# Clinical Research Units (Klinische Forschungsgruppen)

**Funder:** DFG
**Consortium:** Required — multiple researchers at German clinical institutions
**Eligible countries:** DE
**Official call:** https://www.dfg.de/en/research-funding/funding-opportunities/programmes/coordinated-programmes/clinical-research-units
**Last verified:** 1 July 2026

## Eligibility & scope

Funds research collaborations in disease- or patient-oriented (translational) clinical research at German university hospitals. Applicants must hold a doctorate and be affiliated with a German research institution. Requires clinical questions, incorporation of clinical material, and translational/patient-oriented approaches. Commercial-purpose organisations and those unable to publish results are ineligible.

## Summary

DFG Clinical Research Units (Klinische Forschungsgruppen) fund multi-researcher collaborations in disease-oriented and patient-centred clinical research at German university hospitals, with a focus on translational approaches incorporating clinical material. Applicants must hold a doctorate and be affiliated with a German research institution; the call requires teams of clinician-scientists working on questions with direct clinical relevance. Commercial organisations and any group unable to publish results are ineligible.

## Who should apply

- Researchers holding a doctorate affiliated with German university hospital or academic institution
- Multidisciplinary teams combining clinicians and basic scientists
- Investigators working on disease-oriented or patient-centred research questions
- Projects incorporating clinical material and translational clinical approaches
- Researchers committed to open-access publication and results dissemination

## Key dates

- Verify deadline on DFG website (call structure and frequency vary by research area)
- Consortium-based application format
- Multi-year project duration (specific terms set per funding cycle)

## Tips for applicants

- Clinical relevance is mandatory: frame your research question in patient-oriented or disease-relevant terms, not purely mechanistic.
- Team composition matters: DFG assesses whether your consortium brings complementary clinical and scientific expertise to the question.
- Budget and publication plan transparently, DFG scrutinises commercial conflicts and open-access commitment.

## Frequently asked questions

### Who can apply for DFG Clinical Research Units?

Researchers holding a doctorate and affiliated with a German research institution; applications must be team-based and include researchers at German clinical institutions.

### What kind of research does DFG Clinical Research Units fund?

Disease-oriented and patient-centred translational clinical research incorporating clinical material and clinical questions, conducted collaboratively at German university hospitals.

### Are there any eligibility restrictions for DFG Clinical Research Units?

Commercial-purpose organisations and groups unable to publish results openly are ineligible; all projects must support open publication.

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Source: [The Great Grantsby](https://grantsby.eu/grants/dfg-clinical-research-units-klinische-forschungsgruppe-2026) — EU grant monitoring for academic researchers. Always verify details on the funder's website before applying.