Governance
MIDHOS' governance structure is designed to ensure inclusive input, strategic alignment, and effective decision-making across the consortium. At its core, MIDHOS members actively contribute to shaping priorities and initiatives. From within this group, the Steering Committee brings forward relevant topics, ideas, and emerging opportunities that reflect the breadth of expertise across the network.
MIDHOS Strategic Board
The MIDHOS Strategic Board is the central governing body of MeHDI & ORN, responsible for both strategic and administrative leadership. The Board guides the overall strategic direction of MIDHOS, it holds final decision-making authority, provides oversight and ensures alignment with the consortium’s strategic goals. It evaluates proposals and recommendations brought forward by the Steering Committee.
The Strategic Board is co-led by the two principal investigators:
Prof. Dr. med. Britta Maurer is the Director and Chief Physician of the University Clinic for Rheumatology and Immunology (URI) at Inselspital, Universitätsspital Bern, and a full professor of Rheumatology.
Research Profile
Dr. Maurer's translational research focuses on systemic autoimmune diseases, with special emphasis on interstitial lung diseases; she works on developing and applying new molecular-tools, advanced imaging modalities, and AI-based analyses for personalized medicine.
Dr. Maurer's clinic research encompasses the full spectrum of rheumatology, autoimmunity/inflammation, musculoskeletal medicine, and bone metabolism. She is also committed to mentoring young clinical and research staff, promoting diversity, and building strong academic and (inter)national collaborations.
Selected Publications
- Antoniou KM, Distler O, Gheorghiu AM, Moor CC, Vikse J, Bizymi N, Galetti I, Brown G, Bargagli E, Allanore Y, Corte TJ, Dieudé P, Cottin V, Fisher BA, Fabre A, Giles JT, Kreuter M, Lundberg IE, Poletti V, Maurer B, Renzoni EA, Müller-Ladner U, Strek ME, Sverzellati N, Studenic P, Mohammed J, Nagavci B, Stamm T, Tonia T, Crestani B, Hoffmann-Vold AM.
ERS/EULAR clinical practice guidelines for connective tissue diseases associated interstitial lung disease.
Ann Rheum Dis. 2025. doi: 10.1016/j.ard.2025.08.021. - Antoniou KM, Distler O, Gheorghiu AM, Moor CC, Vikse J, Bizymi N, Galetti I, Brown G, Bargagli E, Allanore Y, Corte TJ, Dieudé P, Cottin V, Fisher BA, Fabre A, Giles JT, Kreuter M, Lundberg IE, Poletti V, Maurer B, Renzoni EA, Müller-Ladner U, Strek ME, Sverzellati N, Studenic P, Mohammed J, Nagavci B, Stamm T, Tonia T, Crestani B, Hoffmann-Vold AM.
ERS/EULAR clinical practice guidelines for connective tissue disease-associated interstitial lung disease.
Eur Respir J. 2025. doi: 10.1183/13993003.02533-2024. - Seitz P, Bucher S, Bütikofer L, Maurer B, Bonel HM, Lötscher F, Seitz L.
2D-cranial T1-black-blood MRI in suspected giant cell arteritis – measurement of vessel wall thickness does not give a diagnostic advantage compared to visual scoring alone.
Front Radiol. 2025. doi: 10.3389/fradi.2025.1597938. - Brunner M, Guggisberg D, Sprecher M, Pastva O, Bürki K, Houtman M, Kreuzer M, Krättli SA, Jahnke L, Roceri M, Bruggmann R, Elhai M, Maurer B, Marti TM, Ospelt C, Klein K.
Pro-Inflammatory Properties of Salivary Gland-Derived Fibroblasts – Implications in Sjögren's Disease.
Cells. 2025. doi: 10.3390/cells14080558. - Velauthapillai A, de Vries-Bouwstra JK, Henes J, Czirjak L, Dagna L, Riemekastan G, Allanore Y, Foti R, Alegre-Sancho JJ, Maurer B, Cuomo G, Spierings J, Martin T, Truchetet ME, van den Ende CH, Vonk MC.
Longitudinal association between nailfold capillaroscopy and incident interstitial lung disease: A EUSTAR database analysis.
J Scleroderma Relat Disord. 2025. doi: 10.1177/23971983241307692. - Zhu C, Han Y, Byun J, Xiao X, Rothwell S, Miller FW, Lundberg IE, Gregersen PK, Vencovsky J, Shaw VR, McHugh N, Limaye V, Selva-O'Callaghan A, Hanna MG, Machado PM, Pachman LM, Reed AM, Rider LG, Molberg Ø, Benveniste O, Radstake T, Doria A, De Bleecker JL, De Paepe B, Maurer B, Ollier WE, Padyukov L, Wedderburn LR, Chinoy H, Lamb JA, Amos CI; Myositis Genetics Consortium.
Genetic Architecture of Idiopathic Inflammatory Myopathies From Meta-Analyses.
Arthritis Rheumatol. 2025. doi: 10.1002/art.43088. - Pabst T, Maurer B.
Therapies for systemic lupus erythematosus.
Lancet. 2024. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(24)02378-X. - Joye AA, Bogowicz M, Gote-Schniering J, Frauenfelder T, Guckenberger M, Maurer B, Tanadini-Lang S, Gabryś HS.
Radiomics on slice-reduced versus full-chest computed tomography for diagnosis and staging of interstitial lung disease in systemic sclerosis: A comparative analysis.
Eur J Radiol Open. 2024. doi: 10.1016/j.ejro.2024.100596. - Lauer D, Magnin CY, Kolly LR, Wang H, Brunner M, Chabria M, Cereghetti GM, Gabryś HS, Tanadini-Lang S, Uldry AC, Heller M, Verleden SE, Klein K, Sarbu AC, Funke-Chambour M, Ebner L, Distler O, Maurer B, Gote-Schniering J.
Radioproteomics stratifies molecular response to antifibrotic treatment in pulmonary fibrosis.
JCI Insight. 2024. doi: 10.1172/jci.insight.181757. - Dobrota R, Jordan S, Juhl P, Del Papa N, Maurer B, Becker M, Mihai C, Bay-Jensen AC, Karsdal MA, Siebuhr AS, Distler O.
Dysregulation of circulating collagen turnover markers in very early systemic sclerosis.
RMD Open. 2024. doi: 10.1136/rmdopen-2023-003306.
Prof. Dr. med. Christoph Stettler is the Director and Chief Physician of the University Clinic for Diabetology, Endocrinology, Nutritional Medicine & Metabolism (UDEM) at Inselspital, and a full professor at Universität Bern.
Research Profile
Dr. Stettler's research is strongly translational, focusing on new technological approaches to improve diabetes care, human-computer interfaces such as AI and sensor/device data, and investigating metabolic processes under different conditions. Prof. Stettler also supports efforts to bring innovations from bench to clinic. He is recognized for contributions in various fields and has led numerous clinical trials, systematic reviews of device-based glucose management systems, and performed work on preventing hypoglycemia in exercise settings.
Selected Publications
- Kastrati L, Alvarez-Martinez M, Thomas A, Thevis M, Muka T, Stettler C, Herzig D, Glisic M, Bally L.
Effect of exercise on plasma insulin levels in individuals with type 1 diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Diabetes Obes Metab. 2025. doi: 10.1111/dom.16088. - Bano A, Künzler J, Wehrli F, Kastrati L, Rivero T, Llane A, Valz Gris A, Fraser AG, Stettler C, Hovorka R, Laimer M, Bally L; CORE‐MD investigators.
Clinical evidence for high-risk CE-marked medical devices for glucose management: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Diabetes Obes Metab. 2024. doi: 10.1111/dom.15849. - Endner N, Merz H, Wallace E, Lehmann V, Nett P, Penner IK, Stettler C.
Correlation of body metrics, assessed with a portable scanning device, with established anthropometrics in people with obesity.
Diabetes Obes Metab. 2024. doi: 10.1111/dom.15776. - Bérubé C, Maritsch M, Lehmann VF, Kraus M, Feuerriegel S, Züger T, Wortmann F, Stettler C, Fleisch E, Kocaballi AB, Kowatsch T.
Multimodal In-Vehicle Hypoglycemia Warning for Drivers With Type 1 Diabetes: Design and Evaluation in Simulated and Real-World Driving.
JMIR Hum Factors. 2024. doi: 10.2196/46967. - Lehmann V, Noti F, Laimer M, Stettler C, Züger T.
Glycaemic outcomes in adults with type 1 diabetes transitioning towards advanced automated insulin delivery systems - a real-world analysis at a Swiss tertiary centre.
Swiss Med Wkly. 2023. doi: 10.57187/s.3501. - Kühne T, Wallace E, Herzig D, Helleputte S, Scott S, Pickles J, Melmer A, Stettler C.
Combined intake of caffeine and low-dose glucose to reduce exercise-related hypoglycaemia in individuals with type 1 diabetes on ultra-long-acting insulin degludec: A randomized, controlled, double-blind, cross-over trial.
Diabetes Obes Metab. 2024. doi: 10.1111/dom.15580. - Melmer A, Martin-Niedecken AL, Wehrli W, Lüchinger P, Riederer Y, Scott S, Pickles J, Niedecken S, Flagmeier D, Villiger S, Jurt R, Kind N, Witthauer L, Schättin A, Stettler C.
Effects of home-based exergaming on cardio-metabolic and cognitive health in physically inactive individuals.
Diabetes Obes Metab. 2024. doi: 10.1111/dom.15540. - Bérubé C, Lehmann VF, Maritsch M, Kraus M, Feuerriegel S, Wortmann F, Züger T, Stettler C, Fleisch E, Kocaballi AB, Kowatsch T.
Effectiveness and User Perception of an In-Vehicle Voice Warning for Hypoglycemia: Development and Feasibility Trial.
JMIR Hum Factors. 2024. doi: 10.2196/42823. - Maritsch M, Föll S, Lehmann V, Styger N, Bérubé C, Kraus M, Feuerriegel S, Kowatsch T, Züger T, Fleisch E, Wortmann F, Stettler C.
Smartwatches for non-invasive hypoglycaemia detection during cognitive and psychomotor stress.
Diabetes Obes Metab. 2024. doi: 10.1111/dom.15402. - Hansen D, Beckers P, Neunhäuserer D, Bjarnason-Wehrens B, Piepoli MF, Rauch B, Völler H, Corrà U, Garcia-Porrero E, Schmid JP, Lamotte M, Doherty P, Reibis R, Niebauer J, Dendale P, Davos CH, Kouidi E, Spruit MA, Vanhees L, Cornelissen V, Edelmann F, Barna O, Stettler C, Tonoli C, Greco E, Pedretti R, Abreu A, Ambrosetti M, Braga SS, Bussotti M, Faggiano P, Takken T, Vigorito C, Schwaab B, Coninx K.
Standardised Exercise Prescription for Patients with Chronic Coronary Syndrome and/or Heart Failure: A Consensus Statement from the EXPERT Working Group.
Sports Med. 2023. doi: 10.1007/s40279-023-01909-x
Dr. Maurer and Dr. Stettler are supported by the MIDHOS Secretariat:
- Dr. Laura Hackl, MIDHAS Coordinator
- Dr. Usha Sarma, Research Strategy Manager
The MIDHOS Coordinator serves as a central liaison, connecting all MIDHOS members, the Steering Committee, and Strategic Board. Working closely with the executive leadership and Research Strategy Manager, the Coordinator supports strategy refinement, facilitates communication, identifies opportunities, and implements key initiatives across the network.