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Published:8 de July de 2026

University of Tübingen hosts the third RETORNA Summer School

 

On the 29th and 30th of June 2026 the DCs gathered at the University Eye Hospital Tubingen for the third and final RETORNA Summer School.  Two days of training and networking with speakers both from academia and industry, organized by our partner Dr. Sven Schnichels and his team.

Guided tour of the venue’s facilities

The summer school programme included as one of the initial activities a guided tour of the Eye Research Institute and Clinic, allowing us to better understand the integration of research and clinical practice.

 

The programme combined scientific, clinical, and professional development activities, including sessions on inherited retinal diseases and age-related macular degeneration.

 

Hands-on ophthalmic examination

Monday afternoon continued with a hands-on ophthalmic examination training held by Immanuel Seitz &
Tiziana Schmidt who showed the different types of examinations that are possible at the University Eye Hospital in Tubingen. Students enjoyed the possibility of taking the role of the patient and of the doctor and have a direct contact with different examinations techniques and equipments.

 

Career opportunities

As our students approach the final stages of their doctoral training, many now have one foot in their PhD and one foot in the next chapter of their professional lives, balancing the completion of their theses with the search for exciting career opportunities.

That is why a special focus was put on the scientific writing and grant preparation, as well as on career opportunities across academia, industry, and start-ups thanks to speakers who shared first-hand insights from their careers at leading pharmaceutical companies such as AstraZeneca, Roche and Novartis.

 

These sessions provided valuable insights into the wide range of career opportunities available to early-stage researchers. We might see some of our DCs in those pharmaceutical companies in the near future ….:)

Patients’ perspective and involvement in research

Participants also had the opportunity to hear the patient perspective thanks to the testimony of Stefan Küster – president of our associated partner Pro Retina and reflect on their achievements as improvements in patients’ life.

Cultural and scientific visit

The Summer School also included a visit to Hohentübingen Castle, where participants learned about the historical discovery of nucleic acids in Tübingen in 1869 by Friedrich Miescher, that led to our current understanding of DNA and RNA—an especially meaningful experience for a network dedicated to RNA-based therapies.
The tube in the picture could be the oldest preserved preparation of a nucleic acid (DNA/RNA).
Beyond the training programme, the Summer School fostered collaboration and networking in a multidisciplinary and international environment, helping strengthen the bonds that make RETORNA such a vibrant research network.

A big thank you to Sven Schnichels and the University Eye Hospital Tübingen for hosting this memorable final Summer School.

 

Thank you all for attending the event!

The RETORNA Consortium

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