Speakers will present a range of medical topics, sharing their expertise and introducing new insights on current medical issues in a format inspired by ‘TED talks’. These ISCOMS Medical Talks (IMEDs) will be held in three parallel sessions, each featuring two speakers. During the presentations, audience interaction with the speakers is encouraged.

Are you interested in learning how to write the perfect abstract or deliver an outstanding oral presentation? These masterclasses focus on enhancing research skills and will be led by experienced professionals from the UMCG. During the research day, two rounds of interconnected masterclasses will be offered, organised into a cohesive track to ensure an optimal learning experience.

The ISCOMS Elective offers two parallel sessions: a sustainable lecture, and a patient lecture. These sessions will cover a wide array of topics, designed to engage and inspire active participation. Each session encourages interactive discussions, allowing participants to explore diverse perspectives and deepen their understanding of the subject matter.

Salome Scholtens, PhD

You are all biomedical students with an affinity for research, but have you considered doing a PhD? This may be a tough decision. Maybe you already made up your mind and you are aiming for a PhD, but it could very well be that you struggle to decide because other career choices are luring as well. Perhaps you are hesitant, because of the many stories you heard about how stressful it is to be a PhD student. Or you simply don’t know what a PhD trajectory really entails and therefore you find it difficult to decide on whether to go for it or not. During this interactive masterclass, students will learn about a PhD trajectory and take time to think about a possible future as a PhD student. We will guide you through some exercises to help you in finding out whether a PhD is something for you.

Marit Westerterp, PhD

How can I make the most of my scientific career and gain international experience, visibility, and orientation? What can I learn from going abroad for an internship or as part of my PhD research? And which grants are available for this purpose? This and more will be discussed during this masterclass with Marit Westerterp, PhD, Associate Professor at the UMCG, who has previously performed research at Roche in Basel, Switzerland, and at Columbia University in New York, USA. She will be joined by Orpheas Losifidis, PhD student at the UMCG, who has a medical background and has previously performed research at the Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children in London, UK.

Ton Lisman, MD, PhD 

Sjoukje van der Werf,  MSc

The introduction is an essential part of your research article. It is the first thing that readers will see, and it needs to be engaging, informative and well-written.

In this workshop, we will discuss key elements of an effective introduction, share practical tips and address questions such as:

• When do you start writing the introduction?
• How do you start?
• How can scientific resources and AI help you efficiently find and summarise literature?
• How do you motivate the relevance of your specific research question in the introduction?
• Academic writing: structure and storytelling

Mostafa el Moumni, MD, PhD

In 90 minutes, an overview of statistical techniques will be given. Together with the participants several questions will be answered including:

• What is the link between probability theory and statistics?
• Why is it important to use descriptive statistics?
• What is a statistical test? Why should we abandon null-hypothesis significance testing (NHST)?
• How to interpret effect sizes, confidence intervals and meta-analytic thinking?

The emphasis will not be on formulas and mathematics, but on understanding the logic behind the statistical tools to avoid biased conclusions. Prior to this masterclass participants will be asked to do a small homework assignment, so they are prepared for the masterclass.

Janette Burgess, MD, PhD

You have completed your experimental protocols, analysed the data and interpreted the results and written them down.  Now you need to describe your findings in the context of the literature – how hard can that be? Well actually writing the discussion is often the hardest component of the manuscript to craft. What should you include and what not?  How do you deal with conflicting data? How much can you speculate about the implications of your findings?

This interactive workshop aims to give you tools to help with crafting a compelling discussion that frames your new knowledge in the context of the state of the art in your field.

Lisan Assen

During this workshop, students will explore the principles of scientific storytelling and reflect on their own communication style. Through practical examples and interactive exercises, we will guide you in shaping compelling narratives around your research, helping you communicate your ideas with clarity, confidence, and impact. Particular attention will be paid to how strong storytelling can strengthen grant proposals and funding applications, highlighting how to clearly articulate the relevance, feasibility, and societal value of your research to potential funders.

JJ Schuringa, MD, PhD

Your abstract is often the first piece of writing your audience will read—and if it is not compelling, it may be the only one. Whether you are submitting a manuscript, applying for a grant, or hoping to present at a conference, your abstract is your entry ticket. Some might think that an abstract is a summary of data, but it is not. In this interactive workshop, we will explore the do’s and don’ts of effective abstract writing and learn how to craft abstracts that capture attention and open doors.

Prof. Peter van Ooijen MD, PhD

‘Vibe coding’ is an emerging, AI-driven software development method in which the user gives commands to an (generative) AI model (such as ChatGPT, Claude, or Cursor) via natural language (chat) to generate code. The AI then tests and refines the code based on (natural language-based) instructions. Instead of typing syntax, the developer relies on an intuitive sense of whether the output feels correct, hence the term ‘vibe coding’. During the masterclass, we will guide you through the first steps of using vibe coding for research, you will gain some hands-on experience and be able to develop your own simple, digital tool.

Rosanne Reitsema, PhD
Marieke van der Heiden, PhD

After working hard on your research, it is finally time to present your results. In this masterclass, you will receive practical suggestions for delivering an effective 15‑minute research presentation. We will cover how to capture your audience’s attention in the very first minute, structure your narrative to guide listeners through your results, and communicate your key message with clarity and confidence. By learning how to make your findings accessible, engaging, and memorable, you will leave your audience just as excited about your research as you are.

Andrei Fokkink

Daily activities such as walking, eating, going to the toilet, or rolling over in bed are often taken for granted. Imagine not being able to control your movements for the rest of your life. Andrei Fokkink, 29 years old, lives in this reality. For him, these tasks are not possible without assistance. Everything requires more time, effort, and preparation. Yet, he does not focus on what he cannot do but rather on what he can do. And that is a lot.

Andrei creates and sells artwork. With a positive attitude, he focuses on opportunities. He uses the proceeds from his artwork sales to support people with disabilities in Bacău, Romania, who do not have the same access to assistive equipment as he does.

But could he do more? What if he could decide to go somewhere and actually be able to go there independently? Cars are being developed to drive autonomously, so why not a wheelchair? Five years ago, Andrei and his father Arie posed this question to a group of student volunteers and researchers at the University of Twente. This led to a long-term collaboration known as AbilityTech.

To answer the question of how Andrei and others can gain more autonomy, the researchers started with an essential tool: the Tobii eye-controlled computer. This technology forms the basis for several innovations, such as an eye-controlled wheelchair that can orient itself, detect obstacles, process commands, and execute movements, or an eye-controlled shuffleboard, allowing Andrei and others without functional arm or hand movements to play the classic Dutch game.  

AbilityTech gained increasing recognition through media, fairs, and symposiums.  Where possible, they enthusiastically take on these opportunities, always aiming to make our innovations accessible to others facing similar challenges.

Since this is a patient lecture, we also want to reflect on the term ‘patient.’ According to the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, it describes ‘a person receiving medical treatment’ and ‘someone dealing with problems calmly and without haste.’ But Andrei is much more than that. His definition of a good life revolves around more autonomy, inclusion, participation, and mastering a skill.

During the lunch break, Andrei challenges you to play shuffleboard with him! Curious?

You can find more information about Andrei and AbilityTech on these websites:

https://www.andreitekent.nl/ 

Arte Groenewegen, MD
Jopke Janmnaat, MD, MSc

Research drives progress in knowledge and health. But did you know that an estimated 85% of biomedical research published in 2009 was considered wasteful? And that the biomedical research field contributes to around 2% of global plastic waste? Moreover, research priorities do not always align with what patients and society actually need.

In this interactive lecture, Jopke Janmaat and Arte Groenewegen, will explore together with you how to increase the societal impact of (bio)medical research while reducing waste and environmental harm.

They will introduce the recently developed guideline on Socially Responsible Research, which offers practical guidance to help you reflect on your societal responsibility and apply this in your own research process. Key themes include planetary health, equity and inclusion, stakeholder engagement, and sustainability.

Together with you, they will explore real-world dilemmas and identify tensions and synergies between scientific value, societal responsibility, and ecological sustainability. Join the lecture and discover what you can do to change the systems that shape us!