The Faculty of Medicine has been supporting clinician scientists since 2012. The idea: to strengthen doctors who work both clinically and scientifically as a crucial link so that research and care are closely interlinked.

This funding is supplemented and increased by a structured programme: the Cologne Clinician Scientist Programme (CCSP). This programme is supported by the German Research Foundation (DFG), which has developed a concept specifically for clinician scientists. The DFG recently published background information and a funding atlas of all DFG-funded Clinician Scientist Programmes. In this way, paracurricular support (research track, research exchange, sabbaticals, research scholarships) can be further expanded in the postgraduate area. Further information on the Cologne CCSP can be found in our flyer.

The Cologne Clinician Scientist Programme is aimed at doctors with a doctorate who have completed their first years of further training as a specialist and who can demonstrate a documented scientific interest (preferably with at least one first authorship). The CCSP programme is intended to enable the retention of people interested in science and the promotion of longer-term scientific activity parallel to or alternating with clinical training.

The funding of a fellow in the programme is initially for 2 years and can be extended for a further year following a positive evaluation. By continuing to support clinician scientists through structured programmes and involving the ZKS and the clinics, the Faculty of Medicine aims to strategically promote the expansion and networking of research and translation.

In spring 2022, the German Research Foundation (DFG) approved the 2nd funding phase of the Cologne Clinician Scientist Programme (CCSP). This will provide the Faculty of Medicine with around €1.3 million over the next two years to further establish the programme and support clinician scientists in Cologne.