Invitation and call for applications
Dear fellow scientist, < /p>
We are delighted to invite you to the FEBS Advanced Lecture Course 'Retina in a dish: Methods & applications in life sc iences', hosted in the heart of Finnish Lakeland, in Kuopio, F inland, June 2026.
This immersive five-day course will explo re retina as a powerful ex vivo model system not only for ophthalmology but also for neuroscience, pharmacology, and translational research. Participa nts will gain experience with organotypic retinal cultures as well as acute experiments in living retinas (ex vivo), and le arn how to apply them in disease modeling, drug testing, and gene therapy, as well as neuroscience research.
A unique learning experie nce
The retina’s accessibility, layered structure, an d neurodevelopmental origin make it an ideal model for studying central ner vous system function and pathology. Through a combination of lectures, tuto rials, and video demonstrations, attendees will gain know-how on techniques such as retinal dissection, culture maintenance, imaging, and electrophysi ological recordings.
The course also includes sessions on pu blishing, grant writing, and career development, and even recognizing bad s cience from good one(!), with opportunities to receive feedback on abstract s, figures, and proposals. Evening social events will foster collaboration and community among researchers from across Europe and beyond.
Who should attend?
This course is designed for PhD stud ents, postdocs, and early-career researchers working in visual neuroscience , ophthalmology, neuroscience, pharmacology/toxicology, and related fields. Abstract submission is required for participation, and selected attendees may be eligible for FEBS Youth Tr avel Fund (YTF) Grants.
Venue and atmosphere
Nestled in the heart of Finnish Lakeland, Kuopio offers a tr anquil and inspiring setting surrounded by shimmering lakes and lush forest s. The course will take place at the University of Eastern Finland’s Kuopio Campus, with lectures held in the modern Mediteknia auditorium. Part icipants will be accommodated at Scandic Hotel Kuopio, located less than a kilometer from the city’s central square and beautifully situated on the shores of Lake Kallavesi. The hotel is approximately 3 km from the camp us and easily accessible via regular public transport. Combining the natura l charm of the region with warm hospitality, Scandic Kuopio provides a comf ortable and scenic base for the course.
???? Application b y March 31, 2026
???? Poster deadline April 30, 2026
On behalf of the organiz
ing committee,
Henri Leinonen (main organizer)
Sp onsors
Join us as a sponsor of the FEBS Advanced Lect ure Course &ls quo;Retina in a dish: Methods & applications in life sciences’, taking place in Kuopio, Finland, 8–12 June 2026. This uniqu e course brings together leading experts and early-career researchers in op hthalmology, pharmacology/toxicology, visual neuroscience, and translationa l research. Partnering with us offers your company excellent visibility and the opportunity to support cutting-edge science. Sponsors will gain visibi lity during the event (e.g., course materials), and on the course website a nd the promotional poster (see front page).
F or details about sponsorship options, please contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need Ja vaScript enabled to view it..
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