Nicole Ritz appointed as new Head of Research

In her role, Nicole Ritz will lead Swiss TPH’s Research Department with around 400 staff and 35 research groups, spanning from infection biology to medicine and public health. She will start her new position as of 1 August 2026.

“Nicole Ritz brings a wealth of experience, ranging from clinical research in Switzerland and global health to leadership, having managed a team of over a hundred people at the hospital,” said Jürg Utzinger, Director of Swiss TPH. “She is a renowned expert in the field of infectious diseases in children and adolescents, both in Switzerland and internationally.”

Nicole Ritz completed her medical studies at the University of Bern, followed by paediatric training and board certification in Switzerland. She pursued a clinical research fellowship in Cape Town and at the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne. During this time, she led a large vaccine trial on tuberculosis and completed her PhD on tuberculosis prevention. Returning to Switzerland, she finished her training as an infectious diseases specialist and obtained a second board certification. She worked as a consultant in paediatrics and infectious diseases at the University Children’s Hospital Basel (UKBB) where she also established a clinic for migration health, a key focus of her work. She obtained her habilitation from the University of Basel. Her research focuses on biomarkers for infectious disease diagnosis and on tuberculosis in children and adolescents.

Since 2021, she has been the Head of Paediatrics at the Children’s Hospital of the Lucerne Cantonal Hospital and leads the Center for Child Health Analytics, which she founded in 2023.

“I'm excited to start this new position at Swiss TPH, contributing to advancing research from discovery to evidence to action,” said Nicole Ritz. “I am particularly impressed by the strength and diversity of the research groups at Swiss TPH, and I look forward to contributing my expertise in clinical and translational research to strengthen connections across groups and disciplines.”

Nicole Ritz is a board member of several national and international professional associations, including the European Society for Paediatric Infectious Diseases (ESPID).