MD-PhD Retreat 2024

The retreat is designed to encourage MD-PhD students and candidates to present their work beyond their immediate research environment and provides an opportunity to meet with former students, thesis directors and faculty members involved in the Lausanne UNIL/EPFL MD-PhD programme.

Highlights of the Event

Poster Presentations and Awards
All MD-PhD students showcased their research through poster presentations, with six outstanding posters selected for oral presentations. Four awards were presented to recognize excellence:

• Best Presentation Prize: Mr. Raphaël PORRET, MD-PhD/UNIL doctoral graduate (who completed his doctorate shortly before the event)
• Best Poster Prize: Ms. Eleonora GHISONI, MD-PhD/UNIL doctoral student
• 2nd Best Poster Prize: Ms. Noémie ROH, MD-PhD/UNIL doctoral student
• 3rd Best Poster Prize: Mr. Louis STAVART, MD-PhD/UNIL doctoral student

Keynote Speakers

The retreat featured inspiring talks from esteemed speakers who shared their insights on advancing science in academia and medicine:

• Prof. Anna Fontcuberta i Morral, Future EPFL President and Associate Vice President for Centers and Platforms
• Prof. Niko Geldner, Director of the Doctoral School FBM - CHUV/UNIL, Department of Plant Molecular Biology
• Prof. Annalisa Buffa, Associate Vice President for Postgraduate Education, EPFL
• Prof. Lucia Mazzolai, President MD-PhD Commission - CHUV/UNIL
• Prof. Darius Moradpour, CHUV
• Prof. Micah Murray, UNIL
• Dr. Alexander Salerno, Doctor in Life Sciences, Neurology - CHUV

Participants benefited from dynamic exchanges with PIs, keynote speakers, and peers, sparking new collaborations and broadening the impact of their research.

Congratulations to the awardees and all contributors who made the retreat a vibrant platform for scientific exchange and inspiration!