About us

Founding of the SWICOS study

Foundation in 2013

SWICOS-Study

On October 17, 2013, the SWICOS study was founded by Prof. Dr. med. Paul Erne, Dr. med. Franco Muggli, Prof. Dr. med. Paolo Suter, Dr. med. Renate Schoenenberger-Berzins, and Prof. Dr. med. Andreas Schoenenberger in Cama/Lostallo GR.

In the picture: Prof. Dr. med. Paul Erne, Prof. Dr. med. Paolo Suter, Dr. med. Renate Schoenenberger-Berzins, Dr. med. Franco Muggli. Prof. Dr. med. Andreas Schoenenberger served
as the photographer).

2013 - 2015

The years 2013 to 2015 were dedicated to preparing the study This included drafting the study protocol, obtaining approval from the Ethics Committee, developing questionnaires and consent forms, as well as preparing the local infrastructure, including organizing facilities and equipment. On April 13, 2015, the first study participants were examined. By 2018, a total of 496 participants had been recruited for the study.

Until 2022

Over the years, the Steering Committee expanded to include Prof. Dr. med. Augusto Gallino, Dr. med. Dragana Radovanovic, and Prof. Dr. med. Gianfranco Parati.

From the beginning, it was planned to conduct the study at a second location alongside Cama/Lostallo GR. In 2020, thanks to the commitment of Dr. med. Martin Kraus and Dr. med. Olivier Kappeler from Weinfelden TG, as well as Dr. med. Mathias Wenger, Dr. med. Jürg Zuber, Dr. med. Annina Gerber, and Dr. med. Steffi Wild from Islikon TG, a second location was established. On February 17, 2022, the Inaugural Meeting of SWICOS TG took place, and Dr. med. Martin Kraus joined the Steering Committee.

The Steering Committee

Dr. med. Martin Kraus

Cardiology FMH
Cardiology Weinfelden
Rathausstr. 11
8570 Weinfelden

Prof. Dr. med. Augusto Gallino

Cardiovascular Research Unit
Dip. Medicina Interna
ORBV Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale
6500 Bellinzona

Prof. Dr. med. Paolo Suter

Clinic for Endocrinology, Diabetology and Clinical Nutrition
University Hospital
8091 Zürich

Dr. med. Dragana Radovanovic

SWICOS Collaboratrice
Faculty of Biomedical Science (Facoltà di scienze biomediche)
Università della Svizzera italiana
Via La Santa 1
6900 Lugano

Dr. med. Franco Muggli

Medicina interna generale Medici
spec. FMH in medicina interna riceve su appuntamento
Via ai Platani 4
6943 Vezia

Prof. Dr. med. Andreas Schoenenberger

Chief physician
Medical clinic
Cantonal Hospital Münsterlingen
Spitalcampus 1
8596 Münsterlingen

Dr. med. Renate Schoenenberger-Berzins

Specialist in cardiology and general internal medicine FMH
Senior Physician Cardiology
Heart Center
Lucerne Cantonal Hospital
Spitalstrasse
6000 Luzern 16

Prof. Dr. med. Gianfranco Parati

Honorary Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Milano-Bicocca.
Scientific Director and Head of Cardiology Department, Istituto Auxologico Italiano, IRCCS, San Luca Hospital, Milan, Italy
President Elect, World Hypertension League.
Chairperson, Council on Hypertension, European Society of Cardiology
San Luca Hospital
Piazzale Brescia, 20
20149 Milano
Italy

At the end of 2022, Prof. Dr. med. Paul Erne stepped down from the Steering Committee He was a founding member of the SWICOS study and significantly shaped it from the beginning. The fact that the SWICOS study was established and is still ongoing is owed to him.