Abstract architectural collaboration space
The Initiative

About Bits to
Breakthroughs

Bits to Breakthroughs brings together clinicians, data scientists and other stakeholders working across health, medicine and data. The initiative exists to create space for people with different expertise to work through shared research questions, exchange experience and find practical ways to move from data to useful outcomes.

Team discussing data
Our Mission

Bringing complementary expertise together.

Health and biomedical research increasingly depends on data, but working with that data brings together different disciplines, methods and ways of thinking.

Bits to Breakthroughs creates a space for those perspectives to meet. The aim is to make it easier for people working with clinical data, data science and related fields to communicate, share what they have learned and work on questions together.

The focus is not simply on collecting more data or developing new methods. It is on understanding how those things can be used to answer meaningful research questions and contribute to better outcomes.

Scientific Focus

From clinical data to research outcomes.

Bits to Breakthroughs explores the different stages between a clinical question and a useful research outcome.

The initiative brings together clinical knowledge, health data, data science and methodological expertise to examine how these pieces can work together.

Earlier editions have focused on sepsis and infectiology, while the programme has evolved to explore questions around observational data, causal study design, data modelling and artificial intelligence.

The Bits to Breakthroughs approach:

Stage 01

From Reality to Bits

Turning clinical reality and observations into data that can be used for research.

Stage 02

From Bits to Data Science

Working with data and methods to understand patterns and answer research questions.

Stage 03

From Data Science to Breakthrough

Using analysis and modelling to develop new insights and approaches.

Stage 04

From Breakthrough to Reality

Connecting research outcomes back to clinical practice.

Organisers

The people behind
Bits to Breakthroughs.

Catherine Jutzeler

Assistant Professor of Biomedical Data Science, ETH Zürich

Catherine Jutzeler contributes expertise in biomedical data science and helps shape the scientific direction of Bits to Breakthroughs.

Olga Endrich

PI SPHN DEM Project INFRA, Insel Group

Olga Endrich contributes expertise in health data infrastructure and the Swiss Personalized Health Network ecosystem.

Luregn Schlapbach

Head of Department of Intensive Care and Neonatology, University Children's Hospital Zürich

Luregn Schlapbach contributes clinical and research expertise in intensive care, neonatology and sepsis.

Oskana Riba Grognuz

Head of ORD Engagement & Services, Swiss Data Science Center

Oskana Riba Grognuz contributes expertise in open research data and engagement across data-driven research.

Natalie Breitschmid

Independent Experience Designer, Sinodus AG

Natalie Breitschmid contributes experience in designing collaborative formats and experiences that help people work together.

Collaborators

Working across organisations and disciplines.

Bits to Breakthroughs brings together people and organisations from clinical research, biomedical data science, health data infrastructure and related fields.

The initiative has been supported by:

  • University of Zurich (UZH)
  • Bern Center for Microbiology and Systems Medicine (BMDS)
  • Personalized Health and Related Technologies (PHRT)
  • Swiss Personalized Health Network (SPHN)
  • Infectious Diseases and Sepsis Center (IDSC)

Have a question or want to get involved?

Get in touch with the organisers to learn more about the initiative, partnership opportunities, or upcoming events.

Contact Organisers