Summary
Work History
Education
Skills
Websites
Additional Information
Languages
Timeline
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Silvan Gabriel Pless

Silvan Gabriel Pless

Summary

Research scientist in clinical psychology and cognitive neuroscience. Specialized in digital biomarker development, cognitive assessment, and gamified digital health tools for neurodegenerative diseases. Experienced in clinical study design, data analysis, and interdisciplinary collaboration in academic and industry settings.

Work History

PhD Candidate

Research Center for Clinical Neuroimmunology and Neuroscience Basel (RC2NB), University Hospital Basel (USB), University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
2019 - 2025

- Conducted research on cognition, digital biomarkers, and gamification of monitoring applications in multiple studies


- Developed smartphone-based, adaptive and gamified monitoring tool for cognitive functions in multiple sclerosis: CoGames as part of the dreaMS project (Development of Digital Biomarkers in Multiple Sclerosis)


- Supervised master students

Research Assistant

Interdisciplinary Platform for Psychiatry and Psychology, Department of Molecular- and Cognitive Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology, University of Ba
2015 - 2025

- Administered and scored neuropsychological tests for national and international clinical studies phase III and IV in multiple sclerosis research


- Compiled a comprehensive neuropsychological test battery for the Swiss Multiple Sclerosis Cohort Study (SMSC)


- Supervised master students (faculty of psychology) on their research project and theses, including training in administration and interpretation of neuropsychological tests and taught research practices (planning, data gathering, management, statistical analyses and scientific writing)

Research Associate

Hospital Dr. Julio Mendez, Buenos Aires, Argentina
2018 - 2019

- Conducted a research project “Personality Traits and Cognition in Multiple Sclerosis


- Administered neuropsychological test batteries and personality trait questionnaires to patients with multiple sclerosis

Private German Tutor

Language School “Tusclases”, Buenos Aires, Argentina
2018 - 2019

- Tutored students in German (CEFR B2 level)


Internship in Psychodiagnostics

University Psychiatric Clinics Basel, Basel, Switzerland
2016 - 2017

- Administrated structured interviews (SKID-I, SKID-II) and neuropsychological tests for diagnostic purposes


- Prepared psychiatric reports


- Applied cognitive training for people with schizophrenia

Internship at the Neuropsychological Assessment Ce

“Gutachtenstelle Für Neuropsychologie Basel”, Basel, Switzerland
2014 - 2015

- Drafted neuropsychological reports

Education

PhD (Dr. Sc. Med.) -

Faculty of Medicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
01-2025

Master of Science -

Faculty of Psychology, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerla
01-2017

Bachelor of Science -

Faculty of Psychology, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerla
01-2015

Basic Military Training -

Swiss Armed Forces, Medical Corps

Skills

    Clinical Skills:

    - Anamnesis and structured clinical interviews (eg SKID-I, SKID-II)

    - Patient interaction (neurological and psychiatric patients)

    - Cognitive training

    - Neuropsychological test administration

    - First responder training

    Technical Skills:

    - Statistical software: R, SPSS

    - Data analysis and visualization

    - Digital tool design and testing

Additional Information

Publications:

Pless S, Woelfle T, Lorscheider J, et al. CoGames: Development of an adaptive smartphone-based and gamified monitoring tool for cognitive function in Multiple Sclerosis. J Neurol. 2025;272(2):119. Published 2025 Jan 15. doi:10.1007/s00415-024-12818-y


Pless S, Woelfle T, Naegelin Y, et al. Assessment of cognitive performance in multiple sclerosis using smartphone-based training games: a feasibility study. J Neurol. 2023;270(7):3451-3463. doi:10.1007/s00415-023-11671-9


Woelfle T, Pless S, Reyes Ó, et al. Smartwatch-derived sleep and heart rate measures complement step counts in explaining established metrics of MS severity. MSARD 2023; 80, 105104. doi:10.1016/j.msard.2023.105104.


Cerdá-Fuertes N, Stoessel M, Mickeliunas G, et al. Optical coherence tomography versus other biomarkers: Associations with physical and cognitive disability in multiple sclerosis. Mult Scler. 2023;29(13):1540-1550. doi:10.1177/13524585231198760


Woelfle T, Pless S, Reyes O, et al. Reliability and acceptance of dreaMS, a software application for people with multiple sclerosis: a feasibility study. J Neurol. 2023;270(1):262-271. doi:10.1007/s00415-022-11306-5


Woelfle T, Pless S, Wiencierz A, Kappos L, Naegelin Y, Lorscheider J. Practice Effects of Mobile Tests of Cognition, Dexterity, and Mobility on Patients With Multiple Sclerosis: Data Analysis of a Smartphone-Based Observational Study. J Med Internet Res. 2021;23(11):e30394. Published 2021 Nov 18. doi:10.2196/30394


Pless S, Woelfle T, Lorscheider J, et al. Monitoring Cognition in Multiple Sclerosis via Adaptive Smartphone Games - First Insights from a Validation Study - submitted


Conference Presentations & Posters

Oral presentation:

- Title: Assessing cognitive impairment in Multiple Sclerosis using smartphone-based training games: Results of a feasibility study

Authors: Pless S, Naegelin Y, Lorscheider J, Woelfle T, Wiencierz A, Reyes O, Santos J, Calabrese P, Kappos L

Conference: American Academy of Neurology Annual Meeting (AAN), Seattle, 2022


Poster presentation:

- Title: Assessing cognitive impairment in Multiple Sclerosis using smartphone-based training games: Results of a feasibility study

Authors: Pless S, Naegelin Y, Lorscheider J, Woelfle T, Wiencierz A, Reyes O, Santos J, Calabrese P, Kappos L

Conference: European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS), Amsterdam, 2022; International Multiple Sclerosis Cognition Society (IMSCOGS), Bordeaux, 2022

- Title: CoGames – Development of an adaptive, smartphone-based, and gamified monitoring tool for cognitive function

Authors: Pless S, Woelfle T, Wiencierz A, Luque C, Reyes O, Calabrese P, Granziera C, Lorscheider J, Kappos L

Conference: European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS), Copenhagen, 2024; International Multiple Sclerosis Cognition Society (IMSCOGS), Bern, 2024, Swiss Neurological Society Annual Meeting (SNS), Basel, 2024


References:

References available upon request.

Languages

German
Bilingual or Proficient (C2)
English
Advanced (C1)
Spanish
Advanced (C1)
French
Upper intermediate (B2)

Timeline

PhD Candidate

Research Center for Clinical Neuroimmunology and Neuroscience Basel (RC2NB), University Hospital Basel (USB), University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
2019 - 2025

Research Assistant

Interdisciplinary Platform for Psychiatry and Psychology, Department of Molecular- and Cognitive Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology, University of Ba
2015 - 2025

Research Associate

Hospital Dr. Julio Mendez, Buenos Aires, Argentina
2018 - 2019

Private German Tutor

Language School “Tusclases”, Buenos Aires, Argentina
2018 - 2019

Internship in Psychodiagnostics

University Psychiatric Clinics Basel, Basel, Switzerland
2016 - 2017

Internship at the Neuropsychological Assessment Ce

“Gutachtenstelle Für Neuropsychologie Basel”, Basel, Switzerland
2014 - 2015

PhD (Dr. Sc. Med.) -

Faculty of Medicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland

Master of Science -

Faculty of Psychology, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerla

Bachelor of Science -

Faculty of Psychology, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerla

Basic Military Training -

Swiss Armed Forces, Medical Corps
Silvan Gabriel Pless