We are happy to annouce that our postdoctoral researcher, Anja Bischof, has been awarded an SNF Scientific Exchange Grant for her upcoming visiting stay in Iceland from May to June 2024.

With Prof. Dr. Stefán Ólafsson and his team at Reykjavik University, Anja will work on the Hugur project, which addresses the critical issue of student mental well-being. The project proposes a Digital Health Intervention (DHI) platform to support students’ mental well-being through remote monitoring and adaptive interventions. Leveraging Anja’s expertise in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) research, the project aims to assess the efficacy of Hugur in improving students’ mental well-being using established measures like the Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scales (DASS) and the Patient-Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Furthermore, the project also aims to refine the interpretation and application of HRQoL questionnaires in diverse student populations, considering factors like gender and socioeconomic status. Moreover, the international expansion of Hugur, starting with Switzerland, will test its efficacy across cultures and contribute to the deepened understanding of DHIs in different cultural contexts.

Anja’s work at the Hugur project exemplifies the intersection of cutting-edge research and real-world impact, with the potential to revolutionize mental health support for students.

Last year we had the pleasure to welcome Prof. Ólaffson for a guest lecture at our centre. Check it out here.