Purpose of Funding

Funding of research collaborations in disease- or patient-oriented (translational) clinical research and the establishment of long-term scientific working groups within clinical institutions.

Eligibility

Researchers in all disciplines at German research institutions who have completed their academic training (as a rule, those holding a doctorate).

Not eligible: Members of organisations that serve purely commercial purposes; members of organisations who are not permitted to publish their results in a publicly accessible form.

Requirements of Clinical Research Units

• The scientific quality and originality of the research endeavour must be internationally competitive.
• General requirements(externer Link) of a (Clinical) Research Unit.
• Clinical questions, incorporation of clinical material, if applicable, thematic focus on translational research with patient-oriented approaches and investigation of disease mechanisms.
• The department of medicine clearly endorses the establishment and support of the Clinical Research Unit.
• Strengthening of the university’s/department of medicine’s scientific profile.
• Creation and enhancement of research-oriented structures at hospitals.
• Closer collaboration between scientists in the foundational disciplines of medicine and clinicians.
• Establishment and/or strengthening of training structures within clinical research.
• Suitability of the designated research coordinator to head the Clinical Research Unit.
• Where possible, integration of the clinical-scientific staff of the Clinical Research Unit into a Clinician Scientist Programme on site.

Type and Extent of Funding

Please see the Guidelines of Clinical Research Units(externer Link).

Proposal Modules

Clinical Research Units can include the following funding modules, some of which are required:

• Basic Module(interner Link)
• Replacements(interner Link)
• Temporary Substitutes for Clinicians(interner Link)
  (Fixed-term Clinician Scientist positions which should ideally be integrated in a Clinician Scientist Programme on site)
• Professorship(interner Link)
  (Establishment or integration of a research professorship, with the holder assuming scientific and organisational leadership of the Clinical Research Unit)
• Mercator Fellows(interner Link)
• Project-Specific Workshops(interner Link)
• Start-Up Funding(interner Link)
• Coordination(interner Link)
• Network Funds(interner Link)
• Public Relations(interner Link)
• Standard Allowance for Equity and Diversity(interner Link)

Emmy Noether Groups and funding recipients under the Heisenberg Programme can be associated with a Clinical Research Unit.

In the coordination project, funding can be requested for targeted measures to promote the academic careers of clinician scientists or natural scientists in medical research.

Funding Duration

Generally up to eight years, divided into two funding periods of four years each.

Forms and Guidelines

Here you can find the Forms and Guidelines(interner Link).

• Draft proposal: can be submitted at any time. Revised draft proposals may only be re-submitted once.
• Establishment proposal: no submission deadline.
• Renewal proposal: six months before the end of the current funding period.

To support better planning, applicants are advised to consult the department responsible at the DFG Head Office at an early stage regarding their intended submission date for the draft proposal or for the establishment/renewal proposal.

Draft proposals

A draft proposal submitted by the designated spokesperson is first reviewed by at least two external experts and then assessed by the relevant review board. Depending on the review board in question, draft proposals are considered either on a regular basis or at selected meetings. The Review Board Medicine considers draft proposals for Clinical Research Units twice a year – in spring and autumn. Based on the responsible review board’s recommendation, the DFG Senate then decides whether to recommend the elaboration of an establishment proposal based on the draft proposal.

Establishment/renewal proposal

A proposal that is submitted for the establishment or renewal of a Clinical Research Unit is discussed by a panel that includes external reviewers, members of the review boards responsible and a member of the DFG Senate. Based on their review and a recommendation by the DFG Senate, the DFG Joint Committee decides whether to fund (or continue to fund) the Clinical Research Unit. The DFG Joint Committee makes decisions on the funding of Clinical Research Units four times a year.