GRK 1508: Arterial Remodelling

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The Cardiovascular Research Training Group EuCAR builds on the unique asset of a close proximity (less than 30 km) and the solid foundation of an extensive and complementary network of bilateral collaborations between the RWTH Aachen and Maastricht Universities. Given the enormous significance of cardiovascular disease for the morbidity and mortality in western societies and its impact on public health economy, the EuCAR research programme is focussed on the underlying macrovascular pathobiology and pathophysiology, namely arterial remodelling, atherosclerosis and its inflammatory components. A main goal is to introduce novel cellular and molecular targets of high relevance from related fields, e.g. immune mediators and growth factors. This is in excellent accordance with the scientific environment endorsed by the DFG Research Unit 809 (Chemokines and Adhesion Molecules in Cardiovascular Pathogenesis) and the dedicated Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht (CARIM). Emphasis is placed on optimal selection of applicants, which feature a well-balanced record of highly cited publications and evenly matched recent history of outstanding PhD, MD/PhD or MD graduates with multiple publications in the field, and a plethora of funding for PhD students or post-docs complementing the Research Training Group.In a strictly bilateral approach, each project will be guided by at least one applicant from Aachen and one from Maastricht, which will not only form a shared thesis committee but will include a non-hierarchical involvement of successful tenure-track assistants for close and integrative mentoring and supervision of graduates and reports to the steering committee. The recruitment process will encompass international DFG offices, initial guest scholarships and an interview process to assess individual backgrounds and to define individual qualifying profiles with participation in recommended modules. The teaching programme is not only based on two columns, the PhD programme in Aachen and at CARIM, but will also implement specific modules and soft skill training, and will be horizontally interlinked by master classes, lecture series, international annual workshop meetings, as well as assistant-guided and graduate-organised activities, e.g. an eLearning methods and virtual microscopy platform. For evaluation and successful graduation with a double degree, a credit point system and advanced publication requirement criteria will be imposed, which are oriented along the guidelines for the Centre for Doctorate Studies inaugurated at the RWTH during the DFG Excellence initiative.