About Bits to Breakthroughs

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

As Assistant Professor of Biomedical Data Science at ETH Zürich, Catherine helps shape the scientific direction of Bits to Breakthroughs.

Olga Endrich

PI SPHN DEM Project INFRA, Insel Group

Olga brings deep knowledge of 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 grounds the initiative in clinical and research experience across intensive care, neonatology and sepsis.

Oskana Riba Grognuz

Head of ORD Engagement & Services, Swiss Data Science Center

Oskana works on open research data and engagement across data-driven research, connecting the initiative to the wider community.

Natalie Breitschmid

Independent Experience Designer, Sinodus AG

Natalie designs the collaborative formats and experiences that help participants work together on the day.

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: