On 14 and 15 September 2026, the NUM Study Network, together with its specialty networks on Infectious Diseases, Stroke and Critical Care, was hosted by Frankfurt Academic Medical Centre. A total of 225 attendees gathered for the second general assembly, including more than 56 speakers. Over the course of two days, the focus was on academic exchange, current topics in clinical research and the further development of the NUM Study Network.
The supporting programme was opened by Prof. Jürgen Graf, Medical Director and Chairman of the Executive Board of Frankfurt Academic Medical Centre, and Ralf Heyder, Head of the Coordination Office of the Network of University Medicine. Four plenary sessions highlighted the current state of clinical research and discussed the potential for conducting clinical trials in Germany more quickly and efficiently:
- NUM Study Network: What was, what is, what will be?
- Towards ‘self-navigating’ clinical trials?
- Clinical trials in Germany: Where do we stand?
- Conducting joint cross-sectoral research
The focus was on the question of how clinical research in Germany can become faster, simpler, more patient-centred and more competitive internationally. The NUM Study Network provides a central foundation for this: it connects German university hospitals, clinical researchers, data infrastructures and other partners across different locations.
The plenary programme was complemented by eleven parallel sessions, which addressed current topics of interest to the community and provided opportunities for discussion and networking. These included, amongst others, an on-site operational meeting of the Infections Expert Network and the development of a Germany-wide infrastructure for paediatric infection research, optimising patient involvement in clinical trials, as well as issues relating to stroke research and the management of patients unable to give consent. Support for principal investigators in using the NUM infrastructures was also the subject of a parallel session.
In addition to members of the NUM Study Network and its specialty networks, representatives from other organisations and networks were also in attendance, including the KKS Network, the German Pharmaceutical Industry Association (BPI), the Association of Research-Based Pharmaceutical Companies (vfa), DEGAM-ForNet, Helios Health GmbH, the Federal Association of Medical Contract Research Organisations (BVMA) and NFDI4Health.
The two days in Frankfurt offered exciting updates, scientific exchange, discussions on the future of clinical research, as well as new ideas and perspectives. Above all, however, the General Assembly provided an opportunity for personal exchange and networking within the community. It also became clear that favourable framework conditions must be created for multicentre clinical trials in Germany as a research hub. The NUM Study Network contributes to this through streamlined bureaucratic processes and communication structures, digital solutions and close cooperation between various stakeholders.
The General Assembly was brought to a close by Prof. Janne Vehreschild, spokesperson for the NUM Study Network. We would like to extend our sincere thanks to our community and our partners for their active participation, the wide-ranging discussions and the open exchange of ideas. We look forward to the next event!