Ongoing research projects

Expected duration: 2020-2025
Authorization: Bern Veterinary Office 32026, 34973
Funding: Swiss National Science Foundation, Berne University Research Foundation
Main investigators: med. vet. J. Gisler, med.vet. S. Blum, Dr. med. vet. S. Andreis, Prof. C. Spadavecchia

This project aims at refining quantitative sensory testing methods to assess chronic orthopedic pain in horses and at investigating the efficacy of innovative treatment strategies.

Expected duration: 2024-2026
Authorization: N/A
Funding: Swiss National Science Foundation
Main investigators: Dr. A. Bremhorst, Prof. C. Spadavecchia

This project aims at developing a novel multidimensional "Dog Pain Database" to document and collect medical, behavioural and personality-related data from dogs in clinically-diagnosed pain states. Focus will be on investigating facial pain expression and its relation to personality.

Expected duration: 2020-2028
Authorization: Berne veterinary office Nr. 32015-BE116/19, 36200-BE65/23
Funding: Swiss National Science Foundation, Berne University Research Foundation
Main investigators: Dr. Alessandro Mirra, Prof. Olivier Levionnois

This project aims at investigating if the electroencephalographic (EEG) spectrogram is a useful monitor to assist the assessment of depth of anaesthesia in animals undergoing sedation or general anaesthesia.
This is a large project including several steps.

• Scoping review of EEG parameters reported to monitor depth of anaesthesia in animals (med.vet. Susanne Figueroa)
• Anatomical description of EEG electrodes placement
• Investigating EEG changes during propofol anaesthesia in pigs
• Pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic modeling of the Patient State Index in pigs under propofol anaesthesia (med.vet. Ida Storch)
• Investigating EEG changes related to nociceptive stimulation during propofol anaesthesia in pigs
• Investigating EEG changes during Isoflurane anaesthesia in clinical horses (cand. med. vet. Lara Barbagallo)

Expected duration: 2020-2028
Authorization: Berne veterinary office Nr. 32015-BE116/19, 36200-BE65/23
Funding: Swiss National Science Foundation, Berne University Research Foundation
Main investigators: Dr. Alessandro Mirra, Prof. Olivier Levionnois

Collaboration: HES-SO Sion Biomedical Engineering, Prof. Alena Simalatsar

This project aims at developping a Matlab-based software interface to collect and analyze the EEG in real time. The Interface also includes the development of a species-specific multiparameter Index of Depth of Anaesthesia using Deep-learning algorithm.

Estimated Duration: 2023-2026
Approval: Veterinary Office Bern
Funding: No third-party funding
Principal Investigators: Dr. Alessandro Mirra, Prof. Olivier Levionnois

Collaboration: EPFL, Dr. Yoann Civet, Amine Benouhiba

This project aims to develop a device for the objective assessment of jaw tone in animals during general anesthesia.

Expected duration: 2024-2025
Authorization: Berne veterinary office Nr. 36200-BE65/23
Funding: Swiss National Science Foundation
Main investigators: med.vet. Eleonora Benetti, Dr. Alessandro Mirra, Prof. Olivier Levionnois

This project (Dr.Med.Vet thesis) aims at defining and comparing the doses of Atracurium and Rocuronium required of maintain a neuromuscular block in pigs under propofol anaesthesia.

Expected duration: 2023-2025
Authorization: N/A (Field equipment trial)
Funding: No third party funding
Main investigators: med.vet. Dany Elzahaby, Prof. Claudia Spadavecchia

This project aims at reporting the use of isoflurane in our veterinary hospital and intend to identify how our carbon footprint may be reduced.

Expected duration: 2018-2025
Authorization: Berne veterinary office Nr. 30557-BE
Funding: N/A
Main investigators: Dr. Mathieu Raillard, Prof. Olivier Levionnois

Collaboration with School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Murdoch, Australia.

This project (PhD thesis) aims at investigating validity of perianaesthetic spirometry monitoring methods in dogs, review the use of spirometry and compliance measurement and investigate reference intervals.