Contact

T +49 89 4140 4041

E office.ethics@mh.tum.de

Mon-Thu: 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Fri: 9 a.m.-1 p.m. (core hours)

Dr. Bettina Zimmermann

Research fellow

Dr. Bettina Zimmermann is a research fellow at the Institute of History and Ethics in Medicine at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and also a senior researcher at the Institute for Biomedical Ethics at the University of Basel in Switzerland. She is interested in how public debates and communication shape individual perceptions and political decisions about health prevention, focusing on genomics, new health technologies, and infectious diseases.

She completed her dissertation in 2020 on "Informed Decision Making for Genetic Testing: Public discourse and individual choice" summa cum laude During her postdoc, Bettina worked on the role of solidarity in people’s behaviour during the COVID-19 pandemic (SolPan project), the role of scientific advisory bodies in pandemic policy responses (ESPRIM project) and the use of social media as a recruitment tool for clinical studies (TherVacB project).

Bettina has already received several research grants for young researchers and successfully led research projects. For example, she received the Käthe-Zingg Schwichtenberg Fund of the Swiss Academy of Medical Sciences in 2019, the Research Fund for Young Investigators of the University of Basel in 2020, and 2022 an Early Career Research Grant for Women from the Multidisciplinary Center for Infectious Diseases at the University of Bern.

  • Research Ethics
  • Science-policy interactions
2025
Silva, Susana;Machado, Helena;Galasso, Ilaria;Zimmermann, Bettina M;Botrugno, Carlo (2025). Narratives about distributed health literacy during the COVID-19 pandemic., Band 29, Ausgabe 1, S. 100-117 [mehr...]
2024
Fiske, Amelia;Radhuber, Isabella M;Salvador, Consuelo Fernández;Araújo, Emilia Rodrigues;Jasser, Marie;Saxinger, Gertrude;Zimmermann, Bettina M;Prainsack, Barbara (2024). Don’t waste the crisis: The COVID-19 Anthropause as an experiment for rethinking human–environment relations, SAGE Publications, In: Environment and Planning E: Nature and Space [mehr...]
Matthes, Nina;Willem, Theresa;Buyx, Alena;Zimmermann, Bettina M (2024). Social Media Recruitment as a Potential Trigger for Vulnerability: Multistakeholder Interview Study, JMIR Publications Inc., In: JMIR Human Factors, Band 11, S. e52448-e52448 [mehr...]
Schönweitz, Franziska B.;Zimmermann, Bettina M.;Hangel, Nora;Fiske, Amelia;McLennan, Stuart;Sierawska, Anna;Buyx, Alena (2024). Solidarity and reciprocity during the COVID-19 pandemic: a longitudinal qualitative interview study from Germany, Springer Science and Business Media LLC, In: BMC Public Health, Band 24, Ausgabe 1 [mehr...]
Schönweitz, Franziska B;Zimmermann, Bettina M;Hangel, Nora;Fiske, Amelia;McLennan, Stuart;Sierawska, Anna;Buyx, Alena (2024). Solidarity and reciprocity during the COVID-19 pandemic: a longitudinal qualitative interview study from Germany., Band 24, Ausgabe 1 [mehr...]
Willem, Theresa;Fritzsche, Marie-Christine;Zimmermann, Bettina M.;Sierawska, Anna;Breuer, Svenja;Braun, Maximilian;Ruess, Anja K.;Bak, Marieke;Schönweitz, Franziska B.;Meier, Lukas J.;Fiske, Amelia;Tigard, Daniel;Müller, Ruth;McLennan, Stuart;Buyx, Alena (2024). Embedded Ethics in Practice: A Toolbox for Integrating the Analysis of Ethical and Social Issues into Healthcare AI Research, Springer Science and Business Media LLC, In: Science and Engineering Ethics, Band 31, Ausgabe 1 [mehr...]
Willem, Theresa;Zimmermann, Bettina M;Matthes, Nina;Rost, Michael;Buyx, Alena (2024). Acceptance of Social Media Recruitment for Clinical Studies Among Patients With Hepatitis B: Mixed Methods Study, JMIR Publications Inc., In: Journal of Medical Internet Research, Band 26, S. e54034 [mehr...]
Zimmermann, Bettina M. (2024). Swiss residents’ information behavior perceptions during the COVID-19 pandemic: A longitudinal qualitative study, Elsevier BV, In: Social Science & Medicine, Band 344, S. 116647 [mehr...]
Zimmermann, Bettina M;Paul, Katharina T;Janny, Anna;Butt, Zarah (2024). Between information campaign and controversy: a quantitative newspaper content analysis about COVID-19 vaccination in Switzerland and Austria., Band 52, Ausgabe 3, S. 253-261 [mehr...]
2023
Eichinger, Johanna;Zimmermann, Bettina;Elger, Bernice;McLennan, Stuart;Filges, Isabel;Koné, Insa (2023). 'It's a nightmare': informed consent in paediatric genome-wide sequencing. A qualitative expert interview study from Germany and Switzerland., Band 31, Ausgabe 12, S. 1398-1406 [mehr...]
Goldman, Nina;Willem, Theresa;Buyx, Alena;Zimmermann, Bettina M (2023). Practical Benefits, Challenges, and Recommendations on Social Media Recruitment: Multi-Stakeholder Interview Study., Band 25 [mehr...]
Kieslich, Katharina;Fiske, Amelia;Gaille, Marie;Galasso, Ilaria;Geiger, Susi;Hangel, Nora;Horn, Ruth;Lanzing, Marjolein;Libert, Sébastien;Lievevrouw, Elisa;Lucivero, Federica;Marelli, Luca;Prainsack, Barbara;Schönweitz, Franziska;Sharon, Tamar;Spahl, Wanda;Van Hoyweghen, Ine;Zimmermann, Bettina M (2023). Solidarity during the COVID-19 pandemic: evidence from a nine-country interview study in Europe., Band 49, Ausgabe 4, S. 511-520 [mehr...]
Zimmermann, Bettina M;Buyx, Alena;McLennan, Stuart (2023). Newspaper coverage on solidarity and personal responsibility in the COVID-19 pandemic: A content analysis from Germany and German-speaking Switzerland., Band 22 [mehr...]
Zimmermann, Bettina M;Paul, Katharina T;Araújo, Emília R;Buyx, Alena;Ferstl, Sebastian;Fiske, Amelia;Kraus, David;Marelli, Luca;McLennan, Stuart;Porta, Vittoria;Prainsack, Barbara;Radhuber, Isabella M;Saxinger, Gertrude (2023). The social and socio-political embeddedness of COVID-19 vaccination decision-making: A five-country qualitative interview study from Europe., Band 41, Ausgabe 12, S. 2084-2092 [mehr...]
2022
Paul, KT*; Zimmermann, Bettina*; Corsico, P; Fiske, Amelia; S, Geiger; Johnson, S; et al., ; (2022) Anticipating hopes, fears and expectations towards COVID-19 vaccines: A qualitative interview study in seven European countries, SSM - Qualitative Research in Health, 100035, 10.1016/j.ssmqr.2021.100035
Zimmermann, Bettina; Willem, Theresa; Bredthauer, CJ; Buyx, Alena; (2022) Ethical Issues in Social Media Recruitment for Clinical Studies: Ethical Analysis and Framework, Journal of Medical Internet Research, 24, 5, e31231, 10.2196/31231
Johnson, SB; Lucivero, F; Zimmermann, Bettina; Stendahl, E; G, Samuel; Philips, A; Hangel, Nora; (2022) Ethical Reasoning During a Pandemic: Results of a Five Country European Study, AJOB Empirical Bioethics, 13, 2, 67-78, https://doi.org/10.1080/23294515.2022.2040645
Fiske, Amelia; Schönweitz, Franziska; Eichinger, Johanna; Zimmermann, Bettina; Nora, Hangel; Sierawska, Anna; McLennan, Stuart; Buyx, Alena; (2022) The COVID-19 Vaccine: Trust, doubt, and hope for a future beyond the pandemic in Germany, Plos One, 17, 4, e0266659, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0266659
Fiske, Amelia; Galasso, Ilaria; Zimmermann, Bettina; McLennan, Stuart; Isabella, Radhuber; Prainsack, Barbara; (2022) The Second Pandemic: Examining structural inequality through reverberations of COVID-19 in Europe, Social Science and Medicine, 292, 114634
Schönweitz, Franziska; Eichinger, Johanna; Kuiper, JM; Ongolly, F; W, Spahl; Prainsack, Barbara; Zimmermann, Bettina; (2022) The Social Meanings of Artefacts: Face Masks in the COVID-19 Pandemic, Frontiers in Public Health, 10.3389/fpubh.2022.829904
2021
Zimmermann, Bettina; Fiske, Amelia; Prainsack, Barbara; Hangel, Nora; Stuart, McLennan; Buyx, Alena; (2021) Early Perceptions of COVID-19 Contact Tracing Apps in German-Speaking Countries: Comparative Mixed Methods Study, Journal of Medical Internet Research, 23, 2, e25525, https://doi.org/10.2196/25525
Zimmermann, Bettina; Eichinger, Johanna; Schönweitz, Franziska; Buyx, Alena; (2021) Face mask uptake in the absence of mandates during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative interview study with Swiss residents, BMC Public Health, 21(1), 1-10. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-12215-4, 21, 2171, https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-12215-4
Zimmermann, Bettina; Fiske, Amelia; McLennan, Stuart; Sierawska, Anna; Nora, Hangel; Buyx, Alena; (2021) Motivations and Limits for COVID-19 Policy Compliance in Germany and Switzerland , International Journal of Health Policy and Management, 10.34172/ijhpm.2021.30
Zimmermann, Bettina; Shaw, DM; Elger, B; Koné, I; (2021) The use of heuristics in genetic testing decision-making: A qualitative interview study, PLoS One, 16, 11, e0260597, 10.1371/journal.pone.0260597
Zimmermann, Bettina; Eichinger, Johanna; Baumgartner, MR; (2021) A systematic review of moral reasons on orphan drug reimbursement , Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases, 16, 1, 292, 10.1186/s13023-021-01925-y
Lucivero, F; Marelli, L; Hangel, Nora; Zimmermann, Bettina; B, Prainsack; Galasso, I; et al., ; (2021) Normative positions towards COVID-19 contact-tracing apps: findings from a large-scale qualitative study in nine European countries, Critical Public Health, 32, 1, 1-14, 10.1080/09581596.2021.1925634
Zimmermann, Bettina; Fiske, Amelia; Prainsack, B; Hangel, Nora; Stuart, McLennan; Buyx, Alena; (2021) The Conceptualisation of COVID-19 Contact Tracing Apps in German-speaking Countries in April 2020: A Comparative Mixed Methods Study, Journal of Medical Internet Research, 23, 2, e25525
2020
Zimmermann, Bettina; Koné, I; Shaw, D; Elger, B; (2020) Autonomy and social influence in predictive genetic testing decision-making: A qualitative interview study, Bioethics, 35, 2, 199-206, 10.1111/bioe.12816
Kollbrunner, L; Rost, M; Koné, I; Zimmermann, Bettina; Y, Padrutt; Wangmo, T; Elger, B; (2020) Acute and transitional care or rehabilitation? Retrospective analysis of discharge planning from a municipal hospital in Switzerland, BMC Health Services Research, 20, 1, 1-8, 10.1186/s12913-020-05547-1
Zimmermann, Bettina; Shaw, D; Heinimann, K; Knabben, L; B, Elger; Koné, I; (2020) How the „control-fate continuum“ helps explain the genetic testing decision-making process: a grounded theory study, European Journal of Human Genetics, 28, 8, 1010–1019, 10.1038/s41431-020-0602-3
Zimmermann, Bettina; Starke, G; Shaw, D; Elger, B; I, Koné; (2020) Actionability and scope should determine the extent of counselling for presymptomatic genetic testing , Swiss Medical Weekly, 150, w20274, 10.4414/smw.2020.20274
Zimmermann, Bettina; Shaw, D; Heinimann, K; Knabben, L; B, Elger; Koné, I; (2020) How the control-fate continuum“ helps explain the genetic testing decision-making process: „ a grounded theory study, European Journal of Human Genetics, 28, 8, 1010–1019, 10.1038/s41431-020-0602-3
Zimmermann, Bettina; Fanderl, J; Koné, I; Rabaglio, M; N, Bürki; Shaw, D; Elger, B; (2020) Examining information-seeking behavior in genetic testing for cancer predisposition A qualitative interview study, Patient Education and Counseling, 104, 2, 257-264, 10.1016/j.pec.2020.09.019
2019
Zimmermann, Bettina; Kolb, S; Zimmermann, F; Elger, B; D, Shaw; (2019) Influence of content, events and culture on the public discourse about medical genetics in Switzerland a quantitative media content analysis, Communication & Medicine, 16, 1, 92-106, 10.1558/cam.34832
Zimmermann, Bettina; Elger, B; Shaw, D; (2019) Media coverage of ethical issues in predictive genetic testing: a qualitative analysis, AJOB Empirical Bioethics, 10, 4, 250–264, 10.1080/23294515.2019.1670275
Zimmermann, Bettina; Aebi, N; Kolb, S; Shaw, D; BS, Elger; (2019) Content, evaluations and influences in newspaper coverage of predictive genetic testing: A comparative media content analysis from the United Kingdom and Switzerland, Public understanding of science, 28, 3, 256–74, 10.1177/0963662518816014
Zimmermann, Bettina; Koné, I; Rost, M; Leu, A; T, Wangmo; Elger, BS; (2019) Factors associated with post-acute discharge location after hospital stay: a cross-sectional study from a Swiss hospital, BMC Health Services Research, 19, 1, 289, https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-019-4101-6
2018
Koné, I; Zimmermann, Bettina; Nordström, K; Elger, BS; T, Wangmo; (2018) A scoping review of empirical evidence on the impacts of the DRG introduction in Germany and Switzerland , The International journal of health planning and management, 34, 1, 56-70, 10.1002/hpm.2669
Koné, I; Zimmermann, Bettina; Wangmo, T; Richner, S; M, Weber; Elger, B; (2018) Hospital discharge of patients with ongoing care needs: The current situation using data from a city hospital under SwissDRG, Swiss Medical Weekly, 148, w14575, 10.4414/smw.2018.14575
2017
Farnsworth, B; Radomska, KJ; Zimmermann, Bettina; Kettunen, P; E, Jazin; Emilsson, LS; (2017) mRNA levels are upregulated in schizophrenia and predict expression , Brain Research, 1669, 63-68, 10.1016/j.brainres.2017.05.027
2016
Farnsworth, B; Peuckert, C; Zimmermann, Bettina; Jazin, E; P, Kettunen; Emilsson, LS; (2016) Gene Expression of Quaking in Sporadic Alzheimer’s Disease Patients is Both Upregulated and Related to Expression Levels of Genes Involved in Amyloid Plaque and Neurofibrillary Tangle Formation , Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, 53, 1, 209–219, 10.3233/JAD-160160
  • Ethics and Palliative Care Seminar (Certificate of Achievement GTE) (SoSe and WiSe)
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