Neuro-aCSis – Bonn Neuroscience Clinician Scientist Program

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We here propose to establish a structured Neuroscience-centered junior CS (JCS) Program, Neuro-aCSis. This program is designed to complement existing structures without a specific thematic focus at the Medical Faculty of Bonn University, such as the Junior and Advanced Clinician Scientist program BONFOR and the BMBF-funded Advanced Clinician Scientist Program ACCENT. Guided by input from current clinician scientists, we have developed an innovative concept to identify and address their unmet needs in the Neuro-aCSis program. Neuro-aCSis will be focused on understanding how the complex interactions of the nervous system with other organ systems influence human disease processes, thus linking core research areas of the Medical Faculty and the University of Bonn. The overall goals are to foster interdisciplinarity and to better understand how systemic, external or environmental factors contribute to neurological and psychiatric diseases, and how this can be leveraged to predict, diagnose, prevent or treat these diseases.JCS will be supported by individual mentoring, career development advice, travel grants for international rotations, scientific and clinical training and networking activities. They will have access to the Bonn Technology Campus Life Sciences, offering a large range of core facilities. In addition, a Co-Affiliation-Program (CAP) will affiliate JCS with scientific institutes, providing further access to cutting-edge technologies and laboratories, and increasing interdisciplinarity and the potential for translation. JCS will further benefit from a Research Administrative Support Center (RASC).Within the 3-year program, JCS will be granted 100% protected research time in the first and 50% in the second and third year, together with project funding and a contract which covers the time until board certification. During the program, JCS can apply for additional personnel funding from the intramural BONFOR program. The directors of the clinical departments will support the JCS with flexible work times, fast access to clinical rotations, scientific independence and a long-term contractual commitment. Another core aspect of our program are measures to promote gender equality and diversity, with the goal to support at least 50% female JCS in the program. The Dean, as part of the Neuro-aCSis Career Committee, will discuss each JCS’s individual career plans, long-term employment opportunities and career options together with the JCS and the respective clinical department head. The Medical Faculty offers career support measures to JCS who have successfully completed the program, including several advanced clinician-scientist programs.In summary, the JCS Neuro-aCSis program will strengthen the clinical and translational profile of Bonn University, and promote future translational research networks and clinical research groups. The Medical Faculty therefore has made a commitment to continue the Neuro-aCSis program beyond the funding period.