with its primary functionary, the SPHN, serves a important role in shaping and steering the direction of medical research in Switzerland. It provides significant aid in the coordination of valuable resources. However, it also goes the extra mile to focus on the ethical implications and considerations of such expansive research, a key factor in ensuring the validity, applicability, and safety of substantial large-scale medical research projects. Therefore, it serves as an essential cornerstone for Swiss medical research, playing a important role at the confluence of medical research, ethics, and the personalization of healthcare.
