Longitudinal studies

Platforms for the promotion of translational and clinical research

Grants for multi-centric, population-based and disease-oriented studies with a longitudinal design (longitudinal studies) were given to research groups in Switzerland. The SNSF contribution complements funding of the host institutions and depends on the size of the study. As a rule, it may not exceed CHF 2 million per year.

  • Details

    Dropdown Icon

    Longitudinal studies help to establish research infrastructures dedicated to a topic of high relevance to the Swiss health system. Studies of this nature make it possible to collect and evaluate population-based and disease-related data over a long time period.

    ​They explore a scientific question which may only be answered using a longitudinal approach over a time period that exceeds the funding periods stipulated in the SNSF project funding.

  • Currently supported longitudinal studies

    Dropdown Icon

    ​Swiss HIV Cohort Study (SHCS)

    Main applicant: Huldrych Fritz Günthard

    The SHCS, established in 1988, is a longitudinal study enrolling HIV-infected individuals in Switzerland. It is a collaboration of all Swiss University Hospitals, smaller hospitals and private physicians. 75% of all antiretroviral treated persons in Switzerland participate. The major goal is to conduct research to optimize patient care, reduce HIV transmission and study HIV pathogenesis.

    Swiss Transplant Cohort Study (STCS)

    Main applicant: Jürg Ulrich Steiger

    The Swiss Transplant Cohort Study (STCS) has become a tool for research and reporting in Swiss transplantation medicine. The STCS provides high-quality data and a network infrastructure for clinical and translational researchers to advance innovation and improve outcome of patients with solid organ transplantation.

    Cohort study on Substance Use Risk Factors (C-SURF)

    Main applicant: Gerhard Gmel

    C-SURF investigates factors that influence behaviors related to the use of licit and illicit substances as well as other addictive behaviors such as gaming and gambling during the transition into adulthood, as well as the consequences of these behaviors on physical and mental health.

    Swiss Atrial Fibrillation Cohort Study (SAFCS)

    Main applicant: Stefan Osswald

    The Swiss-AF cohort is an interdisciplinary research platform aiming to describe risk factors and morphological correlates for cognitive decline and dementia among patients with atrial fibrillation, the most common cardiac arrhythmia in the general population.

    SAPALDIA Cohort on Healthy Aging (SAPALDIA)

    Main applicant: Nicole Probst-Hensch

    SAPALDIA is a Swiss-wide population-based longitudinal study established in 1991. The third follow-up aims to enrich longitudinally collected risk factors (personal; environmental), health phenotypes (respiratory; cardio-metabolic) and biomarker data (blood; genetic; DNA methylation) to improve understanding of biological aging.

    Swiss Inflammatory Bowel Disease Cohort Study (SIBDCS)

    Main applicant: Gerhard Rogler

    The Swiss IBD Cohort Study (SIBDCS) is an association of Swiss gastroenterologists aiming at better understanding the causes and triggers of inflammatory bowel disease, identifying the concerns of those affected with the ultimate goal of improving their medical care.

    The Swiss Hepatitis C Cohort Study (SCCS)

    Main applicant: Francesco Negro

    The Swiss Hepatitis C Cohort Study (SCCS) collects prospective data of ~5,000 persons infected with the hepatitis C virus (HCV). It functions as an infrastructure and investigative network fostering clinical and biomedical research on the natural history, pathogenesis and treatment of hepatitis C at a national level.

    The Swiss National Cohort 2.0: a platform for longitudinal research in Switzerland (SNC)

    Main applicant: Matthias Egger

    The Swiss National Cohort (SNC) has anonymously linked census records with mortality data of the Swiss resident population since 1990. SNC research covers a wide array of public health issues, especially when combined with other cohorts and environmental data.

    Cardiovascular diseases and psychiatric disorders in the general population: a prospective follow-up study (Psy-CoLaus)

    Main applicant: Martin Preisig

    CoLaus¦PsyCoLaus is a prospective longitudinal study of 6734 35 to 75 year-old subjects randomly selected from 2003 to 2006 in the general population of Lausanne. Its major goal is to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the comorbidity between mental disorders and cardiovascular risk factors or diseases.

  • Participation requirements

    Dropdown Icon

    ​You can find the detailed participation requirements in the regulations.

  • How To

    Dropdown Icon

    Submission of proposals

    Evaluation procedure

    The evaluation ensured that the study can serve as a research platform for national and international research projects and that the data of the study is accessible for third-party research projects. Preconditions for this scientific exchange are that data is collected, analysed and secured according to international standards.

  • Documents

    Dropdown Icon
  • Panel Longitudinal Studies

    Dropdown Icon

    The list contains the names of the members of the evaluation body Panel Longitudinal Studies. For the SNSF, interaction between applicants and members of evaluation bodies over applications is not compatible with academic best practices.

  • Previously supported longitudinal studies

    Dropdown Icon

    The Swiss Venous Thromboembolism Cohort 65+ (SWITCO-65+)

    Main applicant: Drahomir Aujesky

    The objective of the SWIss Venous Thromboembolism COhort (SWITCO) 65+, a multicenter prospective longitudinal study, is to examine long-term outcomes and quality of life of 1003 elderly patients with acute venous thromboembolism.