The CRC1709 Retreat 2026 was successfully held on February 23-24, 2026, at the Kurpark-Hotel Bad Dürkheim, bringing together nearly 90 participants from Heidelberg, Mannheim, Munich, Frankfurt, Berlin, and Basel for two days of scientific exchange, collaboration, and strategic discussion. As the first retreat of CRC1709, the event focused on strengthening internal collaboration among principal investigators, postdoctoral researchers, PhD students, and associated members of the consortium.
The retreat opened with an introduction to CRC1709, providing participants with a comprehensive overview of the consortium, including clinical perspectives, fundamental research, presentations of core projects, and the overall research goals and timeline. This session helped align ongoing efforts and foster a shared understanding of the consortium’s scientific goals.
Following the introduction, the program featured a Plasticity Atlas session and a series of Flash Talks, where individual projects were presented in concise formats. Notably, presentations were delivered not only by principal investigators but also by early-career researchers, including PhD students who had recently joined the projects. This format encouraged broad participation and provided junior researchers with the opportunity to introduce their work and engage with the CRC community at an early stage.
Photo Gallery—Two-Minute Flash Talks
A central element of the retreat was the parallel session format, designed to address the specific needs of different participant groups. While early-career researchers participated in scientific “speed-dating” (networking activities) and the election of the Early Career Researcher Board, principal investigators engaged in organizational and strategic discussions in preparation for the second funding period. The results of the Early Career Researcher Board election have been published in a separate news article. These parallel sessions allowed for focused interaction, efficient knowledge exchange, and targeted discussions tailored to each group’s objectives.
The first day concluded with a panel discussion on shaping the future of CRC1709 and addressing current research gaps, encouraging interdisciplinary dialogue and strategic alignment across the consortium.
On the second day, parallel sessions continued with specialized talks for PhD students, including From Bench to Bedside and Clinical Features and Therapeutic Strategies, providing insights into translational and clinical aspects of CRC1709 research.
In addition, a World Café session was organized, where several topics were hosted by different principal investigators at the same time. Participants were invited to join the discussions according to their interests and rotated between tables, enabling focused exchange and dynamic interaction across projects.
The retreat also featured a session on Data Management and AI, highlighting the growing importance of data-driven approaches within CRC1709. The event concluded with a final wrap-up session and closing remarks.
Following the Kickoff Meeting in November 2025, the CRC1709 Retreat 2026 represented the first large-scale internal gathering of the consortium, bringing together nearly all CRC members. The retreat provided an ideal setting and platform to connect in person, exchange ideas, and further develop collaborative activities across projects, shaping the future direction of the consortium.
The organizers would like to thank all speakers, session chairs, and participants for their valuable contributions and for making the CRC1709 Retreat 2026 a successful and engaging event.
Photo Gallery of the CRC1709 Retreat 2026
