Research groups (FOR = Forschergruppen) are close alliances of interdisciplinary cooperating scientists on a specific research topic.

The development of the research topic takes place under consideration of various professional perspectives. The research groups are created for midterm durations and the sponsorship is carried out via the German Research Foundation (DFG).

Clinical Research Units (KFO = Klinische Forschergruppen) are based on the same interdisciplinary cooperation and focusses on disease- or patient-oriented, possibly translational research.