Faculty of Medicine receives funding for research-active physicians

Career prospects for -clinician scientists new career support programme facilitates integrated medical and scientific qualifications For medical professionals who are active in both patient care and research, many scientific questions and opportunities to apply new research findings arise directly from everyday clinical practice. This patient-oriented approach is ideal for helping to translate research results into new and improved applications in medical care. However, the dual career path of so-called clinician scientists involves many challenges which require novel and specific career support structures. The Faculty of Medicine at the University of Münster has now received funding from the German Research Foundation (DFG), more than two million euros over an initial three year period, to expand its career support programme for physicians also undertaking research. The majority of the grant will be used to set up a new programme module and support 24 medical professionals as they undertake scientific qualifications in tandem with their medical specialty training at the Münster University Hospital. -For this challenging phase in their careers, we want to provide participants with as much flexibility in their individual planning as possible, mindful use of their time, and a network that gives support at all levels,- explains nuclear medicine specialist Prof Michael Schäfers, spokesperson for the new clinician scientist programme entitled -CareerS-. The scientific focus of the new qualification module will initially be on the topic of organ-specific immune responses, a strong research field at Münster University.