ACS Network

EMPOWER-ACS - the BMFTR-funded network

Since 2022, the BMFTR is funding Advanced Clinician Scientist programs all over Germany. Following the initial funding of 8 programs, the new funding period, starting in 2026, extends the network to include ACTIVATE at the UMC.

Beyond the individual ACS programs, the BMFTR supports EMPOWER-ACS, a shared platform dedicated to connecting the ACS community.

EMPOWER-ACS organizes regular network meetings that facilitate knowledge exchange and collaboration among fellows while raising the visibility of clinician-scientist careers. A central coordination office in Würzburg works closely with ACS programs and their coordinators to plan joint activities,  including annual network meetings, ensuring sustained dialogue and cooperation across the network.

Funded Programs

Bonn: ACCENT — Medizinische Fakultät
Dresden: CAMINO - Advanced Clinician Scientist Programm — Medizinische Fakultät Carl Gustav Carus — TU Dresden
Erlangen-Nürnberg: Advanced Clinician Scientist Programm iIMMUNE_ACS - Deutsches Zentrum Immuntherapie | Uniklinikum Erlangen 
Essen: Advanced Clinician Scientist Programm
Frankfurt: INITIALISE
Freiburg: IMMediate: IMMune-Mediated Diseases – Medizinische Fakultät
Hamburg: UKE - iSTAR
Würzburg: INTERACT-Advanced Clinician Scientist-Programm - Interdisziplinäres Zentrum für Klinische Forschung

Köln: Clinician Scientist
München: PROMISE - Medizinische Fakultät - LMU München
Heidelberg: Clinician Scientist Programm: Medizinische Fakultät Heidelberg
Tübingen: Clinician-Scientist | Universitätsklinikum Tübingen
Gießen: JLU-LIFT - Advanced Clinician Scientist Programm zur Förderung der biomedizinischen Forschung - Gesundheitsforschung BMFTR
Berlin: proHealth Charité 
Leipzig: Advanced Clinician Programm | Leipzig | LeiCot
Hannover: Medizinische Hochschule Hannover : Karriereprogramm: AVIATOR