Doctoral candidates will complete a set of core research courses providing a solid foundation in cerebral vascular function and dysfunction, scientific theory, and responsible research practice. Training covers experimental design, critical thinking, research ethics, Good Scientific Practice (GSP), Open Science, and regulatory requirements for laboratory and animal research, with a strong emphasis on reproducibility.

Candidates receive hands-on training in statistics, pre-registration, and fully reproducible workflows, supported by mandatory instruction in R and Python for data analysis. The curriculum is complemented by data management training, including digital lab notebooks and data sharing strategies, as well as transferable skills courses in scientific writing, presentation, multicultural communication, and public outreach.

Summary of basic research courses:

• History of science and scientific theory
• Good scientific practice (e.g. experimental design, pre-registration, reproducibility)
• Open science
• Statistics
• Programming
• Regulatory requirements (including animal welfare and laboratory safety)
• Data management
• Scientific writing and presentation

Where and how to register for these courses will be announced shortly.

IRTG-BrainVasc Lecture

A dedicated lecture series delivered by CRC principal investigators will provide doctoral candidates with a strong foundation in the neurobiology of neurovascular diseases. Learning outcomes will be assessed through a multiple-choice examination, ensuring all graduates acquire a comprehensive and consistent level of expertise in this field.

Examples of specific topics covered by the CRC PIs will be:

• Neurovascular anatomy and function
• Stroke
• Small vessel disease
• Neurovascular function in Alzheimer’s disease
• Immunology of neurovascular diseases
• Atherosclerosis
• Neuronal reorganization and repair
• Chronobiology of neurovascular diseases
• Genetics of neurovascular diseases
• The role of glia in neurovascular diseases
• Stem cells in neurovascular diseases
• The gut-brain axis in neurovascular diseases
• Imaging of neurovascular diseases
• Clearing technologies in neurovascular diseases
• Cell culture tissue models of neurovascular diseases
• Bioinformatics in neurovascular diseases

Where and how to register for this lecture series will be announced shortly. 

The CRC adopts a highly translational, disease-oriented bench-to-bedside research approach within a multidisciplinary environment. To strengthen clinical relevance, medical scientists are trained in key neurovascular diseases and clinically driven research questions.

This is achieved through a “Grand Rounds” seminar series, introducing major neurovascular disorders with a focus on clinical presentation, diagnosis, treatment, and current research strategies. Topics include acute and chronic stroke, intracranial hemorrhage, small vessel disease, rare neurovascular disorders, neurovascular monitoring, prevention strategies, and neuropsychiatric aspects such as delirium and dementia.

In addition, the IRTG promotes tandem projects pairing MD and advanced PhD candidates with complementary expertise to foster long-term collaboration between clinicians and basic scientists. The program is further enriched by industry speakers, who provide insights into translational research pipelines and pharmaceutical development.

Examples of specific topics of these “grand round” seminars will be:

• Acute stroke therapy
• Chronic stroke therapy
• Symptoms and treatment of subarachnoid and intraparenchymal haemorrhage
• Presentation and treatment of small vessel disease
• Rare neurovascular diseases
• Monitoring and in-vivo recordings in neurovascular diseases
• Prevention of neurovascular diseases
• Neuropsychiatric aspects of neurovascular diseases – Delir versus Dementia 

Through targeted seminars and hands-on workshops, doctoral candidates gain practical expertise in cutting-edge technologies, including single-cell and spatial transcriptomics, advanced in vivo imaging, high-resolution microscopy, mass spectrometry, and state-of-the-art bioinformatics. Annual hands-on courses and interdisciplinary data analysis workshops provide in-depth training in programming, single-cell analytics, and advanced computational methods, empowering researchers to effectively design and advance their own projects.

The courses will be offered in collaboration with the Excellence Cluster SyNergy and other graduate programs in Munich. 

The IRTG serves as a vibrant networking platform for doctoral candidates and researchers within the CRC and beyond. Weekly IRTG Journal Clubs, organized by doctoral candidates, provide a forum to discuss current literature, present ongoing research, and exchange ideas on methodological challenges and innovative approaches.

A key networking highlight is the Neurovascular Disease (NVD) Academy, a two-day, doctoral-candidate–led meeting held immediately before the annual CRC retreat. Designed as a PI-free space, the Academy fosters open and informal scientific exchange. All participants present their research as work in progress and take part in tailored methods workshops and transferable skills courses. Organizing the NVD Academy also enables doctoral candidates to strengthen essential skills such as time management, communication, and teamwork.

Every three years, the CRC hosts an International Symposium, bringing together leading national and international experts alongside CRC researchers. Doctoral candidates actively contribute through poster presentations and by moderating panel discussions, creating valuable opportunities for international networking, scientific exchange, and career development.

To further promote collaboration and knowledge transfer, doctoral candidates and postdoctoral researchers are encouraged to participate in lab exchange programs, spending time in other CRC laboratories or in external labs worldwide. These exchanges, supported by travel grants, provide hands-on training in complementary methods and expose participants to diverse research cultures.

Finally, participation in national and international conferences and workshops in neurovascular biology and disease is strongly encouraged, enabling doctoral candidates to broaden their expertise and connect with the global neurovascular research community.

High-quality supervision is key to successful doctoral training. The IRTG-BrainVasc therefore requires all principal investigators to complete a mandatory Train-the-Supervisor Program (TSP) before supervising doctoral candidates.

Developed in collaboration with the MMRS and the LMU Graduate Center, this program equips supervisors with essential skills in effective supervision, mentoring, and doctoral program requirements. The training is renewed every three years and complemented by experience-exchange workshops and mentoring courses, fostering a supportive, transparent, and high-quality research environment for doctoral candidates.