SFB 1607 Holds Productive Second Retreat in Siegburg

The second retreat of SFB 1607 took place on January 9–10, 2026, at KSI Siegburg. Bringing together all subprojects and members of the Advisory Board, the retreat provided a focused platform to review current progress and align on strategic goals for the future.

Through a series of concise project presentations, each subproject shared recent achievements and outlined next steps. The scientific program was further enriched by invited talks from leading experts: Prof. Dietmar Fischer on novel approaches for neuroprotection and optic nerve repair, Dr. Jan-Wilm Lackmann on the CECAD/CMMC Proteomics Core Facility, Bernhard Günther on translating ideas into successful eye care businesses, and Prof. Andrea Steinbicker on her newly funded subproject C08 addressing iron homeostasis–related inflammatory and neurodegenerative processes in glaucoma.

The retreat also fostered community building through an informal Friday evening gathering, a career mentoring session for PhD students and early-career researchers, and a dedicated PI meeting.

The Poster Award was presented to Leonie Schroers (C04), Johanna Mann (A05), and Hanna Hübbe (B03). We thank all participants for their valuable contributions and look forward to the next retreat in November 2026!