🎉 Celebrating 3 Years of RETORNA
This month, we are delighted to celebrate an important milestone as Vaishnavi, Maria Eduarda, Nathalie, Ceren and Enola mark three years as part of the RETORNA network. This actually means that already half of our DCs finished their 36 months contract funded by the European Commission through this project.
Over the past three years, they have contributed to advancing innovative retinal therapies while benefiting from international collaborations, specialized training and interdisciplinary research experiences.
What it waiting for them after the 36 months? Well, while some of them will continue at their hosting Universities, others are running their last 100 meters before the thesis defense. We will keep you updated on this great milestone that will be reached one by one by all our DCs in these next months!
But for now our congratulations on this remarkable achievement (3 years PhD it’s already a great accomplishment!), and we look forward to following the next steps of their doctoral journeys.
Finalized secondments 
August 2026 marked the successful completion of two RETORNA secondments. Nathalie concluded her secondment at Catholic University of Valencia in Spain, where she strengthened collaborations and gained valuable expertise to further advance her doctoral research. At the same time, Chiara completed her secondment at the University of Colorado Anschutz (USA), benefiting from an international research environment and access to complementary knowledge and methodologies.
These mobility experiences are a key part of RETORNA’s training programme, fostering scientific exchange, interdisciplinary collaboration, and professional development across the network. Congratulations to both researchers on this important achievement!
🌟Conferences
Maria DC9 – participated at RNA Horizons Conference, presenting her poster “Exploring the role of long noncoding RNA in Retinitis Pigmentosa“. The conference took place on September 16–18, 2026 in Munich, Germany. This premier event brought together scientists, clinicians, and biotech innovators to explore the latest advancements in RNA therapeutics, spanning established modalities as well as emerging areas such as ASOs and RNA structure–based therapies. Discussions covered key trends, including pipeline diversification, enhanced RNA modalities, AI integration, and improved delivery technologies. Notably, the conference focused on translating discoveries into viable therapies, with insights into commercialization and market access.
Read her feedback on the conference here.
🌟 Public engagement activities: RETORNA at European Researchers’ Night 2026
UCV Engages Students through Speed Science
Once again RETORNA participated in the European Researchers’ Night 2026 through the Speed Science initiative organized by Universidad Católica de Valencia (UCV). In this dynamic outreach activity, researchers had just 90 seconds to present their research, laboratory teams and scientific challenges to the audience.
The RETORNA team introduced students and members of the university community to its work on retinal diseases and innovative therapeutic approaches, highlighting the importance of research in improving the lives of people affected by vision disorders. The event provided an excellent opportunity to bring science closer to young audiences, stimulate curiosity, and encourage future careers in research and innovation.
UA Celebrates European Researchers’ Night Once Again
One year more, RETORNA researchers at the Universidad de Alicante (UA) joined the celebrations of the European Researchers’ Night, contributing to one of Europe’s largest science outreach initiatives: more than 17.000 people visited the campus during the entire day.
The event brought researchers and citizens together through interactive activities designed to showcase the societal impact of research and innovation. By engaging directly with the public, the RETORNA team helped raise awareness about retinal diseases, biomedical research, and the importance of investing in scientific advances that can improve health and quality of life. Participation in this annual event reflects RETORNA’s continued commitment to making science accessible and fostering dialogue between researchers and society.
🌟Enola’s collaboration
Enola collaborated in the publication “Altered Pannexin2 Expression in Retinal Degeneration: Insights from the P23H Mouse Model of Retinis Pigmentosa”.
The publication is external to her individual research project, highlighting the interdisciplinary and collaborative nature of the RETORNA Doctoral Network and her active engagement in broader scientific collaborations beyond her core PhD objectives.
Greetings,
RETORNA team