Berta-Ottenstein-Program for (Advanced) Clinician Scientists

Clinical research requires excellent physicians who are, in addition to their work in health care, active in research. However, working in a clinic often leaves little time for physicians to pursue their own research projects. To promote a sustainable research-oriented career for physicians, the Berta-Ottenstein-Program was founded under the leadership of Prof. Leena Bruckner-Tuderman and Prof. Robert Thimme at the Faculty of Medicine for the target group of clinician scientists in the fall of 2016, which was then expanded in 2019 to also include the target group of advanced clinician scientists.

Admission to the respective target groups of the Berta-Ottenstein-Program is based on a competitive and transparent two-stage selection process, in which applications are evaluated by the scientific selection committee of the respective target group.

Funding Line ‘Clinician Scientists’

Fellows and Alumni

Funding Line ‘Advanced Clinician Scientists’

Fellows and Alumni

The main objective of the Berta-Ottenstein-Program is to create ideal conditions for (specialist) physicians in research to combine a research and clinical career at the University Medicine Freiburg within the framework of a structured excellence program.

Funding Line ‘Clinician Scientists’	Funding Line Advanced Clinician Scientist
Protected research time, which can be divided flexibly over the total funding period of three years (typically 50%)	Protected research time, which can be divided flexibly over the total funding period of three years (typically 30%)
Continuing clinical training as part of medical specialist training (typically 50%)	Individual qualification program focusing on leadership skills
Individual qualification program focusing on continuing scientific and medical education as well as interdisciplinary competencies	Simultaneous (cross-)mentoring
Using the services offered	Managing a research group
Completion of research publications	Training and mentoring of researchers who are still at the beginning of their career in your own research group
Preparation of the habilitation	Independent, research-oriented teaching

Participation in a structured excellence program with ideal conditions to combine a research and clinical career
Interdisciplinary networking, exchange, and cooperation with peers as well as renowned experts

Funding Line ‘Clinician Scientists‘

Support in strategic career planning by an individual advising committee
Qualification program adapted to the needs of the fellows
Preparation for academic leadership tasks

Funding Line ‘Advanced Clinician Scientists‘

Support in strategic career development through mentoring
Individualized trainings appropriate to the career level in the form of courses or lectures, primarily on the topic of “Leadership in research”
Participation in strategic discussions at the Faculty of Medicine for the further development of medical research as part of the faculty’s closed conference on research (Fakultätsklausur Forschung), which takes place biennially.

In the Berta-Ottenstein-Program, participants are either admitted to track I or track II. The two tracks (I and II) only differ in terms of funding: The research activities of fellows in track I are funded through the Berta-Ottenstein-Program, while fellows in track II are funded through external funds or funds of the Medical Center. All other general conditions and services are the same for track I and track II. These funding options make the qualification and support concept available to an even larger number of (specialist) physicians.

Prof. Dr. Robert Thimme, Department of Medicine II

Prof. Dr. Ute Spiekerkötter, Department of General Pediatrics, Adolescent Medicine and Neonatology

Prof. Dr. Berta Ottenstein (1891–1956) was a notable dermatologist. In 1931, she was the first woman to earn her habilitation (post-doctoral qualification) at the University of Freiburg, but unfortunately, was forced to leave the university in 1933 due to her Jewish descent. She immigrated to Hungary, where she worked at the clinic of the Royal Hungarian Pázmány Péter University in Budapest from 1933–1935. From 1935–1945, she then led the chemical laboratory of the dermatological clinic at Istanbul University. After the end of the war, she moved to the U.S. Since she was not allowed to practice as a physician there, she worked as a “research fellow” in dermatology in the Skin Department of the New England Medical Center in Boston. In 1951, she was appointed auxiliary professor at the Faculty of Medicine in Freiburg.

Berta Ottenstein’s outstanding scientific achievements, as well as her remarkable practical clinical work and patient care, are why her name was chosen for this program for clinician scientists (2016) and advanced clinician scientists (2019) at the Faculty of Medicine. The program was established to provide physicians active in research with excellent clinical and scientific training.

In memory of Berta Ottenstein as a notable Freiburg scientist, the Senate of the University of Freiburg named the women’s research prize, which has been awarded since 1997, after her in September 2005. The University of Freiburg awards the annual Berta Ottenstein Prize, which is endowed with EUR 5 000, to honor and support structural measures and innovative projects of female students and researchers as well as outstanding achievements of women.

Berta Ottenstein Prize

News

Event

Ten-year anniversary event of the Berta-Ottenstein-Program

11.02.2026
Children’s and Youth Hospital

More information will follow soon.
_[17.09.2025]

News

Ten-year anniversary of the Berta-Ottenstein-Program

The Berta-Ottenstein-Programme was established in autumn 2016 under the direction of Prof. Leena Bruckner-Tuderman and Prof. Robert Thimme. Seven clinician scientists started in the funding line at that time. In 2019, the Advanced Clinician Scientists funding line was introduced, with eleven fellows joining at that time. To date, the programme has funded 70 Clinician Scientists and 55 Advanced Clinician Scientists.
_[17.09.2025]

Meet Our Fellows and Alumni

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Funding Period 01.01.2026 – 31.12.2028

Track I

Dr. Lorenz Markus Bell

Institute of Forensic Medicine

Epigenetisches Markerpanel zur Einordnung von Alkoholkonsumgewohnheiten

Dr. Tabea Bertram

Department of Neurosurgery

Einfluss der IDH-Inhibition auf die T-Zell-vermittelte Immunantwort bei Gliom-PatientInnen

Dr. Svea Böhm

Department of General Pediatrics, Adolescent Medicine and Neonatology

Hämophagozytischen Lymphohistiozytose (HLH) aufgrund von genetischen Störungen des Immunsystems und des Stoffwechsels.

Dr. Julian Rapp

Department of Medicine I

Exploring the spatial landscape and temporal evolution of clonal hematopoiesis and its clinical implications in patients with CNS lymphomas.

Dr. Simon Rauterberg

Department of Congenital Heart Defects and Pediatric Cardiology

Atherosklerose-spezifische Autoimmunität bei Kindern und jungen Erwachsenen mit Herzerkrankung

Dr. Marietta Wolf

Department of Operative Dentistry andPeriodontology

Untersuchungen zum Einfluss verschiedener Fusobacterium nucleatum Subspezies auf die Karzinogenese von Gingivakeratinozyten

Dr. med. univ. Johanna Zandanell

Department of Dermatology

Genetische Varianten, spezifische Therapie: Small Molecules zum gezielten Überlesen von pathogenen Nonsense Varianten in Epidermolysis bullosa

Funding Period 01.01.2025 – 31.12.2027

Track I

Dr. med. Lucas Bacmeister

Department of Cardiology and Angiology

Early identification and prevention of premature postpartum cardiovascular events

Dr. Anna Fink

Department of Radiology

Entwicklung und klinisch-radiologische Translation bildbasierter Biomarker für die Nierenfunktion

Dr. med. univ. Joseph Kletzer

Department of Cardiovascular Surgery

Deep learning in coronary bypass surgery

Dr. Lauritz Miarka

Institute of Neuropathology

Mapping the spatial organization and multicellular interactions of myeloid cell states in human central nervous system lymphoma

Dr. Adrian Schmid

Department of Plastic Surgery

Artificial intelligence-assisted tumor detection of soft tissue sarcomas using genome-wide mutation
signatures in cell-free DNA

Dr. Tobias Wertheimer

Department of Medicine I: Hematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation

AlloPRECISE: allogeneic stem cell transplantation PRECIsion Oncology using SystEms immunology

Dr. Anna Willems

Department of General Pediatrics, Adolescent Medicine and Neonatology

Das Post-COVID-Syndrom bei Kindern und Jugendlichen als Modellkrankheit für postvirale Syndrome mit ZNS-Beteiligung – ein multimodaler Ansatz zur Detektion möglicher Biomarker

Short Term Funding

Dr. Daniel Zander, Eye Center: 01.01.2025 – 30.06.2025

Funding Period 01.01.2024 – 31.12.2026

Track I

Dr. Maryam Barsch

Department of Medicine II: Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Endocrinology, and Infectious Disease

Deep profiling of the tumor immune microenvironment in patients with cholangiocarcinoma

Dr. Anne Geweniger

Department of Neuropediatrics and Muscle
Disorders

Measuring and enhancing participation of children with disabilities – Psychometric Evaluation of the Participation and Environment Measure for Children and Youth (PEM-CY German version) and application in collaborative care planning for children with
disabilities

Dr. Julian Maier

Department of Orthopedics and Trauma
Surgery

Multivariate Untersuchung chondrogener Knochentumore zur Identifizierung molekularer Signaturen und zielgerichteter Therapien

Dr. Dr. Janis Nolde

Department of Medicine IV: Nephrology and Primary Care

The role of renal magnetic resonance imaging in
quantifying cardiovascular target organ damage and risk – from MRI image to personalised risk estimation

Dr. Laura Trefzer

Department of Dermatology

Entschlüsselung des immunologischen Mechanismus der Granulom- Pathogenese und Identifizierung therapeutischer Zielstrukturen

Dr. Karina Zeyer

Department of General Pediatrics, Adolescent Medicine and Neonatology

Der Einfluss des Metabolismus auf die Produktion und Deposition von extrazellulärer Matrix (EZM) beim fibrotischen Umbau der Niere

Track II

Dr. Rebecca Diehl

Department of Dermatology

lmmune-mediated patho logy as a consequence of impaired lymphocyte-extracellular matrix interactions

Dr. Philipp Mathé

Department of Medicine II: Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Endocrinology, and Infectious Disease

Innovative individualized clinical profiling of patients using host transcriptome and cell-free microbial DNA in a new bloodstream infection cohort

Annemarie Clotten Scholarship Recipient

Dr. Balázs Bogner

Department of Radiology

Multiparametrische MRT-gesteuerte Biopsie und Stimulierte Raman- Histologie zur Präzisionsdiagnostik bei Weichgewebesarkomen

Short Term Funding

Dr. Max Michael Träger, Department of Urology: 01.01.2024 – 28.02.2025

Funding Period 01.01.2023 – 31.12.2025

Track I

Dr. Theo Dähne

Institute of Virology

Immunologische Charakterisierung von Anti-HSV-1 Antikörpern

Dr. Alexander Klesen

Department of Congenital Heart Defects and Pediatric Cardiology

Mechano-sensitivity in human monocytes and haemodynamics

Dr. Julia Christina Kühn

Department of Medicine I: Hematology, Oncology, and Stem-Cell Transplantation

Charakterisierung der Immunlandschaft von ZNS-Lymphomen zur Verbesserung des Verständnisses von Pathogenese und Therapieansprechen

PD Dr. Kimon Runge

Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy

Neue Biomarker im Liquor von Patienten mit schizophreniformen Psychosen und Zwangsstörungen

Dr. Tino Vollmer

Department of Medicine I: Hematology, Oncology, and Stem-Cell Transplantation

The functional dissection of intratumoral chemokine systems in immune and cancer cells

Track II

Dr. Birte Ohm

Department of Thoracic Surgery

CD26-Inhibition zur Prävention der chronischen Lungentransplantatabstoßung

Short Term Funding

Dr. Christoph Geier, Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology: 01.01.2023 – 30.03.2024

Funding Period 01.01.2022 – 31.12.2024

Track I

Dr. Leo Benning, MPH

University Emergency Center

Comprehensive Trans-Sectoral Emergency Care
(COMPETENCE)

Dr. Felix Burkhardt

Department of Prosthetic Dentistry

Entwicklung 3D-druckbarer Filamente zur Implementierung in einer auf künstlicher Intelligenz basierenden Fertigungsstrecke von Zahnersatz

Dr. Nicolas Neidert

Department of Neurosurgery

Neuroimmunologische Pathomechanismen bei der
Ausbildung des Zerebralen Vasospasmus nach
aneurysmaler Subarachnoidalblutung

Dr. Alexander Runkel

Department of Plastic Surgery

Non-invasive monitoring of neoadjuvant radiotherapy response in soft-tissue sarcomas by quantification of circulating tumor DNA

Dr. Alexander Rau

Department of Radiology
Department of Neuroradiology

Etablierung und Validierung von innovativer MRT-Bildgebung als in-vivo Biomarker zur Differentialdiagnostik neurodegenerativer Erkrankungen

Dr. Dr. Natascha Röhlen

Department of Medicine II: Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Endocrinology, and Infectious Disease

Characterization of hepatocyte dedifferentiation in liver disease progression and HCC – target discovery and the role of the tumor microenvironment

Dr. August Sigle

Department of Urology

Enhancing MRI-based prostate biopsy – Optimizing the diagnostic strategy of prostate cancer towards a biopsy-free future

Track II

Dr. Marius Schwabenland

Institute of Neuropathology

Die räumliche und hochdimensionale CyTOF-basierte
Titel: Untersuchung des myeloische’: Kompartiments bei diffusen Mittelliniengliomen

Funding Period 01.01.2021 – 31.12.2023

Track I

Dr. Stefaniya Boneva

Eye Center

Charakterisierung von vitrealen Hyalozyten und ihrer Rolle bei der Entstehung der proliferativen diabetischen Retinopathie

Dr. Kristina Maas-Bauer

Department of Medicine I: Hematology, Oncology, and Stem-Cell Transplantation

The impact of human invariant natural killer T cell sublineages on fraft-versus-host-disease

Dr. Roman Pichler

Department of Medicine IV: Nephrology and Primary Care

Modellierung der autosomal- dominanten polyzystischen
Nierenerkrankung in der Knockout- Maus und durch 3D- Druck reprogrammierter Tubuluszellen

Dr. Björn Schorch

Department of General Pediatrics

Interaktion von Makrophagen mit M. ulcerans- Toxinen in der
Pathogenese des Buruli-Ulkus

Dr. Simon Spohn

Department of Radiation Oncology

Big Data Analysen in der Individualisierung der Strahlentherapie bei primärem und rezidiviertem Prostatakarzinom

PD Dr. Lukas Sturm

Department of Medicine II: Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Endocrinology, and Infectious Disease

Aggravated bacterial translocation in patients with liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension treated with proton pump inhibitors

Dr. Jose Francisco Villena Ossa

Institute for Transfusion Medicine and Gene Therapy

Generation of PSMA-specific chimeric antigen receptor expressing natural killer cells for the treatment of patients with prostate carcinoma

Funding Period 01.01.2020 – 31.12.2022

Track I

Dr. Prisca Bauer

Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy

Presence & prodromes: Increasing seizure self-awareness through mindfulness and micro-neurophenomenology

Dr. Matthias Jung

Department of Radiology

Quantitative perioperative MR-Bildgebung der Schulter für eine personalisierte klinische Behandlung

Dr. Iva Speck

Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology

Anwendung innovativer neuronaler bildgebender Verfahren in der Prognose des Sprachverstehens und der Höranstrengung nach Cochlea Implantation

Dr. Jakob Strähle

Department of Neurosurgery

Strukturelle und Funktionelle Korrelate von Plastizität im menschlichen Hirngewebe

Dr. Stefan Vestring

Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy

Modulation synaptischer Plastizität durch Ketamin und Einfluss der TrkBY433F Bindungsstelle auf diese

Dr. Dr. Markus Wenning

Department of Orthopedics and Trauma
Surgery

Quantifizierung der mechanischen Sprunggelenkinstabilität mittels dynamischem 3D-MRT

Short Term Funding

Stefanie Kreutmaier, Department of Medicine I: Hematology, Oncology, and Stem-Cell Transplantation: 01.01.2020 – 31.01.2020

Funding Period 01.01.2019 – 31.12.2021

Track I

Dr. Frederic Arnold

Department of Medicine IV: Nephrology and Primary Care

Differentielle und redundante Funktionen der Transkriptionsfaktoren T-bet und Eomes im Rahmen der CD8 T-Zell-Aktivierung

PD Dr. Felicitas Bucher

Eye Center

IL6-family induced Stat3 signaling – a crucial signaling pathway in retinal angiogenesis?

Dr. Kerstin Alexandra Klotz

Department of Neurosurgery

Interaction of epilepsy and cognition in a subcortically induced epilepsy- what is more important- structural or functional networks?- analysis of epileptogenic networks in hypothalamic hamartoma

PD Dr. Dr. Philipp Poxleitner

Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Regional Plastic Surgery

Individualisierte Tumortherapie bei Kopf-Hals-Tumoren durch
3D-Biomarkierung

PD Dr. Roman Sankowski

Institute of Neuropathology

Mikrogliaheterogenität im gesunden und erkrankten Gehirn

Dr. Jan Schönberger

Department of Neuropediatrics and Muscle
Disorders

Epileptic VS. Physiological High-Frequency Oscillations:
Characterization of Underlying Mechanisms at the Single-Gell
Level in Epilepsy Patients

Dr. Nils Schröter

Department of Neurology and Neuroscience

Vergleich und Etablierung verschiedener bildgebender Verfahren sowie der videoassistierten und Algorithmus basierten Bewegungsanalyse in der Differenzialdiagnostik und der Verlaufsbeurteilung von Parkinsonsyndromen

Dr. Isabel Schüle

Department of General Pediatrics, Adolescent Medicine and Neonatology

Molecular Mechanisms of genetic renal diseases with childhood onset: Whole exome sequencing mediated gene discovery and Multiomics-Analysis of CRISPR/Cas9 – derived Nephronophthisis models

Track II

PD Dr. Astrid Pechmann

Department of Neuropediatrics and Muscle
Disorders

SMARTCARE – Real World Data zur Therapie der Spinalen Muskelatrophie

Funding Period 01.01.2017 – 31.12.2020

Track I

Dr. Natalie Frede

Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology

Baricitinib and human B lymphocytes: impact of treatment on normal and pathological B cell development

Dr. Anna-Maria Globig

Department of Medicine II: Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Endocrinology, and Infectious Disease

T-Zelldifferenzierung im peripheren Blut und im Darm bei Patienten mit chronisch entzündlichen Darmerkrankungen

Dr. Rouven Höfflin

Department of Medicine I: Hematology, Oncology, and Stem-Cell Transplantation

Einfluss von HIF-1a und HIF-2a auf das immunolog ische Tumor Microenvironment im klarzelligen Nierenzellkarzinom

Prof. Dr. Dr. Christoph Schell

Institute for Surgical Pathology

Disease modelling der Morbus Fabry Nephropathie unter Verwendung von genome editing Technologien

Prof. Dr. Katrin Wacker

Eye Center

Prediction of patient-centered outcomes in Fuchs endothelial dystrophy

PD Dr. Constantinos Zamboglou

Department of Radiation Oncology

Biomarker und Bioimaging zur individualisierten Planung einer Strahlentherapie bei primärem Prostatakarzinom

Short Term Funding

Dr. Michael Kaminski, Department of Medicine IV: Nephrology and Primary Care: 01.07.2017 – 30.06.2018

Funding Period 01.01.2016 – 31.12.2019

Track I

Dr. Petya Apostolova

Department of Medicine I: Hematology, Oncology, and Stem-Cell Transplantation

The role of the unfolded protein response in the pathogenesis of acute graft-versus-host disease

Prof. Dr. Dominik Bettinger

Department of Medicine II: Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Endocrinology, and Infectious Disease

Impact of hepatic and systemic inflammation on liver function and tumor cell dissemination in patients with advanced liver disease

PD Dr. Roland Elling

Department of General Pediatrics, CCI – Center for Chronic Immunodeficiency

A genome wide CRISPR screen to identify essential components of glucocorticoid-mediated suppression of type I interferon signaling

Prof. Dr. Daniel Erny

Institute of Neuropathology

Die Rolle der Mikrobiota für neurodegenerative Erkrankungen an einem Mausmodell für Morbus Alzheimer

Dr. Maximilian Heeg

Department of General Pediatrics, CCI – Center for Chronic Immunodeficiency

Molecular and clinical consequences
of activating STAT3 mutations in T cells

Dr. habil. Antonia Reimer-Taschenbrecker

Department of Dermatology

Epidermolysis bullosa: Genotyp-Phänotyp-Korrelationen, Natural History und Versorgungslage

Dr. Julius Wehrle

Department of Medicine I: Hematology, Oncology, and Stem-Cell Transplantation

Development of a novel, liquid biopsy based method for earlier diagnosis and improved treatment management in patient with translocation-based sarcomas

Fellows und Alumni: Advanced Clinician Scientists

Fellows 2025
Fellows 2024
Fellows 2023
Fellows 2022
Fellows 2021
Fellows 2020
Fellows 2019

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Funding Period 01.01.2025 – 31.12.2027

Track I

PD Dr. Juan Carlos Balderman-Weiß

Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy

Entwicklung einer nicht-invasiven Neuromodulation zur Behandlung von Vermeidungsverhalten

Dr. Stefaniya Boneva

Eye Center

Charakterisierung der Rolle von Hyalozyten in der
Pathogenese der proliferativen Vitreoretinopathie

PD Dr. Stephanie Finzel

Department of Rheumatology and ClinicalImmunology

Improved screening strategy for early detection of Sjögren syndrome-associated lymphoma by risk stratification, salivary gland ultrasound and molecular analyses

Dr. Athina Ganner

Department of Medicine IV: Nephrology and Primary Care

Analyzing the impact of high-risk ccRCC VHL mutations on transcription factor regulation

PD Dr. Lukas Heger

Department of Cardiology and Angiology

The role of Neutrophil Extracellular Traps in the Pathobiology of Heart Failure: Focus on neutrophil Nlrp3 (NOD-, LRR- and pyrin domain-containing protein 3) Inflammasome and Protein Arginine Deiminase 4

Dr. Alexander Rau

Department of Neuroradiology

Entschlüsselung des Einflusses von Risikomutationen auf die Neurodegeneration bei der Alzheimer-Demenz und der Parkinson-Krankheit

PD Dr. Konstantin Scholz

Department of Operative Dentistry and Periodontology

Lanthanoidsalze als neuartige Wirkstoffe zur Kariesprävention: Remineralisationspotential und antibakterielle Effekte in vitro und in vivo

Funding Period 01.01.2024 – 31.12.2026

Track I

Prof. Dr. David Braig

Department of Plastic Surgery

Etablierung zirkulierender Tumor-DNA als nichtinvasiver diagnostischer Biomarker bei Patienten mit Weichgewebssarkomen – From Bench to Bedside

Dr. Björn Christian Frye

Department of Pneumology

Interplay between epithelial and immune cells in lung transplant recipients is pivotal for lung transplant survival

Prof. Dr. Jonas Hosp

Department of Neurology and Neuroscience

Dopamin für die Neurorehabilitation – die entscheidende Rolle der ventral-tegmentalen Projektionen zum Kortex für die multimodale Erholung nach Schlaganfall

PD Dr. Katharina Laubner

Department of Medicine II:
Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Endocrinology, and Infectious Disease

Inkretin-Analoga bei Antipsychotika induzierter Gewichtszunahme

Prof. Dr. Kathrin Nickel

Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy

Prädiktion psychopharmakologischer Nebenwirkungen mittels ophthalmologischer Untersuchungsmethoden bei Menschen mit paranoider Schizophrenie

Dr. Ann-Kathrin Rauch

Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology

Strukturelle und funktionelle Integrität des auditorischen Cortex bei Kindern nach Cochlea Implantation: How the brain (re-) learns hearing with a cochlear implant

PD Dr. Ricarda von Krüchten

Department of Radiology

Pathophysiology and Diagnostics of Hematoma Expansion in Acute Intracerebral Hemorrhage

Funding Period 01.01.2023 – 31.12.2025

Track I

PD Dr. Joachim Brumberg

Department of Nuclear Medicine

Clinical evaluation of [18F]Florzolotau PET as a biomarler for 3R/4R- and 4R-tauopathies

PD Dr. Maximilian Kreibich

Department of Cardiovascular Surgery

Predicting Aortic Behavior

PD Dr. Alexander Maier

Department of Cardiology and Angiology

Temporal dynamics of monocyte migration after myocardial infarction with 19F-MRI

Dr. Kerstin Rabel

Department of Prosthetic Dentistry

Entwicklung und zellbiologische Charakterisierung 3Dgedruckter mikrostrukturierter Dentalimplantat-Suprastrukturen zur Verbesserung der Weichgewebsintegration

PD Dr. Michael Schultheiß

Department of Medicine II: Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Endocrinology, and Infectious Disease

Weiterentwicklung und Optimierung der TIPS-Anlage

Dr. Dr. Anke Schumann

Department of General Pediatrics, Adolescent Medicine and Neonatology

Deciphering renal involvement in organic acidurias: The toxic metabolite hypothesis

PD Dr. Alexander Supady

Interdisciplinary Medical Intensive Care

Early administration of dexamethasone for the treatment of patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (EXPERT) – a randomized, controlled, double-blind multi-center trial

Funding Period 01.01.2022 – 31.12.2025

Track I

PD Dr. Wibke Bechtel-Walz

Department of Medicine IV: Nephrology and Primary Care

Autophagozytose-vermittelte podozytäre Integrität – Bedeutung und epigenetische Regulation des ADP-Ribosylation Factor-Interacting Protein Arfip2 bei chronischen Nierenerkrankungen

PD Dr. Felicitas Bucher

Eye Center

The effect of glia cell-specific STAT3-signaling on retinal angiogenesis

PD Dr. Roland Elling

Department of General Pediatrics

Speichelbasierte Diagnostik von SARS-CoV-2-Infektionen – Massensurveillance, Analytik innerfamiliärer Transmission und serologische Diagnostik

Prof. Dr. Andreas Harloff

Department of Neurology and Neuroscience

Multiparametrische Magnetresonanztomographie zur Einschätzung der Progression und Rupturgefahr von Karotisstenosen und zur individuellen Therapieentscheidung

PD Dr. Tobias Hermle

Department of Medicine IV: Nephrology and Primary Care

Untersuchungen zur Pathogenese von TRPC-Kanal-assoziierten Glomerulopathien in Drosophila sowie mittels Exomsequenzierung

PD Dr. Eva Johanna Kubosch

Department of Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery

Der Einfluss von Orthobiologika auf die Regeneration muskuloskelettaler Gewebe

PD Dr. Ioannis Vasilikos

Department of Neurosurgery

Light Activated Riboflavin Collagen Crosslinking of the Intervertebral Disc (LARC)

Funding Period 01.01.2021 – 30.06.2022

Track I

PD Dr. Andrea Dreßing

Department of Neurology and Neuroscience

The recovering brain: strukturelle und funktionelleGrundlagen der Erholung komplexer motorischer Fähigkeiten nach Schlaganfall

Prof. Dr. Daniel Erny

Institute of Neuropathology

Die Mausstamm-abhängige Zusammensetzung der intestinalen Wirtsmikrobiota beeinflusst Mikroglia im ZNS unter Homöostase und Krankheitsbedingungen

Prof. Dr. Christoph Olivier

Department of Cardiology and Angiology I

Hemostatic Profiling to Enable Personalized Antithrombotic Therapy in Patients after Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement

PD Dr. Franziska Schauer

Department of Dermatology

Lichen planus und seine Facetten : Charakterisie rung der Klinik und Pathogenese für neue therapeutische Möglichkeiten

PD Dr. Elisabeth Schorb

Department of Medicine I: Hematology, Oncology, and Stem-Cell Transplantation

Optimization of treatment strategies in elderly PCNSL patients

Prof. Dr. Katrin Wacker

Eye Center

The genetics and transcriptomics of Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy

PD Dr. Constantinos Zamboglou

Department of Radiation Oncology

Implementierung einer deep-learning Architektur zur individualisierten Strahlentherapie bei Patienten mit primärem Prostatakarzinom (DLAIS)

Track II

PD Dr. Dietrich Rueß

Department of General and Visceral Surgery

Synergistic immunomodulatory effects of SHP2- (+/- MEK-) inhibition in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

Funding Period 01.01.2020 – 30.06.2021

Track I

Prof. Dr. Dominik Bettinger

Department of Medicine II: Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Endocrinology, and Infectious Disease

Persistence of ascites after TIPS implementation

Prof. Dr. Simone Hettmer

Department of Pediatric Hematology and
Oncology

Impact of aberrant TP53, introduced at different time points during tumor evolution, on rhabdomyosarcoma phenotype, target expression and treatment susceptibility

Prof. Dr. Pia Jungmann

Department of Radiology

Advanced quantative pre- to postoperative Shoulder MRI for personalized clinical treatment: The qPOSH MRI study

Prof. Dr. Dimitra Kiritsi

Department of Dermatology

Skin fragility caused by defective intermediate filaments: disease mechanisms and therapeutic approaches with anti-aggregation treatments

Prof. Dr. Olga Polydorou

Department of Operative Dentistry and Periodontology

Mikro- und Nanoplastik sowie andere Mikroschadstoffe im
Abwasser der Zahnheilkunde – Gefahren für die Umwelt

PD Dr. Roland Rölz

Department of Neurosurgery

Verzögerte zerebrale Infarkte nach Subarachnoidalblutung. Ein lösbares Problem

Prof. Dr. Jens Thiel

Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology

Untersuchung der zentralen und peripheren B-Zellentwicklung bei Patienten mit ANCA-assoziierten Vaskulitiden und prolongierter oder persistierender B-Zell-Depletion nach Rituximab-Therapie

Track II

PD Dr. Gernot Michael Lang

Department of Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery

InflamoDisc – Der biologische und mechanische Effekt der selektiven proinflammatorischen Zytokininhibition bei der degenerativen Bandscheibenerkrankung

Funding Period 01.04.2019 – 30.09.2020

Track I

Prof. Dr. Tobias Böttler

Department of Medicine II: Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Endocrinology, and Infectious Disease

Regulation and function of follicular T helper cells in liver diseases

PD Dr. Jesús Duque-Afonso

Department of Medicine I: Hematology, Oncology, and Stem-Cell Transplantation

Identification of mechanisms of resistance to targeted therapy and chemotherapy in acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Prof. Dr. Dominique Endres

Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy

Klinische Biomarker zur Detektion von Autoimmunpsychosen

PD Dr. Miriam Erlacher

Department of Pediatric Hematology and
Oncology

Identifizierung von Tumorsuppressorgenen, welche die
Leukämieentstehung in Individuen mit GATA2-Syndrom fördern

PD Dr. Birte Kulemann

Department of General and Visceral Surgery

Zirkulierende Tumorzellen als prädiktive Biomarker beim
nicht metastasierten gastroösophagealen Adenokarzinom
im multimodalen Therapie-Setting

PD Dr. Achim Lother

Department of Cardiology and Angiology I

Zelltyp-spezifische Funktion von Mineralokortikoidrezeptoren bei
pulmonaler Hypertonie und assoziierter Rechtsherzinsuffizienz

Prof. Dr. Elke Neumann-Haefelin

Department of Medicine IV: Nephrology and Primary Care

The role of NEPH-NEPHRIN proteins as regulators of neuron
and kidney morphogenesis

Prof. Dr. Nils Schallner

Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care

Die zentrale Bedeutung der HO-1-abhängigen Kohlenmonoxid-
Produktion bei der Regulation der zirkadianen Rhythmik:
Beeinflussung der neuronalen Schädigung und der Interaktion
zwischen zentralem Nervensystem und peripheren Organen

PD Dr. Derek Spieler

Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy

Leukocyte telomere attrition and mental health

Dr. Ori Staszewski

Institute of Neuropathology

Charakterisierung Interferonopathie assoziierter Zellpopulationen
des ZNS

Prof. Dr. Dennis Wolf

Department of Cardiology and Angiology I

Protective T cell immunity in human atherosclerosis

Funding lines of the Berta-Ottenstein-Program

Funding line ‘Clinician Scientists’

The target group of the funding line ‘clinician scientists’ includes physicians in their medical specialist training (ideally between the 6th and 36th month), who have earned a doctorate and are active in research, and who have an above-average qualification and would like to carry out a research project at the Medical Center – University of Freiburg.

Die ersten sieben Clinician Scientists 2016

The call for applications is addressed at

physicians in research who are in their medical specialist training, ideally between the 6th and 36th month. If a first specialist training has already been completed, a specialization in another area or a second specialist training should have been started.
dental specialists who have ideally been practicing for at least six months at the start of the program, and
researchers who are employed at the Medical Center – University of Freiburg for at least the medium term at the start of the program (including researchers returning from abroad or external applicants).

Detailed information can be found in the guidelines (only accessible within the Medical Center – University of Freiburg or request by email).

Guidelines

If you have any questions regarding the formal participation requirements, please contact the Coordination Office for the Berta-Ottenstein-Program.

E-Mail

In the Berta-Ottenstein-Program, applications can be submitted for either track I or track II (see funding above). Please select whether you are applying for track I or track II on the application documents.
Please note the information sheet and the application form with further information, which you can request during the call for applications from the Coordination Office for Berta-Ottenstein-Program of the Office of the Dean for Research at the Faculty of Medicine.

Contacts

Funding Line ‘Clinician Scientists’

Call for Applications 2026

The next round of calls for applications will start in spring 2026. We are looking forward to your applications!

You can already put your name on our priority list now to receive all relevant information and documents when the call for applications starts.

E-Mail

Dr. Irene Nagel

Scientific Coordinator

clinicianscientist@uniklinik-freiburg.de
+49 761 / 270 72267

Corina Schnabel, M.A.

Administrative Coordinator

clinicianscientist@uniklinik-freiburg.de
+49 761 / 270 72267

Funding line ‘Advanced Clinician Scientists’

The target group of the funding line ‘advanced clinician scientists’ includes scientifically and clinically competent specialist physicians who have preferably earned a habilitation (post-doctoral qualification) and have experience in management roles (such as [functional] senior physicians), and who have a proven research profile and are leading or developing a research group.

Forscherin mit Reagenzglas und Schutzbrille

The call for applications is addressed at specialist physicians with scientifically and clinically outstanding qualifications, who

have a proven research profile,
are leading or developing a research group,
have already earned a habilitation, have attained the qualification to habilitate or equivalent achievements (including auxiliary professors),
have their own approved external funding,
preferably hold a clinical management role, such as (functional) senior physicians, and
who are employed at the Medical Center – University of Freiburg for a medium term at least at the start of the program.

Detailed information can be found in the guidelines (only accessible within the Faculty of Medicine or request by email).

Guidelines

If you have any questions regarding the formal participation requirements, please contact the Coordination Office for the Berta-Ottenstein-Program.

E-Mail

In the Berta-Ottenstein-Program, applications can be submitted for either track I or track II (see funding above). Please select whether you are applying for track I or track II on the application documents.
Please note the information sheet and the application form with further information, which you can request during the call for applications from the Coordination Office for Berta-Ottenstein-Program of the Office of the Dean for Research at the Faculty of Medicine.

Contacts

Funding Line ‘Advanced Clinician Scientists’

Call for Applications 2026

E-Mail

Leo Vössing, M.A.

Scientific Coordinator

clinicianscientist@uniklinik-freiburg.de
+49 761 / 270 72267

Dr. Amelie Jäger

Scientific Coordinator

clinicianscientist@uniklinik-freiburg.de
+49 761 / 270 72267

Testimonials of Fellows of the Berta-Ottenstein-Program

“My research benefited significantly from the protected research time, which allowed me to successfully develop, conduct, and publish studies. I submitted my habilitation on time before the program was completed. “

Clinician Scientist Fellow

“The program is very well organized compared to other locations, and there is a lively exchange among the fellows. I also thought that the training opportunities were very diverse, with a direct scientific connection and/or personal aspects.”

Clinician Scientist Fellow

“The leadership course of the EQUIP program was really helpful. The instructor highlighted important and new aspects of leadership. I often think back to it and use what I have learned almost daily.”

Advanced Clinician Scientist Fellow

“Overall, a great program that supported me significantly in my scientific, professional, and personal development.”

Advanced Clinician Scientist Fellow

Training and Qualification Programs

Course Curriculum

Leadership in Science

Events

The Berta-Ottenstein-Program offers regular events for fellows to engage in academic exchange and networking.

Events
Symposium
Retreat
Networking Meeting
Kick-Off
Seminar

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Take a look at the individual tabs to see the events that take place regularly in the Berta-Ottenstein-Program:

Symposium
Retreat
Network Meeting
Kick-Off
Seminar

The symposium offers scientists in Freiburg the opportunity to acquire up-to-date information on the projects of the Berta-Ottenstein-Program, to attend talks by renowned Freiburg and other (inter)national scientists as well as to interact and network with one another.

Extending Frontiers in Science and Medicine

26.11.2025

The first joint symposium of the Berta-Ottenstein- and IMMediate-Program invited all doctoral students, postdocs and researchers. The aim was to bring together scientists interested in the field of extending frontiers in science and medicine.

Programme 2025

Towards Data-Driven Therapies

04.10.2022

The Berta-Ottenstein-Programme invited all doctoral students, postdocs and researchers to the second scientific symposium. The aim was to bring together scientists interested in recent developments in the field of novel diagnostic and individual therapeutic approaches.

Programme 2022

Translational Immunology

27.04.2018

The Berta-Ottenstein-Programme invited all doctoral students, postdocs and researchers to the first scientific symposium. The aim was to bring together scientists interested in the field of translational immunology.

Programme 2018

During the Retreat, Clinician Scientists fellows receive expert input on various topics, such as third-party funding applications and publication performance. They also attend methodology workshops and have the opportunity to network with Advanced Clinician Scientists from the Berta-Ottenstein- and IMMediate-Program.

The Networking Meeting – Freiburg Career Programs in Medicine offers fellows from all structured programmes in Freiburg the opportunity to network and establish collaborations. Current fellows from the Berta-Ottenstein-Program, the IMM-PACT-Program, the IMMediate-Program and the Hans A. Krebs Medical Scientists Program come together here. Round tables are held on specific topics (e.g. AI).

The Kick-Off is aimed at current and former fellows of the Berta Ottenstein Programme, as well as their mentors. New fellows will be welcomed to the programme and those who have completed it will receive their certificates. There will also be thematic input followed by a discussion.

The Seminar is held every two months and features project presentations by the current fellows.

External Funding Programs for (Advanced) Clinician Scientists

Else Kröner Research Schools

Networking with Other Locations

Information on the Clinician Scientist Program Network in Baden-Württemberg

Faculty Newsletter

The Office of the Dean for Research provides monthly e-mail updates on the latest news, research infrastructures, calls for proposals and events from the Faculty of Medicine; on new national and international calls for proposals for research funding programs, prizes and scholarships; and on research topics in general.

EQUIP Postdoc-Newsletter

The Faculty of Medicine’s EQUIP (Education and Qualification for Postdocs) program publishes the monthly EQUIP Postdoc Newsletter in English to provide information about specific courses, lectures, events, calls for applications and other important information relevant to postdocs at the Faculty of Medicine.

Further information on the Faculty of Medicine’s EQUIP program can be found on the website.

Subscribe to the Faculty Newsletter [de]

Current Issue and Archive (internal access only)

Subscribe to the EQUIP Postdoc Newsletter

EQUIP