Interfaculty Research Cooperations
The internal funding instrument "Interfaculty Research Collaborations" (IFC) supported collaborative projects from different disciplines to strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration and networking in the University of Bern's five priority topics.
Over a period of six years (2018-2024), the University invested more than CHF 20 million in three IFC: "Decoding Sleep", "One Health" and "Religious Conflicts & Coping Strategies". This funding enabled valuable networks to be established – both within the University and with national and international partners. You can find a summary of the project outcomes in the final reports below.
Decoding Sleep: From Neurons to Health and Mind
The Decoding Sleep IFC investigated the mechanisms of sleep, consciousness and cognition across the three areas "brain – mind – body". The interdisciplinary approach was important in understanding the role of sleep in brain function, physical performance and mental health.
Priority area
"Health and Medicine"
Lead
Prof. Dr. med. Claudio Bassetti, Department of Neurology
Prof. Dr. Fred Mast, Institute of Psychology
Participating faculties
Participating groups
13 research groups from the fields: infectiology, informatics, neurology, physiology, pneumology, psychiatry and psychotherapy, psychology
One Health: Cascading and Microbiome-Dependent Effects on Multitrophic Health
The One Health IFC investigated the effects of pesticides, heavy metals and plant toxins on microbial communities at the interfaces between soil, plants, animals and humans. The interdisciplinary approach was crucial to understanding how environmental changes impact the health of food chains.
Priority topics
"Sustainability" and "Health and Medicine"
Lead
Prof. Dr. Matthias Erb, Institute of Plant Sciences
Prof. Dr. Andrew Macpherson, Department for BioMedical Research
Participating faculties
Participating groups
9 research groups from the groups: bioinformatics, environmental sciences, human medicine, microbiology, plant and animal health
Religious Conflicts and Coping Strategies
The Religious Conflicts IFC investigated past and current religious conflicts and coping strategies to develop models that examine the various contributing factors. The interdisciplinary approach was important to link economic, social, psychological, cultural and political perspectives.
Priority areas
"Intercultural Knowledge" and "Sustainability"
Lead
Prof. Dr. Katharina Heyden, Institute of Historical Theology
Prof. Dr. Martino Mona, Institute for Penal Law and Criminology
Participating groups
12 research groups from the fields: history, Islamic studies, Jewish studies, law, literature, media and communication studies, philosophy, political science, psychology, religious studies, sociology, theology as well as the Interdisciplinary Centre for Gender Studies