PIs and DCs meet in Valencia for the first annual meeting

Universidad Católica de Valencia – UCV had the honor to host and organize the first annual meeting event of the RETORNA Consortium. The first annual meeting took place in Valencia on the 28th of May 2024 at UCV – San Juan y San Vicente.

 

The meeting started at 9:30 with a worm welcoming from the coordinator Javier Sancho Pelluz and the project manager Andreea Craciun.

Retorna annual meeting held on the 28th of May 2024
RETORNA annual meeting held on the 28th of May 2024 – Andreea Craciun and Javier Sancho Pelluz presenting the agenda

The 10 PIs attended the meeting together with the 10 selected DCs. We could count also on the important intervention of the external advisor Prof. Stephen Tsang from the Columbia University. Thanks to his long term experience in retina, he gave our students precious tips not only on how to write a successful paper but also directly on each ones’ individual project.

 

Main topics of the meeting

The meeting last the entire day and it was divided in morning and afternoon sessions.

The morning sessions were dedicated to the boards’ activities and the progress of each individual project. DCs also analyzed the deliverables, milestones and secondments, with the Italian partner Fondazione Telethon presenting already its first milestone.

DC and PI speaking
DC Ioannis and his PI Serdar Durdagi

Each of the 5 boards presented their achievements and informed the participants about the objectives and tasks that each DC and PI has to accomplish.

Nathalie and Claire presenting as part of the training board
Nathalie and Claire presenting as part of the training board

The afternoon was dedicated to the portal of the project and to a creativity and brainstorming session in which DCs and PIs worked in smaller groups to create new ideas of developing their projects.

Here Below some pictures from the afternoon brainstorming and creatività session.

 

Brainstorming activity
PIs supervising the activity

 

Debating and waiting down ideas
Debating and writing down ideas

 

Group 1 presenting their ideas

 

Group 2 presenting their ideas
Group 2 presenting their ideas

 

Group 2 presenting their ideas
Group 2 presenting their ideas

 

Group 3 presenting their ideas
Group 3 presenting their ideas

Why is the annual meeting important?

The annual meeting is the only time when all the IPs and DCs are present, being able to discuss future project activities, deliverables and secondments abroad.
It is also a moment in which we can all see the progress of each of the 10 projects and discuss possible future developments, each one providing ideas for improvement.

Thank you all for attending the event!

The RETORNA Consortium