Neuro-aCSis

Bonn Neuroscience Clinician Scientist Program

In summer 2022 the University Hospital Bonn (UKB) and the Medical Faculty of the University of Bonn received funding from the German Research Foundation (DFG) to establish a Clinician Scientist Program.

The program is aimed at resident physicians who are in the middle of their specialization period. The scientific focus is on the connections between diseases of the nervous system and systemic factors. Thus, participating clinician scientists in the program conduct research, for example, on the influence of environmental factors, nutrition, or systemic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease or cancer, on neurological and psychiatric disorders.
For this purpose, a protected release of 66% of the working time for the research activity is guaranteed over a period of 3 years (100% in the first year, 50% in each of the following two years). However, the distribution of the protected release times can also be adapted according to the project circumstances.
In order to carry out the research activity, the CS will be hosted by a research institute of the faculty through a co-affiliation for the duration of the funding. In addition to the own position, consumable funds of up to €12,000 can be requested for the first funding year and a further €3,000 each for years two and three. An additional €6,000 in project and core facility funds must be provided by the host research institution for the entire funding period.  Accompanying the funding, the Clinician Scientists are supported by an extensive mentoring program.

The overarching goals of the program are to create long-term, attractive career prospects and binding contracts for a protected research period. Female and male doctors are thereby to be encouraged to acknowledge and pursue an academic career as an attractive career option. In addition, the goal is to award at least 50% of the grants to female applicants. In this way, highly qualified female clinical researchers in particular are to be supported in reconciling patient care and research with their family planning.