Isala goes Marie

Isala Goes Marie is part of the global Isala Sisterhood and Switzerland's first citizen science initiative focused on vaginal health. Inspired by the Belgian Isala campaign, which began in 2020 with a call to 200 women and received over 5,000 registrations within ten days, it has since grown to encompass numerous countries. Since then, sister initiatives have emerged in numerous countries, all united by the goal of conducting serious research into vaginal health.

The Swiss offshoot is named Marie, in homage to Marie Heim-Vögtlin, a pioneer of women's medicine. Despite significant resistance, she persevered in her field in the 19th century.
 
 

Researching Menstrual Health

How are tampons, pads and menstrual cups connected to the vaginal microbiome? The IMVAHA study, an international research project conducted in Peru, Cameroon and Switzerland, is exploring this question. Although around half of the population menstruates, there is still a significant need for research in this area, even in Switzerland.

As part of the 'Isala goes Marie' initiative, catta is collaborating closely with the research team on the Swiss component of the IMVAHA study, providing communication support for the project. This involves recruiting participants for the online survey and the long-term study spanning six menstrual cycles.

The initiative can be found on Instagram at @marie_theproject.

Client: Swiss TPH / University of Zurich

Our role: Science communication, community building and management, recruitment

Duration: 2025–2026