The research unit FOR5621 (OCU-GT) hosted its international symposium, titled "Addressing Unmet Needs in Ocular Gene Therapy," from July 13 to July 15, 2026, at the Evangelische Akademie Tutzing. This conference served as the biggest event in the first funding period for the research unit, bringing together a large assembly of external guests from various academic, clinical and industrial institutions.

The comprehensive scientific program featured oral presentations delivered by principal investigators, complemented by a dedicated poster presentation session hosted by students. Over the three days, structured sessions covered critical topics including novel therapeutic strategies, gene editing, AAV vectorology, retinal disease mechanisms, machine learning, and imaging biomarkers.

The event successfully fostered communication across scientific and medical fields, bridging disciplines to address complex translational challenges. Following the scheduled talks, participants engaged in vivid scientific exchanges in a highly collaborative and productive atmosphere that encouraged networking and future partnerships.

We extend our sincere thanks to all participants for their valuable contributions to a truly inspiring and collaborative event.