now! Bring Movement Into Your Life
Current data from the canton of Basel-Stadt indicate an alarming rise in overweight and obesity among children and adolescents, frequently accompanied by measurable negative effects on blood pressure and vascular health that persist into adulthood. In response, the departments of Motor Performance and Biomechanics and Preventive Sports Medicine and Systems Physiology at the Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, University of Basel, together with the Basel-Stadt Sports Office, are conducting now!, a scientifically supervised multi-sport training intervention for adolescents aged 12 to 14 with overweight and below-average motor performance. The now! project aims to promote physical activity, fitness, and health in this population while increasing enjoyment of movement. Key health parameters including cardiorespiratory fitness, body composition, vascular health, neuromuscular performance, and physical activity are objectively assessed and monitored over time. Subjective outcomes such as enjoyment of movement, sleep, and self-efficacy are also evaluated. The first cohort has completed the one-year program with two weekly training sessions in small and large group settings, with consistently positive feedback. A systematic review on the effectiveness of endurance and strength training interventions in children and adolescents with overweight is being conducted in parallel. Preliminary results confirm the effectiveness of training interventions on nearly all parameters and highlight a lack of long-term training studies — a gap the now! project directly addresses. The project has strong potential for sustainable replication across further Swiss cantons and is funded by the Federal Office of Sport (BASPO, Lab 7x1), Health Promotion Switzerland, and the Beisheim Foundation.
Project Partners: Dr. Christoph Hauser, MSc Lukas Nebiker, Dr. Ralf Roth, Prof. Henner Hanssen, Prof. Oliver Faude, Dr. med. Vera Bissig, Dr. Eric Lichtenstein, MSc Manuel Huber, MSc Steve Beutler (Head, Basel-Stadt Sports Office)
©Maria Patzschke / DSBG
EPOCH: Effects of Exercise Timing on Health
With increasing age, the risk of metabolic disorders, muscle weakness, and cardiovascular disease rises. While current guidelines specify how often, how long, and how intensively to exercise, they do not address when during the day training is most effective. The EPOCH study investigates whether exercise timing — morning, midday, afternoon, or evening — influences health outcomes in older adults aged 60 to 80. Participants completed a 12-week combined strength and endurance training program under professional supervision at different times of day. Outcomes include muscle strength, blood glucose regulation, and vascular and metabolic health markers. Data collection is complete and results are currently being published, with the goal of developing evidence-based recommendations for optimal exercise timing in the prevention of chronic disease.
Project Partners: PD Dr. Raphael Knaier (PI), MSc Fabienne Bruggisser (PhD), Dr. Ralf Roth, Dr. Egbert Ritter, Prof. Henner Hanssen
FitBOWL: Impact of Chronic Bowel Disease on Cardiovascular Health
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is among the most common chronic conditions in Switzerland, with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis as its primary forms. Beyond the digestive system, IBD is associated with elevated cardiovascular risk, and no curative therapy exists for Crohn's disease. The FitBOWL project compares vital parameters, vascular markers, laboratory values, and endurance performance between IBD patients and healthy controls. Three key questions are addressed: how micro and macrovascular health differs between IBD patients and healthy individuals; whether higher physical fitness is associated with better vascular health in affected individuals; and whether greater disease severity corresponds to more pronounced vascular and performance impairments. More than 30 patients have been enrolled to date. This cross-sectional study provides the foundation for a future lifestyle intervention in IBD patients, aiming to improve disease outcomes, quality of life, and cardiovascular risk.
Project Partners: Prof. Henner Hanssen, Prof. Jan Hendrik Niess (Gastroenterology, USB), Dr. Christoph Hauser, Katline Metzger-Peter, MSc Manuel Huber, Eva Fleischlin (PhD)
REMIND: Retinal Markers in Neuroinflammatory Diseases
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system, typically presenting with recurring neurological episodes and progressing in most patients to continuous neurological deterioration. Early identification of individuals at high risk of progression is critical for therapeutic decision-making, creating a strong need for precise predictive biomarkers. The retina, as part of the central nervous system, offers a promising non-invasive window into the brain. Within the REMIND study, the structure and function of retinal vessels in MS patients are examined in the DSBG retinal laboratory, in collaboration with the research team of PD Dr. med. Athina Papadopoulou from the Neurology department at University Hospital Basel. The study investigates whether the diameter and function of small retinal arteries and veins can reflect disease severity and progression, and whether they may have predictive value. First promising results have been submitted for publication in a neurology journal. Further follow-up examinations are planned over the next two years.
Project Partners: Prof. Henner Hanssen, PD Dr. Athina Papadopoulou (Neurology, USB), Prof. Konstantin Gugletta (Ophthalmology), Keane Schönholzer (PhD, Neurology), Dr. Christoph Hauser, Eva Fleischlin (PhD)
HIT Glaucoma: Effects of High-Intensity Interval Training on Glaucoma
Glaucoma is a progressive neurodegenerative eye disease and the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide. Current treatment strategies focus exclusively on reducing intraocular pressure, which is often insufficient to halt disease progression in all patients. The effects of exercise therapy in glaucoma patients have not previously been investigated. The HIT Glaucoma study examines the effects of a 6-month HIIT program compared to a control group receiving standard physical activity recommendations. The research focuses on micro and macrovascular outcomes, as regular intensive exercise is hypothesized to positively influence both vascular systems, potentially stabilizing disease progression and improving quality of life. The study is conducted in a multicenter design in close collaboration with KU Leuven (Belgium). A parallel scoping review synthesized the existing evidence across four clinical domains: incidence and prevalence, disease severity, disease progression, and quality of life. Research gaps were identified across all domains, particularly in disease severity and quality of life. The manuscript is currently under submission. All measurements of the main study period (0 to 6 months) were completed in late March 2026. The study is expected to be fully concluded by end of September 2026, with results to be published on the study website upon completion.
Project Partners: Prof. Henner Hanssen, Prof. Konstantin Gugletta (Ophthalmology), PD Dr. Julia Kröpfl, Eva Fleischlin (PhD), Valentin Schuhmann (PhD), Dr. Holger Burchert, Dr. Christoph Hauser, Dr. Egbert Ritter, Prof. Ingeborg Stalmans (KU Leuven), Dr. Jan van Eijgen (KU Leuven), Prof. Véronique Cornelissen (KU Leuven), Marie Renier (PhD, KU Leuven)
Publication:
- High-intensity interval training in patients with glaucoma (HIT-GLAUCOMA)
©Cartes Fotografie / DSBG
REPRO-FIT: Effects of Physical Activity and Fitness, Cardiovascular and Psychosocial Health on Medically Assisted Reproduction
Involuntary childlessness affects 8 to 12% of couples of reproductive age and represents both a physical and psychological challenge. Assisted reproductive technologies such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) offer an important treatment option. Current evidence suggests that lifestyle factors including physical inactivity, low fitness, overweight, nutrition, stress, mental health, and sleep can influence fertility. Retinal vessels as microvascular biomarkers indicate that narrower arterioles are associated with an increased risk of hypertensive pregnancy disorders including preeclampsia. To systematically address existing knowledge gaps, the research group led by Prof. Hanssen is conducting a review of the current evidence, alongside a clinical study targeting identified methodological gaps. The REPRO-FIT study is a collaboration between the Reproductive Medicine unit at University Hospital Basel and multiple departments at the DSBG. Using state-of-the-art methods, the study examines the relationship between physical activity, cardiovascular fitness and health, and IVF success rates, as well as the occurrence and course of pregnancy. Long-term, the findings aim to inform targeted pre-conditioning strategies to improve IVF outcomes through individualized optimization of relevant lifestyle factors.
Project Partners: Prof. Henner Hanssen, Prof. Viola Heinzelmann (Gynecology, USB), Dr. James Geiger (Reproductive Medicine, USB), Dr. Christoph Hauser, Dr. cand. med. Marta Lopez, Dr. med. Vera Bissig, Prof. Markus Gerber, Prof. Sebastian Ludyga