As PhD students from the FOR5547 research group, we recently had the privilege of attending Cilia2024 in Dublin. This symposium brought together researchers, clinicians, and patient advocates from around the world, all focused on advancements in cilia biology and ciliopathies. With principal investigators and students from many labs present, it was a gathering of ideas, discoveries, and collaborative possibilities.
Throughout the conference, sessions were covered with exciting topics, from primary cilia structure and signaling pathways to the latest developments in ciliopathy research. One of the most valuable parts was connecting with researchers from other groups tackling similar questions in innovative ways. Sessions on cilia proteomics and novel imaging techniques provided practical insights, while discussions with colleagues from other labs opened up fresh perspectives and strategies that we are eager to bring back to FOR5447.
A particularly impactful aspect of Cilia2024 was the Patient Event. Hearing patients’ stories and understanding how our work could contribute to better therapies gave us a renewed sense of purpose. The experience highlighted the meaningful role our research can play in advancing patient care, connecting the lab work we do every day with real lives.
Attending Cilia2024 strengthened our understanding of the field and expanded our network within the cilia research community. The enthusiasm and expertise shared at this conference reminded us that we’re part of a dynamic, collaborative effort. Bringing these new ideas back to our team at FOR5547 has energized us, and we are more motivated than ever to advance our work in ciliopathy research.

Seniz Yüksel