3rd IMMERGE Wide Training Event
immergeprojectadmin
The IMMERGE consortium met in Milan (Italy) from November 17th to 19th, 2025 for its third major training and network event, hosted by the San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (OSR). Over three days, Doctoral Candidates, and supervisors participated in specialised scientific workshops and internal project meetings.
Gene Editing Technologies Workshop: The first day focused entirely on Gene Editing Technologies, offering DCs an in-depth look at current approaches in gene therapy and genome manipulation. Sessions led by Alessio Cantore, Anna Cereseto, and Anna Villa addressed in vivo gene therapy strategies, new gene-editing tools, and the genetics of RAG1 immunodeficiency. The programme also included a lab tour, followed by technical introductions and practical training in gene editing with Antonio Casini and Tommaso Sconocchia.
Consortium Meetings and Poster Presentations: The second day combined scientific training with the IMMERGE’s internal governance activities. DCs attended talks by Roger Geiger and Roser Vento-Tormo on T-cell responses and gene regulation in human cell systems. Afterwards, the Training Committee, General Assembly, and Exploitation Committee met to review progress and plan upcoming activities.
In the afternoon, the DCs presented their work during a dedicated poster session, encouraging discussion and feedback across the consortium.
Innovation, Transfer, and Entrepreneurship Workshop: The final day shifted the focus towards career development and innovation. The Innovation, Transfer, and Entrepreneurship Workshop provided DCs with perspectives on career paths outside academia, IP management, and strategies for translating research into business opportunities. Speakers such as Marco Telford, Francesca Zagari, Tiziana Rossetti, Antonio Casini, Lluís Armengol, and Federica Basilico contributed talks, case studies from successful start-ups, and interactive roundtables.
Strengthening IMMERGE: Alongside the training programme, two networking dinners offered informal spaces to strengthen connections among participants and foster collaboration. The Milan event provided a valuable combination of scientific learning, career-oriented training, and consortium coordination, marking another important milestone in the development of the IMMERGE Doctoral Network.
We are grateful to all speakers, participants, and organizers whose efforts made this workshop both productive and inspiring!
