A new cohort of innovative UniBE Venture Fellows

As the Venture Fellowship program at the University of Bern welcomes its fourth cohort, the program also grows. For the first time the Innovation Office of the University of Bern welcomes five new scientists who will start their Fellowships in the coming months with the goal to transfer knowledge and novel technologies into economy and society. They were chosen out of 11 applicants who applied in December 2024.

Hang Gander-Bui: A novel treatment for fungal sepsis

Fungal sepsis claims 500,000 lives annually, with limited treatment options and rising drug resistance. The prevalence of invasive fungal infections is even increasing due to an aging population and a higher number of immunocompromised patients, while emerging drug resistances limit the efficacy of the available antifungal strategies. Hang Gander-Bui, post-doctoral researcher at the Institute of Tissue Medicine and Pathology, tackles this problem with a new approach: instead of targeting the fungus directly, her novel treatment intervenes in the inflammatory response to reactivate the body’s own immune defenses. In preclinical models, this therapy significantly improved survival, offering a lifeline where antifungals fall short. This project aims to harness the body’s immune system to address the rising demand for effective, resistance-proof solutions for fungal sepsis.

Hanspeter Hess: Better outcomes for shoulder injuries

Hanspeter Hess, post-doctoral researcher at the AI in Orthopaedics Group, and his project Aikeso are set to transform orthopedic care with the first MRI-based diagnostic and planning system for rotator cuff tears (RCTs). RCTs are among the most common shoulder injuries and often require surgical repair. However, RCT surgeries have high failure rates, partly due to limited imaging insights.
Aikeso’s AI-powered software creates precise 3D shoulder models from standard MRI scans – eliminating the need for radiation-heavy CT imaging. The software streamlines diagnosis and treatment planning, helping surgeons make more informed decisions and potentially reducing failure rates. The UniBE Venture Fellowship will help the team finalize development, navigate regulatory pathways, and build strategic partnerships – accelerating their journey to market and improving patient care worldwide.

Valentina Huwiler: A chewing gum for weight loss

Overweight and its related health issues are a growing global concern, affecting 56% of the people in Europe and 74% in the US. The economic burden in the US alone reaches USD 1.7 trillion annually. The gut microbiota plays an important role in weight management, with research showing that microbial diversity loss is linked to overweight conditions. Valentina Huwiler, Post-Doc at the Institute for Infectious Diseases used this knowledge to develop FaibaGum, a novel chewing gum enriched with dietary fibers. FaibaGum addresses the problem by promoting weight loss through gut health restoration. The gum aims at reducing snacking, supports oral health, and encourages mindful eating.

Samuel Knobel: An egg to improve fine motor skills

Imagine struggling to lock the door of your flat, type on your keybord or chop vegetables – everyday tasks that are challenging for around 300,000 people in Switzerland due to neurological conditions, aging, or injuries that affect fine motor skills. Samuel Knobel, researcher at the ARTORG Center for Biomedical Engineering Research, aims to change that by developing an innovative rehabilitation solution that combines advanced sensors and smart software for personalized, feedback-driven training. DextEgg is a handheld egg-shaped device designed for both clinical and home use. It not only adapts to each patient’s progress but also enables healthcare professionals to monitor results and fine-tune treatments.

Amith Kamath: Revolutionizing radiotherapy

Almost 50% of all cancer patients undergo some form of radiotherapy during their treatment. ContourAid aims to revolutionize radiotherapy by streamlining the treatment planning process with AI. Currently, contouring, where radiation oncologists manually draw contours around tumors and healthy structures, and treatment planning based on these contours are slow and repetitive, delaying care and adding to clinician workloads. Amith Kamath, PhD Student at the ARTORG Center for Biomedical Engineering Research, is attempting to solve this by combining automated contouring and its quality assurance with real-time dose prediction – a first-of-its-kind platform that aims to speed up planning tenfold while enhancing safety and treatment accuracy. With 19 million new cancer cases annually and a growing radiotherapy market, the demand for faster, more efficient solutions is urgent.