Awarded the Research Prize at an award ceremony in Baden-Baden, Germany, the German-Swiss physician-scientist was praised for being both a research leader and global healthcare influencer.
“Prof. Bischoff-Ferrari exemplifies the combination of scientific excellence and social relevance,” said Prof. Manfred Eggersdorfer, chairman of the GVF. “Her research lays the foundation for modern, preventive nutritional medicine that takes a holistic view of human beings.”
Prof. Eggersdorfer emphasized Bischoff-Ferrari’s involvement in the Europe-wide DO-HEALTH study—the largest randomized intervention study to date on vitamin D, omega-3 fatty acids, and exercise in older adults.
The results of that study “provide an important basis for evidence-based nutritional recommendations and illustrate that simple preventive measures can have a major impact on health”, he said.
He also highlighted her promotion of interdisciplinary research between nutrition science, geriatrics, and public health, and her commitment to evidence-based communication in the public health sphere.
Pioneering nutrition and aging research
Prof. Bischoff-Ferrari is internationally recognized as a pioneer in nutrition and aging research. She earned her master’s and doctoral degrees from the Harvard School of Public Health, served as Chair of Geriatrics and Aging Research at the University of Zurich, and is currently Chair of Geriatrics at the University of Basel. Here, she is establishing the Swiss Campus for Healthy Longevity, which serves as the Europe-wide DO-HEALTH study headquarters and houses a biobank.
Bischoff-Ferrari told NutraIngredients that what drives her keen interest in nutrition and healthy aging is that it is accessible to all. “If we want to advance healthy longevity at the population level, we need to reach all,” she said.
She noted that the Mediterranean diet has shown multiple health benefits to help prevent functional decline, as well as individual nutrients such as vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acids.
“For example, in the DO-HEALTH and VITAL trial, two partner landmark trials testing vitamin D and Omega-3 in a daily supplement format, found a reduction of auto-immune diseases, heart attack, infections, falls, and advanced cancer,” she said, adding that the supplements also “rejuvenated biological aging”.
Bischoff-Ferrari told NutraIngredients about the aims of the Swiss Healthy Longevity Campus, which hosts the growing “Global Health Span Extension Consortium.”
“One aim of the Campus is to empower each one of us to slow our biological aging and stay healthy and active longer with proven and safe treatments. Another aim is to advance novel biomarkers to clinical application and identify and test the clinical effectiveness, safety and cost-effectiveness of novel treatments that slow biological aging at the human level.”
She emphasized the importance of working together globally, “advancing Healthy Longevity in a collaborative and impactful way, only possible in a team of top scientists working together and engaging many partners far beyond medicine to make real changes happen,” she said.
Speaking of her future research, she shared that her team is planning several new trials: “One trial starting in spring 2026 is PrecisionAge testing a multimodal intervention to slow [bilological] aging with a personalized combination of nutrition, exercise, mindfulness, supplements and sleep.”
