DT-Report 2026: Join now

DT-Report 2026: Join now

DT-Report 2026: Join now

The survey for the DT Report 2026 is now available – Take part and help shape the future of diabetes technology with us: Whether you are a person living with diabetes or a healthcare professional.

Shape the Future of Diabetes Technology – Your Voice Matters!

Together with diabetesschweiz, the Swiss Society for Endocrinology and Diabetology (SGED | SSED), and partner organizations in Germany and Austria, the DCB is conducting a representative survey on diabetes technology for the DT Report 2026.

Why your participation matters:
Your experiences and feedback are essential for improving the care and further development of diabetes technology in a targeted way. By taking part, you help make barriers and needs visible and create the foundation for future innovations.

Take part now:

Join us and make an important contribution to advancing diabetes technology and improving the quality of life for people with diabetes.

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DT-Report 2026: Join now

DT-Report 2026: Join now

The survey for the DT Report 2026 is now available – Take part and help shape the future of diabetes technology with...

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3010 Bern
Switzerland

DCB newsletter #4/25: Voices of the community – meet the DCB Lived Experience Panel (Part 3)

DCB newsletter #4/25: Voices of the community – meet the DCB Lived Experience Panel (Part 3)

We are thrilled to present you with the next episode of our series!

Dear readers,

As part of Diabetes Awareness Month, we are delighted to introduce to more inspiring members of our Lived Experience Panel (LEP)! At DCB, we are dedicated to driving innovation in diabetes technology. Our vision is to improve the lives of people with diabetes, also transforming the way diabetes is understood and treated. To do this, we actively listen to those who live with diabetes and ensure their voices help guide our work.

Find part 1 here: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/dcb-newsletter-5-voices-community-meet-patient-leaders-part-1-/

And part 2: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/dcb-newsletter-6-voices-community-meet-patient-leaders-part-2–1e/

Now, let’s shine a spotlight on our wonderful LEP Experts: Nadine Schenk , Vivien Glocker , and Laura Magnabosco !

Nadine was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in 2011. After completing two vocational trainings as an ornamental plant and landscape gardener, she went on to study social pedagogy. Nadine is committed to ensuring that people with diabetes who also live with physical, cognitive, or psychological impairments receive more targeted support and guidance. She is also dedicated to promoting the development of new technologies and tools that make everyday life easier for people with diabetes and disabilities. In addition, Nadine serves on the board of Diabetes Bern. Her personal experiences with diabetes, as well as more insights into her interests and goals for the community, can also be heard in episode 3 of the Club D podcast by Diabetes Switzerland.

Vivien is a physician and doctoral candidate with a Diploma of Advanced Studies in Management of Clinical Trials. With international experience in clinical care and research across the U.S., Germany, and Switzerland, she has focused particularly on type 1 diabetes and its multifaceted challenges. Her scientific work includes publications in national and international journals, with a special emphasis on psychosocial aspects and precision medicine in type 1 diabetes. Driven by a strong commitment to the diabetes community, Vivien is passionate about advancing both patient care and research in order to improve outcomes and foster innovation in the field of type 1 diabetes.

Laura is originally from Italy, but currently residing in Switzerland as she pursues her PhD in the field of diabetes research. Laura’s journey with diabetes began at the age of 14 when she was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Her diagnosis ignited a spark within her for scientific exploration and a deep fascination with the intricate workings of the human body. Driven by this passion, she embarked on a path of academic excellence, majoring in Medical Biotechnology at university. Her thirst for knowledge led her to pursue a doctoral degree, specializing in diabetes research. Laura is profoundly committed to her work in the lab, where she engages in cutting-edgepre-clinical research. Her ultimate goal is to make a substantial and positive impact on thelives of those affected by diabetes. Recently she has recognized the immense value in sharing experiences and insights with others who face the same challenges. This newfound awareness has inspired her to extend her knowledge and experiences beyond the laboratory. She believes in the transformative power of shared experiences and hopes to harness it for the betterment of individuals living with diabetes.

Thank you Nadine, Vivien and Laura for being on board and for all the important work you do!

And you, dear followers, see you for the next edition of our DCB newsletter!

 

This post was previously published in Linkedin. Click here to see the original publication.

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Alva Innovation wins the DCB Open Innovation Challenge 2025

Alva Innovation wins the DCB Open Innovation Challenge 2025

Alva Innovation wins the DCB Open Innovation Challenge 2025

Bern, 6 November 2025 – The start-up Alva Innovations has won first place in the DCB Open Innovation Challenge. The company was honoured with a prize of USD 100,000, including in-kind support, at the DCB Day of Innovation, taking place at sitem-insel in Bern.

Incredible 54 ideas were submitted to the DCB Open Innovation Challenge this year. Five finalists from various countries pitched their innovations live on stage at sitem-insel in front of a big audience and an international jury. This year’s winner, the U.S.-based start-up Alva Innovations, convinced the jury with its pioneering real-time filtration system for insulin pumps, designed to prevent infusion-set occlusions and improve therapy safety for people living with diabetes.

Their technology has the potential to significantly enhance the reliability of insulin delivery systems and reduce treatment disruptions addressing one of the most frequent challenges in insulin pump therapy today.

A full day dedicated to innovation

For the first time, the DCB expanded the traditional Start-Up Night into a full Day of Innovation, held on 5 November 2025 at the sitem-insel in Bern. The event brought together leaders from healthcare, academia, MedTech, industry, and policy to explore future-driven solutions in medicine and health technology.

The programme featured:

  • Start-up pitches from the Top 5 finalists (Alva Innovations, Neuraura, SynchNeuro, Diawiser, MEMS MicroPump Module)
  • Keynotes and insights from research, translational medicine, and industry translational research at DCB, sitem-insel, CSEM)
  • Showcases demonstrating real-world impact and successful commercialisation (T1D1, SNAQ, Piomic, MYNERVA, GO-Pen, Alveolix)
  • Perspectives from policy (Christoph Ammann) and medical ethics (Prof. Giovanni Maio) on advancing innovation and artificial intelligence in healthcare
  • Networking sessions connecting innovators, investors, clinicians, and partners

Celebrating five years of innovation impact

Since its launch in 2020, the DCB Open Innovation Challenge has supported a lot of start-ups from around the world, helping accelerate promising innovations in diabetes technology from concept to market. Many alumni have since achieved regulatory milestones, clinical validation, or commercial success.

It was an honor to lead this year’s DCB Open Innovation Challenge again and to transform our traditional Start-Up Night into a full day of innovation celebrating Swiss diabetes technology alongside inspiring projects from the wider Bern ecosystem. Seeing so many alumni from the past five years showcase the real-world impact of their innovations, improving diabetes care and successfully bringing products to market was truly inspiring. We are proud to have supported their potential and remain committed to helping start-ups and innovators on their journey to success.
It is exciting to see our project grow and gain recognition as a global hub for innovation in diabetes technology, and we look forward to continuing to expand its impact,

says Ema Grabenweger, Innovation Manager at DCB and responsible for the Open Innovation Challenge 2025.

About the winner: Alva Innovations

Alva Innovations aims to enhance the safety and efficiency of insulin pump therapy by integrating advanced micro-filtration directly into the infusion set. By reducing the risk of occlusions, the solution could lower therapy interruptions, prevent glycemic instability, and ease the daily burden of diabetes management. More about Alva Innovations: https://www.alva-innovations.com/

Looking ahead

DCB will continue to support the finalist teams beyond the Challenge with access to expert guidance, clinical expertise, and strategic support.

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