The Joint Retreat of the Faculty of Medicine took place from June 27th to 28th at the Haus der Bayerischen Landwirtschaft in Herrsching, located on Lake Ammersee. Under the theme “Environmental Health: Exposure, Mechanisms & Translation,” the retreat brought together 45 participants, including professors, clinician scientists, doctoral researchers, and program coordinators. 

The program opened with welcoming remarks by Prof. Dr. Martina Kadmon, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, followed by contributions from Prof. Dr. Kerstin Stemmer and Prof. Dr. Alkomiet Hasan, spokespersons of the faculty’s two programs, ARISE and AUGMENT*. The speakers emphasized the importance of using the retreat as an opportunity for knowledge exchange, constructive feedback, and networking.

Over the course of two days, ARISE clinician scientists and AUGMENT doctoral researchers, together with intramural clinician scientists, delivered 22 scientific presentations organized into three thematic sessions: (1) Environmental Exposure and Disease Vulnerability, (2) Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Environmental Modulation, and (3) Prediction, Digital Innovation, and Translational Health Impact. The young scientists presented their ongoing research projects, progress to date, and future plans. The presentations and subsequent discussions highlighted numerous cross-cutting scientific themes and fostered in-depth exchange during the Q&A sessions.

The retreat concluded with a dedicated session focusing on the activities of each graduate program, during which future initiatives were discussed and planned. These included, among others, inviting international experts to deliver talks on Environmental Health Sciences as part of a seminar series.

Informal exchanges during coffee breaks, mealtimes, and free slots also played an important role in fostering scientific dialogue and bringing early-career as well as senior scientists together. The scenic location at Lake Ammersee contributed to these exchanges, with participants making use of the surrounding area for walks along the lake, informal conversations outdoors, and a refreshing swim. These shared moments outside the formal program strengthened networking opportunities and enhanced the overall collegial atmosphere of the joint retreat.

* ARISE (Augsburger Nachwuchsprogramm für Organismus, Nervensystem und Umwelt) is a junior research training program which is funded by the Else Kröner-Fresenius Foundation (EKFS) and aims to educate and further train young physicians at the interface of environmental sciences and translational neuroscience. AUGMENT (AUGgsburg Research School on EnvironMENT-Disease Interactions) is a research school that unites doctoral candidates from medicine and natural sciences to accelerate research in the Environmental Health Sciences, through projects focused on the complex relationship between environmental exposure and human health.