Biography
Work Experience
Since 2022: Senior Research associate (Post-Doc Fellow)
Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts - Music
CC Music Performance Research
Project: Music, Mood and Movement in Parkinson’s
2019-2021 Senior Research associate (Post-Doc Fellow)
North-West University of Potchefstroom, South Africa
Hypertension in Africa Research Team (HART)
Identification of Cardiovascular Disease and Hypertension- The African-PREDICT study
The Exercise, Arterial Modulation and Nutrition in Youth South Africa Study- The EXAMIN Youth SA
2015-2019 Senior Research associate (Post-Doc Fellow)
University of Basel, Switzerland
Department of Sport, Exercise and Health (DSBG)
Sports Medicine and Systems Physiology
PhD Project: Association of physical fitness, body composition and blood pressure with vascular and pulmonary health in primary school children - The EXAMIN YOUTH Study
2014-2015 Traineeship/Scientific research fellow:
University of Zurich, Switzerland
Institute: Epidemiology, biostatistics and preventive medicine (SPLASHY study)
Master Thesis: Effect of a physical activity program on preschooler’s motor skills: The „SPLASHY HOPPS“ intervention
Education
2015-2019 PhD program within the Educational Platform for Health Sciences
University of Basel
Department of Sport, Exercise and Health (DSBG)
Sports Medicine and Systems Physiology
2013-2015 Master program
Human Movement Sciences
Major in Exercise Physiology
ETH Zürich
Department of Health Sciences and Technology
2009-2013 Bachelor program
Human Movement Sciences
Department of Health Sciences and Technology
ETH Zürich
Director of Studies: Prof. Dr. med. Christina Spengler Walder
Teaching activities
Lecturer in «Cardiovascular diagnostics», Department of Sport, Exercise and Health (DSBG), Preventive Sports Medicine and Systems Physiology, University of Basel
Lecturer of «Hands on - exercise and vascular physiology», Department of Sport, Exercise and Health (DSBG), Preventive Sports Medicine and Systems Physiology, University of Basel
Lecturer of «Sports and exercise physiology», Department of Sport, Exercise and Health (DSBG), Preventive Sports Medicine and Systems Physiology, University of Basel
Awards
- Nominated for the Young Investigator Award at EuroPrevent 2018
- Prize winner of the Young Investigator Award at DeGAG
(German Speaking Society of Arterial Stiffness) Congress 2017
- Nominated for the Young Investigator Award at EuroPrevent 2017
Third-party funds raised
- National Research Foundation (NRF) in South Africa
- South African Research Chair Initiative in Early Detection and Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease (SARChI)
Publications in peer-reviewed scientific journals
Köchli S, Smith W*, Lona G, Goikoetxea-Sotelo G, Breet, Y, Botha-Le Roux S, Mokwatsi G, Kruger R*, Hanssen H. Obesity, blood pressure and retinal microvascular phenotype in a bi-ethnic cohort of young children. Atherosclerosis. (2022) doi: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2022.04.018
Köchli S, Endes K, Hauser C, Streese L, Deiseroth A, Faude O, Hanssen H. Body composition and physical fitness affect central haemodynamics in young children. Frontiers in Pediatrics. (2021) doi: 10.3389/fped.2021.750398
Köchli S, Le Roux S, Uys A, Kruger R. Cardiorespiratory Fitness, Blood Pressure and Ethnicity Are Related to Salivary Cortisol Responses after an Exercise Test in Children: The ExAMIN Youth SA Study. Int J Environ Res Public Health. (2021) doi: 10.3390/ijerph18157898
Lona G, Hauser C, Bade S, Köchli S, Infanger D, Endes K, Faude O, Hanssen H. Association of Parental Socioeconomic Status and Physical Activity with Development of Arterial Stiffness in Prepubertal Children. Int J Environ Res Public Health. (2021) doi: 10.3390/ijerph18158227
Köchli S, Endes K, Grenacher J, Streese L, Lona G, Hauser C, Deiseroth A, Zahner L, Hanssen H. Socioeconomic status and parental lifestyle are associated with vascular phenotype in children. Frontiers parental lifestyle and childhood health. (2021) doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2021.610268
Lona G, Hauser C, Köchli S, Infanger D, Endes K, Faude O, Hanssen H. Changes in physical activity behavior and development of cardiovascular risk in children. Scand J of Medicine & Science in Sport. (2021) doi: 10.1111/sms.13931
Köchli S, Schutte A, Le Roux S, Gafane-Matemane L, Smith W, Van Rooyen J, Mokwat G. Potassium intake is associated with heart rate variability in healthy black adults: The African-PREDICT study. Nutrition, Metabolism and Cardiovascular Diseases. (2020) doi: 10.1016/j.numecd.2020.12.021
Lona G, Hauser C, Köchli S, Infanger D, Endes K, Faude O, Hanssen H. Blood Pressure Increase and Microvascular Dysfunction Accelerate Arterial Stiffening in Children: Modulation by Physical Activity. Frontiers physiology. (2020) doi: 10.3389/fphys.2020.613003
Köchli S, Schutte A, Kruger R. Adiposity and physical activity are related to heart rate variability: the African-PREDICT study. Eur J Clin invest. (2020) doi: 10.1111/eci.13330
Lona G, Endes K, Köchli S, Infanger D, Zahner L, Hanssen H. Retinal Vessel Diameters and Blood Pressure Progression in Children. Hypertension. (2020) doi: 10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.120.14695
Ludyga S, Köchli S*, Gerber M, Faude O, Zahner L, Hanssen H. Cardiovascular Risk Markers and Cognitive Performance in Children. J Pediatrics. (2020) doi: /10.1016/j.jpeds.2020.05.011
Köchli S, Endes K, Trinkler M, Mondoux M, Zahner L, Hanssen H. Association of physical fitness with skin autofluorescence-derived advanced glycation end products in children. Ped Research. (2019); doi: 10.1038/s41390-019-0694-z
Köchli S, Endes K, Bartenstein T, Usemann J, Schmidt-Trucksäss A, Frey U, Zahner L, Hanssen H. Obesity, physical fitness and lung function in young children: The EXAMIN YOUTH study. Resp Medicine. (2019); doi: 10.1016/j.rmed.2019.105813
Deiseroth A, Streese L, Köchli S, Wüst R, Infanger D, Schmidt-Trucksäss A, Hanssen H. Exercise and arterial stiffness in the elderly: A combined cross-sectional and randomized controlled trial (EXAMIN AGE). Frontiers in Physiology. (2019); doi: 10.3389/fphys.2019.01119
Endes K, Köchli S, Zahner L, Hanssen H. Exercise and Arterial Modulation in Children: The EXAMIN YOUTH Study. Frontiers in Physiology. (2019); doi: 10.3389/fphys.2019.00043
Köchli S, Endes K, Ramona S, Engler L, Schmidt-Trucksäss A, Zahner L, Hanssen H. Obesity, High Blood Pressure, and Physical Activity Determine Vascular Phenotype in Young Children: the EXAMIN YOUTH Study. Hypertension. (2018);73(1):153-161. doi:10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.118.11872
Ludyga S, Köchli S*, Phüse U, Gerber M, Hanssen H. Effects of a school-based physical activity program on retinal microcirculation and cognitive function in adolescents. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport. (2018); pii: S1440-2440(18)30870-3. doi:10.1016/j.jsams.2018.11.029
Köchli S, Endes K, Infanger D, Zahner L, Hanssen H. Obesity, Blood Pressure, and Retinal Vessels: A Meta-analysis. Pediatrics. (2018); 141(6). doi:10.1542/peds.2017-4090
Kakebeeke TH, Knaier E, Köchli S, Chaouch A, Rousson V, Kriemler S, Jenni OG. Comparison between the Movement ABC-2 and the Zurich Neuromotor Assessment in Preschool Children. Percept Mot Skills. (2016). doi:10.1177/0031512516664991.
*equally contributed
Contribution to international conferences
Ungerer M, Köchli S, Rose D. Music, Movement and Mood in Parkinson’s. Working with patients and practitioners to optimize the use of music in the non-pharmacological treatment of motor and non-motor symptoms for people with Parkinson’s disease. Deutsche Gesellschaft für Musikpsychologie (DGM), Würzburg (Germany). (2022). Poster Presentation
Köchli S. The ExAMIN Youth studies Online Symposium. Prof. Dr. Ruan Kruger, HART Team, North-West University of Potchefstroom (South Africa). (2020). Oral Presentation
Köchli S, Endes K, Steiner R, Engler L, Grenacher J, Infanger D, Schmidt-Trucksäss A, Zahner L, Hanssen H. Body composition and blood pressure determine vascular phenotype in young children: The EXAMIN YOUTH Study. European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Congress, Munich (Germany). (2018). Poster Presentation
Köchli S, Endes K, Trinkler M, Mondoux M, Zahner L, Hanssen H. Influence of physical activity and fitness on advanced glycation end-product accumulation in children: The EXAMIN YOUTH study. Young Investigator Award, EAPC-EuroPrevent Congress, European Society of Cardiology (ESC), Ljubljana (Slovenia). (2018). Oral Presentation
Köchli S, Endes K, Bartenstein T, Zahner L, Hanssen H. Association of lung function with body mass and physical fitness in primary school children: The EXAMIN YOUTH Study. Schweizerische Gesellschaft für Sport Tagung (SGS), Magglingen (Switzerland). (2018). Oral Presentation
Köchli S, Endes K, Trinkler M, Mondoux M, Zahner L, Hanssen H. Influence of physical fitness and activity on advanced glycation end product accumulation in children- the EXAMIN YOUTH study. Schweizerische Gesellschaft für Sport Tagung (SGS), Magglingen (Switzerland). (2018). Oral Presentation
Köchli S, Endes K, Bartenstein T, Zahner L, Hanssen H. Association of lung function with body mass and physical fitness in primary school children: The EXAMIN YOUTH Study. Clinical Research Day, University hospital Basel, Basel (Switzerland). (2018). Poster Presentation
Köchli S, Endes K, Trinkler M, Mondoux M, Zahner L, Hanssen H. Influence of physical fitness and activity on advanced glycation end product accumulation in children: The EXAMIN YOUTH study. Clinical Research Day, University hospital Basel, Basel (Switzerland). (2018). Poster Presentation
Köchli S, Endes K, Engler L, Schmidt-Trucksäss A, Zahner L, Hanssen H. Gefässsteifigkeit im Kindesalter: Die EXAMIN YOUTH Studie. Young Investigator Award, Kongress der deutschen Gesellschaft für arterielle Gefässsteifigkeit (DeGAG), Bad Oeyenhausen (Germany). (2017). Oral Presentation
Köchli S, Endes K, Engler L, Schmidt-Trucksäss A, Zahner L, Hanssen H. Prevalence and influence of obesity and hypertension on arterial stiffness in Swiss primary school children: The EXAMIN YOUTH study. Young Investigator Award, EAPC-EuroPrevent, European Society of Cardiology (ESC), Malaga (Spain). (2017). Oral Presentation
Köchli S, Endes K, Engler L, Schmidt-Trucksäss A, Zahner L, Hanssen H. Prevalence and influence of obesity and hypertension on arterial stiffness in Swiss primary school children: The EXAMIN YOUTH study. Schweizerische Gesellschaft für Sport Tagung (SGS), Zürich (Switzerland). (2017). Oral Presentation
Köchli S, Endes K, Engler L, Schmidt-Trucksäss A, Zahner L, Hanssen H. Prävalenz und Einfluss von Adipositas und Bluthochdruck auf die arterielle Gefässsteifigkeit bei Primarschulkindern: Die EXAMIN YOUTH Studie. Clinical Research Day, Universitätsspital Basel, Basel (Switzerland). (2017). Oral Presentation
