The Faculty of Medicine Research Retreat in the Galilee

In early September, the research community of the Azrieli Faculty of Medicine in the Galilee at Bar-Ilan University gathered for a two-day research retreat at the Pastoral Hotel in Kfar Blum. The retreat was opened by Dean Prof. Orly Avni, Vice Dean for Academic Research Prof. Meital Gal-Tanamy, and Chair of the Retreat Steering Committee Prof. Evan Elliott. At the heart of the retreat were the graduate research students, who presented their research, shared their scientific journeys, and took an active role in discussions about their academic and professional futures.

The centerpiece of the program was three scientific sessions featuring both full-length presentations and flash talks, all delivered by graduate research students from approximately 15 research groups across the Faculty. The presentations provided participants with an opportunity to learn about projects at different stages of development, from research questions and experimental rationale to preliminary results and advanced findings. The flash-talk format also enabled students at earlier stages of their research to take the stage and present the main aspects of their work in a concise format.

In addition to the presentations, two poster sessions, one each day, offered students an opportunity to practice their scientific communication skills, receive feedback, and discuss their work with researchers and peers from related disciplines.

Another key component of the retreat was a roundtable session on careers and the future of science, held at the conclusion of the first day. Topics included pursuing postdoctoral training abroad, choosing between careers in academia and industry, and establishing startups in northern Israel. The discussions provided students with an opportunity to ask questions and learn from the experiences of researchers and professionals.

The retreat also featured two guest lectures. Prof. Oded Rechavi of the Department of Neurobiology at Tel Aviv University delivered a talk entitled “What Do We Know About Transgenerational Epigenetic Inheritance?” In the second keynote lecture, titled “The Laboratory of Tomorrow: How Artificial Intelligence Is Reinventing Research and Turning Us All into Super Researchers,” Dr. Roy Tzuzana of the Blavatnik Interdisciplinary Cyber Research Center at Tel Aviv University explored recent developments in artificial intelligence and their implications for scientific research. His lecture examined both the opportunities offered by integrating AI tools into research processes and the questions and challenges these technologies raise regarding how scientists generate knowledge, analyze information, and make decisions.

The first day concluded with a festive dinner and dance party, while the second day ended with a group rafting activity on the Jordan River. These activities provided students and faculty members with an opportunity to get to know one another in an informal setting and to continue conversations that had begun during the professional sessions.

The Kfar Blum Research Retreat placed graduate research students at the center of the experience, combining research presentations, constructive feedback, and discussions about future career paths. Alongside strengthening connections within the Faculty community, the retreat provided participants with a platform for exchanging ideas, building professional networks, and fostering future research collaborations.