CAS ETH in Digital Clinical Trials

The first module of CAS ETH DCT, «The Power of Study Design», kicks off by putting patients at the forefront – those individuals for whom clinical research is conducted. Over the course of a dynamic three-day block onsite at ETH, participants will have the invaluable opportunity to gain insights directly from patients and will discover the patient's perspective on clinical trials. They will learn how to actively engage them in the research process, and master the art of co-designing studies that are not only impactful but also feasible. Participants will also be introduced to funding of clinical trials and human research ethics, and get introduced to digital biomarkers. They will explore established study designs and elements, as well as modern concepts such as decentralized clinical trials, pragmatic trials, adaptive designs, umbrella or basket studies, case only designs, instrumental variables, and propensity scores. During interactive group work they will apply the learning in designing a study and setting up a study synopsis or basic protocol.

This module of the CAS ETH DCT can be booked as as a separate, contiguous continuing education short course. Swiss doctors who complete only this module will receive 25 credits toward their non-​​​specific continuing education requirements (approved by SIWF).

In this module, participants will learn about new evidence generation methodologies which leverage digital technologies and machine learning to monitor patients during clinical trials. Students will start with an introduction to key background and terminology, and an overview of the entire process for developing novel digital measures. Over several interactive sessions, reinforced by deep dives led by expert guest lecturers, students will then develop their own case studies for a novel digital measure: exploring the application of patient-​centric research; best practices for deciding on the right technology; validation of the new measure. Finally, students will pitch their case studies back to the class.

This module will leave students with an understanding of both foundational concepts and practical realities in developing new sources of digital evidence for use in clinical trials.

Module 2 of the CAS ETH DCT can be booked as as a separate continuing education short course course. Swiss doctors who complete only this module will receive 25 credits toward their non-​​​specific continuing education requirements (approved by SIWF).

Precision Medicine is a new approach in health care aiming to deliver personalized prevention and treatment for human diseases by considering individual differences in lifestyle, environment, and biology. As Precision Medicine is a multidisciplinary approach, the content of this course includes topics in genetics, epigenetics, pharmacogenetics, big data interpretation and evaluation of public genomic data. In addition, screening, diagnosis, and therapies for case scenario diseases that apply to Precision Medicine are presented. This course starts with blended learning and remote Q&A sessions. During a 3-day block course onsite at ETH, students will learn about applications of machine learning and AI in pathology, MR imaging, and functional genomics. Furthermore, they will get insights from case studies in precision oncology, and will be introduced to an app designed to facilitate patient-study matching in oncology. The goal of this course is to obtain the knowledge to understand the chances and impact of precision medicine and AI to deliver the right therapy to the right person at the right time with the right dose.

This module provides an overview of the importance of Real-​World Data (RWD), different RWD sources, and how RWD can be exploited in healthcare, clinical and personalised health research, as well as in regulatory decision making. It highlights current trends and existing methods for using and analysing RWD. Lastly, the module will address ethical, methodological and regulatory challenges related to the use of RWD in clinical research and health care.

Participants are introduced to the different types and sources of RWD in Switzerland and abroad. Moreover, challenges and chances associated with the use of RWD in terms of standardisation, interoperability, and accessibility will be discussed. Participants are presented with the common ontologies and classifications used for data standardisation, as well as various data models and interoperability approaches used in national and international health data initiatives. The module also addresses the ethical and legal challenges involved in the use of RWD and presents possible solutions. Experts from academic research, private sector work, as well as national and international representatives of RWD collections will discuss various use cases for RWD integration and address the influence on disease definition, outcome prediction, and treatment selection.

In a hands-​on workshop, participants will learn to understand the data source contents, characterise/profile the dataset, get to know the benefits of working with data in a database, query the data, and identify data quality issues.

Module 4 of the CAS ETH DCT can be booked as as a separate continuing education short course course. Swiss doctors who complete only this module will receive 25 credits toward their non-​​specific continuing education requirements (approved by SIWF).

In this module, participants learn how to generate new data types utilising wearables and apps. Input lectures and workshops help participants understand what is needed to integrate sensor technology into remote, decentralized trials. The module starts with a 3-day block course on site where students will work hands-on with sensors, understand associated usability, data privacy, and technological barriers. Furthermore, they see how sensor technology is applied in a hospital. The module involves a discussion of the complete technological chain – from device selection, integration into the trial, data transfer, storage, and analysis. Participants choose the appropriate technology for their individual clinical research question and go through all the necessary steps for technology integration. Experts in the field provide examples to illustrate challenges and solutions for integrating sensor technology in clinical trials.

On top of this content, future outlook into modern concepts of Value-​Based Health Care (VBHC) is provided. Participants will gain insights into how the focus on patient outcomes as of the earliest stages of clinical research holds the promise to make studies faster and more successful: for patients and all other stakeholders along the patient value chain (providers, payers, pharma & MedTech).

Participants apply the knowledge they have gained during the CAS programme in a clinical study synopsis or investigation plan. Consultations with tutors help participants with study designs, the inclusion of digital measures, statistics, ethics, and key features of the research approach. Participants hand in their synopsis and defend it during the final workshop. This serves as the basis for the certificate. The feedback from tutors and peers helps to further improve participants’ research strategies. After this, they are ready to turn their knowledge into practice.

Every Autumn Semester

24 September 2025

10 months part-​time

15 ECTS credits

The primary teaching day for this programme will be Thursday, with some exceptions and breaks during public holidays. Additionally, there will be three 3-day block courses held on-site from Wednesday to Friday at the start of the study in September, and in January and April. For a detailed overview of the academic calender, please click Download here (PNG, 78 KB).

Disclaimer: Dates and format are subject to change.

The programme consists of live sessions (lectures/workshops/group work) on-site and remotely, blended learning, an interactive fair, coaching sessions, and self-study content using a virtual learning environment. Participants are encouraged to allocate dedicated time for self-​study, preparations, and other related activities to enhance their learning experience.

English

The application window is: 7.4 - 7.7.2025 (rolling admission). Late applications will not be accepted. 

CHF 13,900