Meeting in Torino 2024

Meeting in Torino 2024

Molecular Biotechnology Center “Guido Tarone” Via Nizza 52 & 44b, Torino, Italy
1726617600

Fantom Project Annual Meeting

Date: September 18th to 19th, 2024 (Consortium meeting) & September 19th to 20th, 2024 (Workshop for the students)

Last week, the second meeting of the FANTOM project was successfully held in Torino, hosted in the Molecular Biotechnology Centers 1&2.

The meeting began with scientific seminars, where the doctoral students brilliantly presented their research progress achieved during the first year of their PhD. The audience included group leaders, associated partners of the consortium as well as board members, local doctoral students and invited speakers, which provided a forum for fruitful discussions. A special thanks goes to the chairs of the meeting Professors Roberto Chiarle and Claudia Voena, who organized exciting keynote speakers interweaving with the student talks. We appreciated the plenary lectures for their broad overview on the complexity of lymphoma, ALK research and cancer treatments from the perspective of leading clinicians and researchers. The seminars highlighted how even field experts encounter new obstacles and problems to solve, encouraging us to keep pushing forward in our own research and build resilience.

Our first evening in Torino, we had the chance to wind down with a (slightly rainy!) walking tour through the heart of the city. We explored the beautiful historical centre, strolling past monumental palaces, squares and galleries. To top it off, we ended the evening with a unique dinner at the Academy of Sciences. It was a wonderful setting in which to foster new connections and wrap up our first day together. 

The second day, following the final student and keynote talks, we began our enlightening student workshop on public outreach and dissemination. We learned about the underlying theory of effective science communication and delved into interactive exercises that would continue into the next day. Thanks to Brigitte Gschmeidler from Open Science Vienna, and The Naked Scientists Dr. Christopher Smith and James Tytko for thoroughly kickstarting our training in scientific communication. We, most of all, appreciated the opportunity to practice and receive feedback on the interview-based work and presentations that comprised our final day in Torino. Overall, we refined our communication skills that we will rely on throughout our careers. We look forward to implementing them at our next meeting in Munich!

Finally, a special mention for our coordinator Professor Suzanne Turner, who reminded us of the people behind our research – the young patients and their families who make it possible. Her words brought home the real impact of the work we’re doing towards improving the lives of patients with ALK-positive Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma.

Nicola Mora and Carla Vazques Amos

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