The Dieter Morszeck Foundation supports a special “Clinician Scientist” program at the DKFZ, which offers young physicians protected research periods of one to three years under excellent research conditions.

The education and training of young talent in medical research is a driving force for the development of medical innovations. There is a significant shortage of clinician scientists worldwide – researching physicians who are both specialized in cancer treatment and have experience in scientific research.

In the Clinician Scientist Program at the DKFZ, young doctors are given the opportunity to conduct research in working groups of experienced clinician scientists or medical scientists. Intensive mentoring by experienced specialists accompanies them during the program. Since its launch in 2019, the program has established itself as an important funding instrument for clinician scientists and has developed into an internationally recognized training program for young clinician scientists with global visibility. Graduates of the program publish their own scientific papers and aim to take further steps in their careers as clinician scientists after completing the program.