“We want to make a difference” – the Johanna Dürmüller-Bol DBMR Research Award supports outstanding researchers in biomedicine

In brief #

Every summer, the Department for BioMedical Research (DBMR) hosts the Day of
Biomedical Research. Since 1996, researchers and students of the University of Bern working in biomedicine have met on this day at the Inselspital to present their work and findings to one another. The event has thus become an important platform for exchange and networking among biomedical researchers. Outstanding achievements are also honoured – among others with the Johanna Dürmüller-Bol DBMR Research Award, which was presented for the 13th time this year. The UniBE Foundation was there to find out what makes this day so special.

As successful as Roger Federer #

Success in science resembles the path of a tennis star like Roger Federer. It is not about delivering an excellent individual performance from time to time; rather, good or even very good results have to be produced consistently. This is exactly how Roger Federer won the world over: he impressed with his consistent performance, which made him a tennis star despite a win rate of “only” just over 50%. Perseverance and consistency are crucial for success, whether in sport
or in science. With this striking comparison, Prof. Dr. Marc Rubin, Director
of the Department for BioMedical Research (DBMR), welcomes the audience to the afternoon programme of the Day of Biomedical Research 2024.

This afternoon, prizes for outstanding achievements are awarded to young researchers to support them on their way to becoming the Roger Federer of biomedicine. The Johanna Dürmüller-Bol DBMR Research Award is one of these prizes. It honours promising projects in clinical research and supports young researchers with prize money of CHF 30,000. This award opens doors for early-career researchers. It was created in collaboration between the Fondation Johanna Dürmüller-Bol and the Department for BioMedical Research of the University of Bern. We now want to find out what relevance this award has for the Fondation Johanna Dürmüller-Bol as well as for the University of Bern and the Inselspital.

An award with tradition #

The Johanna Dürmüller-Bol DBMR Research Award was first presented in 2012, when it was still called the “Inselspital Research Prize”. Since then, it has been an integral part of the Day of Biomedical Research and a central pillar for the Fondation Johanna Dürmüller-Bol. Marc Stucki, Managing Director and Secretary General of the foundation, tells us that in the area of “Medicine and Care”, the Inselspital together with the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Bern is by far the foundation’s most important beneficiary, both in qualitative and quantitative terms. “In this respect, the Johanna Dürmüller-Bol DBMR Research Award is one of our most important and also most rewarding means of communication with the Inselspital, the Faculty of Medicine – in particular the students and the non-professorial academic staff – and the public,” says Stucki. Over the past twelve years, a total of twelve researchers have been honoured, the majority of them women. Today, the thirteenth award ceremony is about to take place.

The award ceremony #

Before the short presentations begin, Marc Stucki welcomes the audience and the five shortlisted nominees. In his speech, the Managing Director and Secretary General draws attention to the significance of the award and emphasises that the foundation strives to make a tangible difference. “We want to make a difference” was one of the guiding principles of the founder Johanna Dürmüller-Bol, who died in 2004. The foundation follows this motto in two respects, Stucki explains. On the one hand, the financial support is intended to promote projects of great value to society; on the other, the support aims to bring about sustainable career development for the researchers. The foundation is keen that its contributions are more than just “a drop in the ocean” – they should bring about long-term change.

The speech is followed by the so-called lightning talks, in which the five nominees have the opportunity to convince the jury and the audience of themselves and their research project. This year, according to the jury, the decision is particularly difficult. The projects are all thoroughly convincing. Inspired by this year’s Olympic Games, three of the five nominees receive awards, but only one person can win the Johanna Dürmüller-Bol DBMR Research Award. This year, it is Dr Andrea Felser. She conducts research in paediatrics and investigates how an excess of androgens produced by the adrenal glands can lead to considerable health problems in women. This overproduction can cause reproductive as well as metabolic problems. Even in children, it can lead to serious health issues. However, the causes and mechanisms behind it have not yet been fully investigated. Dr Andrea Felser aims to close this knowledge gap with her research. The prize money makes it possible to continue the research project – but what does this award mean for her further scientific career?

We asked Marc Stucki where – apart from the financial aspect – the value of the award lies for young researchers. Marc Stucki reports that the foundation actively follows the careers of the award-winning researchers in the media and at the Inselspital, and that he occasionally receives feedback: “So far, the feedback and press reports have been highly impressive; the Johanna Dürmüller DBMR Research Award has consistently proved to be a catalyst or springboard, both at the researchers’ home alma mater and nationally or internationally.” Thanks to its excellent reputation, the award actively helps young researchers to broaden their career opportunities.

The end of the afternoon #

The afternoon at the Inselspital is drawing to a close. At the closing apéro, many faces are beaming, and lively conversations revolve around the day’s contributions. After the event, Marc Stucki shares his enthusiasm with us: “We are always impressed by the quality of the Day of Biomedical Research. The short presentations, the keynotes and the poster exhibition are outstanding every year. That is why the Johanna Dürmüller-Bol DBMR Research Award is of great importance to our work as a foundation.” Stucki, who has missed the event only twice over all these years, also expressed his admiration for the students and young researchers: “Every time, I have been very impressed by the students and young researchers, whether award winners or ‘merely’ presenting their posters – by the way they explained their research topics and results to me, as a medical layperson, in a consistently understandable and exciting manner. With the award winners, I was also touched by their modesty and their fairness towards their fellow competitors.” Mutual respect is also palpable at this year’s Day of Biomedical Research. The appreciative atmosphere is infectious. Satisfied and with many new impressions, we leave the Inselspital, inspired by a fascinating day of biomedical research.