Organisation

Cesar Hincapié, PD DC PhD (LOC Chair, IBNP Forum 2025)

Dr. Cesar Hincapié is a Senior Scientist and Head of the Musculoskeletal Epidemiology Research Group — an interdisciplinary research team interfacing between the Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention Institute (EBPI) at the University of Zurich and the University Spine Centre Zurich (UWZH) at Balgrist University Hospital, in Zurich, Switzerland. He trained clinically as a chiropractor in Toronto, Canada, and earned an MHSc and PhD (2015) in epidemiology at the University of Toronto. His research focuses on studying the burden, etiology, prognosis, and treatment of musculoskeletal disorders and their resulting disability, and applies a clinical epidemiological perspective to the area of musculoskeletal health and care. Dr. Hincapié is the principal investigator of the SNSF and ECCRE funded SALuBRITY randomised clinical trial, assessing the comparative effectiveness of spinal manual therapy and corticosteroid nerve root injection for the management of patients with sciatica.

Milo Puhan, Prof Dr Med (LOC Deputy Chair, IBNP Forum 2025)

Prof. Milo Puhan is the chair of Epidemiology and Public Health at the University of Zurich and director of the EBPI. He earned his PhD from the University of Amsterdam in 2006 and served as an Associate Professor at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. His research focuses on chronic disease prevention, management, and developing tools for preference-sensitive healthcare. Prof. Puhan is the principal investigator of the Swiss MS Registry and co-founder of the Corona Immunitas Initiative, which assessed SARS-CoV-2 immunity in various populations. He previously served as president of the National Research Program 74 and currently leads the Swiss School of Public Health and the PhD program in Epidemiology & Biostatistics. Prof. Puhan has received multiple awards, including the COPD Research Award (2014) and the Ig Nobel Prize (2017) for his work on using the didgeridoo to treat obstructive sleep apnea.

Lauren Clack, Prof Dr Phil

Prof. Dr. phil. Lauren Clack is a Professor of Implementation Science in Health Care at the Medical Faculty, University of Zurich. She holds a PhD in Psychology from the University of Zurich and an MSc in Applied Ergonomics (Human Factors Engineering) from the University of Nottingham. She has worked a researcher and project leader, first at the University Hospitals of Geneva and then at the Division of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, University Hospital Zurich. She specializes in the application of Implementation Science methodology and human-centred design to improve the systematic integration of evidence-based practices into care – with a particular focus on infection prevention and patient safety interventions. Prof. Clack is currently involved in several national and international projects including leading the implementation work packages of two projects funded by the European Commission H2020 Framework.

Stéphane Genevay, Dr Med

Stephane Genevay is associated professor and senior attending physician in Rheumatology at Hôpitaux Universitaires de Genève in Switzerland. He is the leader of a multidisciplinary team specialized in the conservative treatments for patients with complex spinal condition. He is an active member of several Eurospine committees. He was part of the task for the development of EUROSPINE Interdisciplinary Diploma in Interdisciplinary Spine Care (EDISC) and is currently a member of the faculty for EDISC and for Eduweek, the surgical diploma. His current research focuses on understanding the neuromuscular modifications observed in chronic low back pain patients and developing new therapeutic approaches, as well as on preventing chronicity by improving management in primary care. He has published more than 70 papers in peer reviewed journals and is a member of the “Lancet Low Back Pain Series Working Group”.

Léonie Hofstetter, Dr Med Chiro

Dr. Léonie Hofstetter graduated from the University of Zurich in 2019, and subsequently was awarded a Doctor of Chiropractic Medicine. She obtained a certificate of advanced studies in epidemiology and biostatistics from the Universities of Zurich, Bern, and Basel, while completing a clinical fellowship at Balgrist University Hospital from 2019 – 2022. Besides her clinical work as an owner of a chiropractic clinic in Zurich, she continues doing research as clinician-scientist in-training with the Musculoskeletal Epidemiology Research Group, a joint institutional research interface between the Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention Institute at University of Zurich and the University Spine Centre Zurich at Balgrist University Hospital. Dr. Hofstetter’s research focuses on patient-centred clinical research related to chiropractic medicine and musculoskeletal health care.

Reto Sutter, Prof Dr Med

Prof. Reto Sutter is the Chief of Radiology at Balgrist University Hospital in Zurich, Switzerland and Professor of Musculoskeletal Radiology at the University of Zurich. Prof. Sutter trained in radiology and pathology in Zurich, Winterthur and London/UK. After a fellowship in musculoskeletal imaging in 2010, he worked as staff radiologist at Balgrist University Hospital, and became department chair in 2019. His research interests include imaging of the joints and spine, sports imaging, postoperative imaging, new imaging techniques, and minimally invasive pain therapy. Prof. Sutter has published over 220 peer-reviewed articles, sixteen book chapters, and edited several books on sports imaging. He is co-chair of the PhD programme 'Imaging Sciences in Medicine' at the University of Zurich. Prof. Sutter has organized several international meetings on musculoskeletal imaging. He is Associate Editor for the journal Radiology and serves on the editorial board for Investigative Radiology, Skeletal Radiology and Seminars in Musculoskeletal Radiology.

Michael Vianin, DC MSc

Dr. Michael Vianin is a chiropractor with a master’s degree in Rehabilitation Sciences. He received his chiropractic degree from Logan College of Chiropractic (USA) in 2002 and completed his Chiropractic Specialist degree in Switzerland in 2004. He obtained his rehabilitation degree from McMaster University (Canada) in 2009. Dr. Vianin is currently the director of the Vianin Chiropractic Clinic in Fribourg, Switzerland, where he manages patients and is involved in the supervision of chiropractic assistants. He also works as a supervising clinician at Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV). Dr. Vianin is a lecturer in postgraduate and continuing education courses, seminars, and congresses and has authored the book “Dispositionalism in Musculoskeletal Care”.

Maria Wertli, Prof Dr Med

Dr. Maria Wertli is the Head of the Department of Internal Medicine of the Cantonal Hospital Baden and Professor in Internal Medicine at the University Hospital Bern and University of Bern Switzerland. She earned her PhD (2014) at the Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Netherlands and served as associate Professor at the University Hospital of Bern and University of Bern, Switzerland. Her research focuses on the prevention of chronic pain and chronic opioid use and the use of health services. Professor Wertli is the principal investigator several trials funded by the Swiss Science National Foundation and other Funders. In the EMISI trial, Prof. Wertli will assess comparative effectiveness of ibuprofen and metamizole in patients with acute low back pain. The iPROACTIVE trial aims to reduce opioid use by introducing an interprofessional pain management that includes opioid stewardship elements in patients discharged from the acute care hospital.

Antonia Banti, MSc

Antonia is an administrative coordinator at the Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Prevention Institute of the University of Zurich, where she plays a crucial role in managing several administrative tasks, ensuring the smooth operation of the institute’s projects and events. After completing her studies in Environmental Science, she has been working as a scientific and administrative coordinator. Currently, she is focused on the IBNP Forum 2025, where she oversees all administrative aspects, from planning to execution. As the main contact person for the event, Antonia is dedicated to facilitating effective communication and excellent administrative support.