The Network for National University Medicine (NUM) is the first joint initiative of all 37 German university hospitals to conduct large-scale, interdisciplinary research projects. Launched in 2020 to coordinate COVID-19 research across all university hospitals, the NUM aims to expand its research to include other diseases and involve as many partners as possible from medical science, healthcare, and society. NUM focuses particularly on clinically relevant research whose results directly support patient care. A key area of ​​focus is the collaborative collection and utilisation of complex medical research data. To this end, the network has established research infrastructures that contribute to better preparing the German healthcare system for future pandemics and crises. NUM is funded by the Federal Ministry for Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR) and coordinated at Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin. Further information about the network can be found here.

As of 2026, coordination responsibilities will be transitioned from Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin to the newly established NUM GmbH, a wholly owned subsidiary of the federal government, pursuant to a federal-state agreement regarding the further development of the University Medicine Network (NUM) and a decision by the Joint Science Conference (GWK). This transition aims to ensure the long-term stability of the NUM (LINK - in German).