History
July 6, 2022
Seminar- Refining Paediatric Treatments for All
The BRCCH hosted a hybrid seminar with the speakers:
- Prof Thomas Erb (UKBB) spoke on how to reduce the risk associated with the use of mechanical ventilation in children, and the efforts to improve competence in paediatric anaesthesia in Switzerland.
- Dr Marianne Schmid Daners (ETH Zurich) provided an overview of the challenges of paediatric hydrocephalus treatment.
- Prof Kokila Lakhoo (University of Oxford) presented her work in low- and middle-income countries on providing surgical treatments to children in need.
MORE.
May 24, 2022
Panel Discussion: Impact of COVID-19 on Global Paediatric Health
On May 24th 2022, a panel of experts discussed the consequences that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on global paediatric health: 1. decreased access to vital child healthcare services like newborn care and immunisation, 2. increased poverty, 3. more nutritional and physical activity deprivation, 4. mental impairment and 5. compromised learning and loss of a caregiver.
Panel members included Prof Yvonne Maldonado (Stanford University, USA), Prof Alan Stein (University of Oxford, UK), Dr Marc Birkhölzer (University of Basel, Switzerland) and Prof Thomas Berger (Secretary and Chief Medical Advisor at NEO FOR NAMIBIA). Prof Julia Dratva (Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW) & University of Basel, Switzerland) moderated.
May 24, 2022
ECP workshop – “Understanding Key Needs in Global Paediatric Health”
The workshop lecture was given by Prof Yvonne Maldonado (Stanford University, USA). Early career researchers involved in BRCCH-funded projects learned about the particularities and challenges of conducting translational research in paediatric health. Participants also gained perspective on the biggest medical gaps in paediatric health today across high-, middle- and low-income countries. MORE
May 18, 2022
Six Research Projects Launch Within Principal Investigator Initiative
The BRCCH announced six research projects within its initiative, Principal Investigator Initiative (PII). The PII aims to drive interdisciplinary research that addresses critical challenges in global paediatric health and medicine. MORE.
April 27, 2022
Webinar- Community-based COVID-19 Testing in Lesotho and Zambia
The BRCCH hosted a webinar “Community-based COVID-19 Testing in Lesotho and Zambia” highlighting the research progress of the collaborative project between Dr Kwame Shanaube (Zambart) and Dr Klaus Reither (Swiss TPH) on the effects of community-led interventions in mitigating the COVID-19 epidemics in Lesotho and Zambia. MORE.
April 7, 2022
ECP workshop – “How to Establish Fair and Equitable Global Research Partnerships”
The workshop “How to establish fair and equitable global research partnerships” was given by Dr Fabian Käser (Head of Commission for Research Partnerships with Developing Countries, KFPE) and Jonas Karlström (Product Innovation Health Specialist, UNICEF). Early career researchers involved in BRCCH-funded projects learnt about the key principles of cross-border research partnerships, analysed their application through a real-life case and discussed how to implement effective collaborations for their own research. The workshop was followed by an apero where the participants and speakers could interact in a casual atmosphere. MORE
October 14, 2021
ECP workshop – “How to Communicate in Multi-cultural Settings”
To develop and support the community of early career researchers engaged in BRCCH projects, the BRCCH established an Early Career Programme that offers lectures and workshops to gain know‐how that is adapted to the Centre’s mandate.
The first workshop took place online on 14th October and was given by Mark Moser (formerly secretary-general of the International Blue Cross). MORE
July 2, 2021
New Research Part of Postdoctoral Excellence Programme
The BRCCH announced five research projects within its initiative, Postdoctoral Excellence Programme (PEP). The programme aims to foster the next generation of scientific leaders who will pursue interdisciplinary and step-changing research to address critical unmet needs and challenges in global paediatric health. MORE.
May 4, 2021
BRCCH Plans Physical Home by 2025
The Canton Basel-Stadt will build a new research building next to the Basel life sciences campus Schällemätteli for future BRCCH-funded professorships. The building, which will be completed by 2025, will host 4-5 research groups which will all have a focus on innovative paediatric research in the scope of the Centre. With its first physical home and the Centre’s strong partnerships in Basel and Zürich, the BRCCH will continue to establish a paediatric research community with fruitful roots in Switzerland and a genuine global outlook to address child health challenges world-wide. Read the full press release (in German) on Kanton Basel-Stadt’s website.
February 8, 2021
New Joint Initiative with EDCTP
The BRCCH and the European & Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP) support three multi-institutional, multi-country collaborations for research to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 with aims to improve the surveillance and management of the pandemic. The projects are a result of a synergistic collaboration between the organisations to drive interdisciplinary efforts to combat global health challenges. MORE.
September 2, 2020
Webinars- Insight into COVID-19 Research
The BRCCH hosted a 3-part webinar series “Insights into COVID-19 Research” featuring research presentations by research consortia supported by the BRCCH as well as a discussion panel of experts in global health, epidemiology and public health. Read more HERE.
May 15, 2020
Rapid Response to COVID-19
With the financial support of Fondation Botnar, the BRCCH launched a Fast Track Call for emergency response to the COVID-19 pandemic. 11 research projects were selected for their outstanding science and their potential to deliver rapid and tangible impact to mitigate the novel coronavirus. Read more HERE.
January 30, 2020
First Public Event
The BRCCH welcomed more than 200 attendees to the inaugural Spotlight Day. Over the course of the day, four BRCCH-supported consortia presented their research plans for the next five years and three international keynote speakers gave new perspectives on how translational research for global application. Read more about the event HERE. Image: Drawnalism
April 25, 2019
First Research Programme Launches
In April, the BRCCH began to build its research portfolio with a call for applications to its Multi-Investigator Programme (MIP). The four projects eventually selected by an external review panel form the cornerstones of BRCCH’s research activities. Read more about the MIP 2019 initiative HERE.
January 1, 2019
Operations Start
Operations start at the BRCCH under the academic leadership of Director Georg Holländer and Vice Director Sai Reddy. Together they are responsible for its strategic orientation, initiatives and operations. The directors are supported by a core management team, led by General Manager Patrick Mayrock, in charge of the administration of research calls and evaluations, budgeting and financial control, community-building and public engagement, communications and more.
September 19, 2018
Founding of the BRCCH
The University of Basel and ETH Zurich co-founded the Botnar Research Centre for Child Health (BRCCH) in Basel. They bring together scientists and clinical researchers from a variety of disciplines in order to develop new interventions and solutions for global use in paediatrics. The BRCCH is funded by a CHF 100 million contribution from Fondation Botnar, a separate organisation founded in 2003 in Basel. (Photo: Peter Hauck)
The Idea of the BRCCH
In 2017, Fondation Botnar, the University of Basel and ETH Zurich co-created the concept for the BRCCH. The following persons participated as part of the team responsible for the concept:
- Dr Aline Cossy-Gantner, Chief Learning Officer, Fondation Botnar
- Prof Urs Frey, Medical Director, University Children’s Hospital Basel
- Prof Daniel Müller, Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, Basel, ETH Zurich
- Dr Andrea Huber-Brösamle, Coordinator of the Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zurich
- Hansruedi Müller, Project Manager, University Children’s Hospital Basel
Various partners and institutions supported and contributed to the concept.