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

Awards

Venture Competition (1st place in Health & Nutrition area)

Project: ‘Urodea: world’s first non-invasive solution for urinary retention’

Start-up weekend Biel (1st place)

Bernese Business Creation Competition (2nd place), University of Bern

Project: ‘Urodea: innovative solution for urinary retention’

Publications

Zheng S.*, Carugo D., Mosayyebi A., Turney B., Burkhard F., Lange D., Obrist D., Waters S., Clavica F. ‘Fluid mechanical modeling of the upper urinary tract’, WIRES Mechanisms of Disease

2021

Almanza M.*, Clavica F., Chavanne J., Moser D., Obrist D., Carrel T., Civet Y., Perriard Y. ‘Feasibility of a Dielectric Elastomer Augmented Aorta’ Advanced Science

2021

Mantegazza A.*, Ungari M., Clavica F., Obrist D. ‘Local versus global blood flow modulation in artificial microvascular networks: effects on red blood cell distribution and partitioning’ Frontiers in Physiology

25th September 2020

Mantegazza A.*, Clavica F., Obrist D. ‘In vitro investigations of red blood cell phase separation in a complex microchannel network’ Biomicrofluidics, 2020

2st January 2020

Chakrabarty B., Bijos D., Vahabi B., Clavica F., Kanai A.J., Pickering A., Fry C., Drake M.J.* ‘Modulation of Micromotions Alters Intravesical Pressure in the Rat Bladder’ Frontiers in Physiology, 9:1937, 2019

10th January 2019

Haeberlin A., Schurch K.,Niederhauser T.,Sweda R. Schneider M. P. Obrist D., Burkhard F., Clavica F.* ‘Cardiac electrophysiology catheters for electrophysiological assessments of the lower urinary tract - an ex vivo feasibility study in living ureters’ Neurourology and Urodynamics 87-96, 2019

3rd September 2018

LNiederhauser T., Gafner E, Cantieni T., Grämiger M., Haeberlin A., Obrist D., Burkhard F., Clavica F.* ‘Detection and quantification of overactive bladder activity in patients: Can we make it better and automatic?’ Neurourology and Urodynamics, 1-9, 2018

26th July 2017

van Asselt E, Choudhary M, Clavica F, van Mastrigt R.* ‘Urethane anesthesia in acute lower urinary tract studies in the male rat.’ Laboratory Animals: 1-7, 2017

30th June 2016

Clavica F.*, Homsy A., Jeandupeux L., Obrist D., ‘Red blood cell phase separation in symmetric and asymmetric microchannel networks: effect of capillary dilation and inflow velocity’ Scientific Reports, Nature publishing group, 6:36763, 2016

18th November 2016

Choudhary M.*, Clavica F., van Mastrigt Ron, van Asselt E. ‘A novel single compartment in vitro model for electrophysiological research using the Perfluorocarbon FC-770’, Physiological Research, 20;65(2):341-8, 2016

24th November 2015

Choudhary M. S., van Asselt E., van Mastrigt R., Clavica F.*, ‘Neurophysiological modelling of bladder afferent activity in the rat overactive bladder model’, Journal of Physiological Sciences, 65(4):329-38, 2015

18th March 2015

Clavica F.*, Parker K., Khir W. A., ‘Wave intensity analysis in air-filled flexible vessels’, Journal of Biomechanics, 26, 48(4):687-94, 2015

26th February 2015

Clavica F.*, Choudhary M. S., van Asselt E., van Mastrigt R., ‘Frequency analysis of urinary bladder pre-voiding activity in normal and overactive rat detrusor.’ Neurourology and Urodynamics, vol. 34, pp. 794-9, 2015

3rd September 2014

Clavica F.*, Zhao X., ElMahdy M., Drake M.J., Zhang X., Carugo D., ‘Beyond the Abstract - A biomimetic artificial model to investigate flow dynamics in the obstructed and stented ureter’, UroToday International Journal 2014

May 2014

Clavica F.*, Zhao X., ElMahdy M., Drake M.J., Zhang X., Carugo D., ‘Investigating the flow dynamics in the obstructed and stented ureter by means of a biomimetic artificial model.’ PLOS ONE; 9(2):e87433, 2014

3rd February 2014