Research
Research
The University of Oldenburg and the Rijksuniversiteit Groningen have enjoyed an intensive co-operation for over 40 years. Numerous scientific projects have already been jointly realised. For example, the international research training group "Neurosensory Science, Systems and Applications", funded by the DFG and NWO from 1999-2009, should be emphasised. Since the founding of University Medicine Oldenburg in 2012, cross-border research activities in the field of medicine and health sciences have now been pooled even more closely.
Project selection
Numerous other research collaborations have already been realised (funded by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Programme, INTERREG, the DFG and the MWK, among others) and more are planned. Oldenburg and Groningen scientists also have the opportunity to apply for funding from the School of Medicine and Health Sciences' "research pool".
Furthermore, Oldenburg and Groningen scientists are pooling their expertise to offer joint events for scientists in the early career phase and students.
Cross-Border Institute
2018 also saw the launch of the Cross-Border Institute of Healthcare Systems and Prevention. In this joint project, the Oldenburg Department of Health Services Research and the Groningen Aletta Jacobs School of Public Health are pooling their expertise to shed light on the Dutch and German healthcare systems from different perspectives.
Joint MD/PhD programme
Since 2023, the programme has offered motivated and research-enthusiastic medical students from Groningen and Germany the opportunity to complete a joint MD/PhD in Groningen and Oldenburg every year. The recipients not only conduct research at both locations, they also get to know the other healthcare system, take courses at both Graduate Schools and benefit from the international working environment and acquire intercultural skills. The programme is part of the early-stage scientific career development programme and is a first step on the way to employment as a clinician scientist.
Joint Graduate Research Training Group
The first doctoral students of the German-Dutch doctoral programme "Translational Research: From Pathological Mechanisms to Therapy" started in 2018. The aim of the interdisciplinary programme is to interlink basic research, clinical research and population-based research in order to achieve better treatment success and improve the health and general quality of life of patients. The doctoral students are each supervised by a team of renowned German and Dutch scientists and spend their research time alternating between the two locations.
