The MCID and BEready projects were recently featured in two publications: the University of Bern’s UniAktuell online magazine and the Swiss National Science Foundation’s Horizonte research magazine.
The UniAktuell article, “Local research with a global perspective,” underscores the vital role of local funding—such as the Vinetum Foundation’s support of the MCID—in advancing regionally anchored research to strengthen pandemic preparedness. The BEready team has established a unique Bernese cohort, which includes households and even companion animals, to study infectious disease transmission in real-life contact networks. This localized approach fosters trust, supports long-term participant engagement, ensures social relevance, and serves as a representative model for Switzerland as a whole.
Meanwhile, Horizonte featured the BEready Cohort in its article “After the pandemic is before the pandemic,” highlighting it as the only study of its kind in Europe. Data generated by the cohort will play a crucial role in modelling infection dynamics, providing a robust evidence base for evaluating the effectiveness and necessity of public health interventions. In the event of a future pandemic, the cohort will also enable a rapid response by delivering timely insights into population-level antibody prevalence against emerging pathogens.
Together, the MCID and BEready exemplify how locally rooted yet globally relevant research can generate the knowledge and tools needed to better protect society against future pandemics.
UniAktuell [DE] | [EN]
SNF Horizonte [DE] | [FR] | [EN]
