The Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg and the University of Groningen have developed close ties over more than 40 years of intense collaboration. They have carried out numerous joint scientific projects. One prominent example is the international graduate school "Neurosensory Science, Systems and Applications", which ran from 1999 until 2009 and was funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) and the Dutch Research Council (NWO).  Since the founding of Oldenburg's School of Medicine and Health Sciences in 2012, the two universities have intensified their cross-border research activities in the fields of medicine and health sciences.

Joint MD/PhD Programme

Since 2023, the program has offered motivated and research-enthusiastic medical students at the University of Oldenburg the opportunity to do an 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, attend courses at both graduate schools and benefit from the international working environment and acquire intercultural skills. The program thus provides young clinicians and scientists with the best possible training for employment as a clinician scientist.

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Doctoral Programme

In early 2018 the first doctoral candidates on the German-Dutch doctorate programme "Translational Research: From Pathological Mechanisms to Therapy" took up their research activities. The main objective of this interdisciplinary programme is to combine basic research, clinical research and population-based research to achieve better treatment results and improve the health and quality of life of patients. Each of the doctoral candidates is supervised by a team of distinguished German and Dutch scientists. Part of their research time will be spent in Groningen. Throughout this period they will take part in numerous cross-border networking sessions, seminars and excursions. For further information about this doctorate programme. 

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Cross-Border Institute of Healthcare Systems

The School of Medicine and Healthcare Sciences’ Department of Health Services Research collaborates closely with the Aletta Jacobs School of Public Health in Groningen, which was founded in 2018. Under the auspices of the jointly run Cross-Border Institute of Healthcare Systems, the Dutch and German healthcare systems will be subjected to comprehensive analysis from various perspectives (medical care, health economy, legal aspects, social science aspects, etc.). 

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Selection of Projects

Many other joint research projects have already been realized, a number of which secured funding from renowned sponsor organisations (e.g. the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, the European Training Network, INTERREG, the DFG, the Ministry for Science and Culture, etc.) Further joint applications for funding have been submitted or are currently in preparation. The Oldenburg and Groningen researchers also have the option to apply for funding from the School of Medicine and Health Sciences' "Research Pool".

In addition, researchers at Oldenburg and Groningen combine their expertise to offer joint summer/spring schools and other educational events for young researchers and students.

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