Team Engineering

Using innovative engineering approaches, the Urogenital Engineering group is developing new methods to diagnose and treat diseases of the urinary tract with special focus on the underactive bladder, overactive bladder, incontinence and kidney/ureteral stones.

PD Dr. Francesco Clavica

Group Leader

Prof. Dr. med. Fiona C. Burkhard

Group Leader

Dr. Lukas Bereuter

Senior engineer

After an apprenticeship as electronics technician, Lukas Bereuter studied Systems Engineering with a focus on mechatronics at the Zurich University of Applied Sciences (2009-2012). Following this, he did a Master's degree in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Bern (2012-2014). After some months as research assistant, Lucas started his PhD in Biomedical Engineering at the ARTORG Center and Bern University Hospital (2015-2018). In 2019, he joined the Urogenital Engineering group to work on a novel non-invasive medical device to aid bladder emptying in urinary retention patients.

Dr. Shaokai Zheng

DPhil Imperial College London

Shaokai Zheng completed his Bachelor’s degree in Engineering Mechanics at Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Then he obtained an MSc in Aerospace Engineering from University of Minnesota, and a DPhil from Imperial College London. Kai is interested in the field of experimental fluid mechanics. He joined the Urogenital Engineering Group at University of Bern as a Postdoctoral Researcher since 2019.

Lorenzo Ferrari

MSC

Pedro Amado

MSC

Ajith Manimala

MSC

Oliver Ruckli

MSC

Francous Snyders

Exchange student from Stellenbosch University (SA)

Latest Projects

Our World’s First Non-invasive Solution for Urinary Retention (Innosuisse grant 41236-1 with Bern University Hospital & EPFL)

The UGE group is developing the world’s first non-invasive solution for urinary retention. Patients suffering from urinary retention are unable to empty their bladder because of either a weak bladder muscle or/and a bladder outlet obstruction (e.g. enlarged prostate in men). Read More

Interplay Between Fluid Mechanics and Encrustation/Biofilm Development in Stented Ureters (SNF grant ## IZCOZ0_182966 with Bern University Hospital, University of Oxford and University of Southampton)

Ureters are conducts conveying urine from kidneys into the bladder. Under obstructed conditions of the ureter (e.g. kidney/ureteral stones or tumours), ureteral stents are frequently used in clinical setting to maintain the drainage of urine. Read More

Assessment of Encrustation on Ureteral Stents Retrieved from Patients (with Bern University Hospital)

Ureteral stents, once implanted in patients, are exposed to complex fluid dynamic and chemical (bacteria, crystals) environments. Current projects at UGE involve volumetric and chemical characterisations of encrustation (on ureteral stents retrieved from patients) by means of micro-computed tomography (µCT)... Read More

Innovative Tools for Diagnosis and Treatment of Overactive Bladder and Incontinence (with Bern University Hospital & Bern University of Applied Sciences)

Patients suffering from overactive bladder (OAB) live with a continuous urge to urinate even at low bladder filling volumes, often leading to incontinence. OAB has an enormous impact on the quality of life of affected patients. Read More