EURIdoc

EURIdoc is an interdisciplinary doctoral programme in the Upper Rhine region in the field of immunology. It includes 28 doctoral positions for young scientists from all over the world. The programme is run and coordinated by Eucor – The European Campus.

The doctoral research is carried out at the EURIdoc partner institutions:

• University of Basel, Switzerland
• Albert Ludwig University of Freiburg, Germany
• Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Germany
• University of Strasbourg, France
• Freiburg University Hospital, Germany

Scientific orientation

The scientific orientation of EURIdoc is based on the immunological foci that exist in Basel, Freiburg, Karlsruhe and Strasbourg. The core topics of EURIdoc are haematopoiesis and development of the immune system, innate and adaptive immunity as well as immune-related diseases. The emphasis is on both basic research and work on applications. In the long term, these may lead to new drugs, vaccines or therapies, for example for cancer, viral or autoimmune diseases. The project also focuses on the most urgent immunological problem of our time, SARS-CoV-2, and plans to develop new therapies for Covid-19.

Interdisciplinary and intersectoral training

Beyond the university sector, the doctoral candidates will also work with four clinics and ten industrial partners. They will have the opportunity to spend research periods in leading pharmaceutical companies as well as in small and medium-sized companies.

The project strengthens the strategic thematic focus “Personalised Health – Precision Medicine” of the trinational alliance. EURIdoc is based on the existing close cooperation between the participating immunologists from Basel, Freiburg and Strasbourg. Since 2017, they have been networked as the Upper Rhine Immunology Group (URI group) and organise annual clinical workshops and scientific meetings. In addition to a Seed Money project aiming at cross-border connection among master’s programmes, EURIdoc now forms another building block of cooperation and education in immunology in the Upper Rhine region.

Funding

Within the framework of the COFUND programme of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (Horizon 2020), EURIdoc has been selected by the European Commission as an innovative international and interdisciplinary doctoral programme to receive funding of 3 million euros. Together with the co-financing of the participating partner organisations, the programme has a total of 6.8 million euros at its disposal over a period of five years.