Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine (ISPM)

Research Group: Sexual and Reproductive Health

The Sexual and Reproductive Health Research Group investigates sexually transmitted infections, reproductive tract infections, sexuality, sexual behaviour and practices, and contraception. We are involved in studies about the aetiology, epidemiology, prevention and control, diagnosis, and social and cultural aspects of these topics in Switzerland, Europe, and internationally.

Group members

Group leader

Name / Titel: Low Nicola, Prof. Dr. med., MSc FFPH
Funktion: Head of Research Group
Mail: nicola.low@ispm.unibe.ch

Phone: +41 31 684 30 92

Group members

Name / Titel: Althaus Christian L., PD PhD
Funktion: Head of Research Group
Mail: christian.althaus@ispm.unibe.ch

Phone: +41 31 684 56 71

Name / Titel: Buitrago Garcia Diana, Msc
Funktion: PhD Student
Mail: diana.buitragogarcia@ispm.unibe.ch

Phone: +41 31 684 56 77

Egger Matthias, Prof. Dr. med., MSc FFPH DTM&H

Name / Titel: Egger Matthias, Prof. Dr. med., MSc FFPH DTM&H
Funktion: Head of Research Group
Mail: matthias.egger@ispm.unibe.ch

Phone: +41 31 684 35 01

Name / Titel: Gigi Ranjana, Msc
Funktion: PhD Student
Mail: ranjana.gigi@ispm.unibe.ch

Name / Titel: Heron Leonie, PhD
Funktion: Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Mail: leonie.heron@ispm.unibe.ch

Phone: +41 31 684 56 76

Name / Titel: Hodel Eva Maria, PhD
Funktion: Project Manager BEready
Mail: evamaria.hodel@ispm.unibe.ch

Phone: +41 31 684 55 76

Name / Titel: Riou Julien, PhD, MD
Funktion: Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Mail: julien.riou@ispm.unibe.ch

Phone: +41 31 684 55 67

Name / Titel: Zwahlen Marcel, Prof., PhD
Funktion: Director a.i.
Mail: marcel.zwahlen@ispm.unibe.ch

Phone: +41 31 684 35 54

External collaborators

Dutch National Institute of Public Health, The Netherlands
(Prof. Mirjam Kretzschmar, Dr. Janneke Heijne, Dr. Hans Bogaards)

Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Australia
(Prof. David Regan)

Swiss Federal Office of Public Health
(Dr. Anne Spaar, Dr. Mark Witschi, Dr. Sabine Basler)

University College London, UK
(Dr. Catherine Mercer, Dr. Pam Sonnenberg, Prof. Sarah Hawkes)

University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
(Prof. Jane Hocking)

World Health Organization
(Dr. Nathalie Broutet)

Journal club

Journal club on infectious diseases

Dates: 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month (there are some exceptions, see list
Time & place: 12:30 – 13:30, Seminar Room (Room 606, Finkenhubelweg 11, Bern)
Goal: To promote interesting and informative discussions of recent papers covering the fields of modelling, epidemiology, biostatistics or public health research, with a focus on infectious diseases.
Presenters: please see the list in the corresponding flyer on the Courses for PhD students page

Ongoing projects

COVID-19 living evidence
(Diana Buitrago-Garcia, Michel Counotte, Dianne Egli-Gany, Stefanie Hossmann, Hira Imeri, Mert Aziz Ipekci, Nicola Low, Georgia Salanti)
Political prioritisation of the prevention and control of sexually transmitted infections: a global challenge
(Dianne Egli-Gany, Nicola Low)
- Political prioritisation of the prevention and control of sexually transmitted infections: a global challenge
Trends in the use of diagnostic test modalities for Neisseria gonorrhoeae detection in Switzerland
(Dianne Egli-Gany, Nicola Low)
Zika virus: causality, open science and risks of emerging infectious diseases (Zika Open Access Project, zika.ispm.unibe.ch)
(Michel Counotte, Dianne Egli-Gany, Hira Imeri, Nicola Low, Katayoun Taghavi)
Related publications:
Chlamydia Rapid Test project
(Nicola Low)
Cochrane Collaboration Sexually Transmitted Infections Review Group: Partner notification strategies for sexually transmitted infections, including HIV
(Nicola Low)
Identifying and implementing appropriate and effective public policy responses for improving the sexual health of migrants and refugees
(Dianne Egli-Gany, Nicola Low)
- Occupational health outcomes among international migrant workers
Improving neonatal and infant outcomes using point-of-care tests for sexually transmitted infections in high prevalence settings (wantaim.org)
(Dianne Egli-Gany, Nicola Low)
Related publication:
- Adverse pregnancy and neonatal outcomes associated with Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Mycoplasma genitalium, M. hominis, Ureaplasma urealyticum and U. parvum: a systematic review and meta-analysis protocol
- Point-of-care testing and treatment of sexually transmitted infections to improve birth outcomes in high-burden, low-income settings: Study protocol for a cluster randomized crossover trial (the WANTAIM Trial, Papua New Guinea)
The influence of case management on the burden of antibiotic resistant gonorrhoea: patient and provider perspectives
(Nicola Low)
Related publication:
- Epidemiological, behavioural, and clinical factors associated with antimicrobial-resistant gonorrhoea: a review
LUSTRUM: Limiting Undetected Sexually Transmitted infections to RedUce Morbidity (www.lustrum.org.uk)
(Nicola Low, Christian Althaus)
Individual patient data meta-analysis of sexually transmitted infection epidemiology in sub Saharan African women
(Nicola Low)
Related publication:
- Prevalence of sexually transmitted infections and bacterial vaginosis among women in sub-Saharan Africa: An individual participant data meta-analysis of 18 HIV prevention studies

(Please note that only members of staff of ISPM Bern are listed.)

Completed projects

Epidemiology and Mathematical Modelling for Infection Control (EpideMMIC)
RADAR-Go: Rapid Diagnosis of Antibiotic Resistance in Gonorrhoea
Vaccination schedules for HPV vaccine
- Two-dose schedules for human papillomavirus vaccine: Systematic review and meta-analysis
CIN3+plus: Human papillomavirus-associated cervical neoplasia in Switzerland at the start of a national vaccination programme: cross-sectional study
- BAG-Bulletin 06/17
- Human papillomavirus genotype distribution and socio-behavioural characteristics in women with cervical precancer and cancer at the start of a human papillomavirus vaccination programme: the CIN3+ plus study
Screening for Chlamydia Review in Europe (SCREen)
- Review of chlamydia control activities in EU countries
UK National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence reviews of partner notification and chlamydia screening
- Rapid review of chlamydia screening
- Rapid review of partner notification
ClaSS project: Chlamydia screening studies project
- The Chlamydia Screening Studies project report
- www.chlamydia.co.uk
STI surveillance in Switzerland
- Clinical settings and specialities notifying cases of bacterial sexually transmitted infections in Switzerland
Clinical and cost-effectiveness of technologies for testing and treating sexual partners of people with sexually transmitted infections: Evidence synthesis and mathematical modelling study
- Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of traditional and new partner notification technologies for curable sexually transmitted infections: observational study, systematic reviews and mathematical modelling
Sexual and reproductive ill health in Switzerland European Partner Notification Project (EuroPN)
- Public health benefits of partner notification for sexually transmitted infections and HIV
Independent patient data meta-analysis of studies of HIV and sexually transmitted infections
- Intravaginal Practices, Bacterial Vaginosis, and HIV Infection in Women: Individual Participant Data Metaanalysis
- Hormonal contraception and HIV acquisition and link to publication
Measles Aerosol Vaccine Project
- A Randomized, Controlled Trial of an Aerosolized Vaccine against Measles
Chlamydia Control in Europe
- Genital Chlamydia Prevalence in Europe and Non-European High Income Countries: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis