From 20 to 22 October 2025, the ECLectic consortium gathered at Dublin City University (DCU) for its fourth Network Event, a three-day meeting that combined scientific updates, biosensor innovation and advanced training. Hosted at the Life Sciences Research Facility on the Glasnevin Campus, NE4 represented an important milestone in consolidating project progress and strengthening the interdisciplinary training framework of the MSCA-DN.
The event opened with the project meeting, during which the ten Doctoral Candidates (DCs) presented the advancement of their research activities. Under the guidance of WP leaders, DCs illustrated their latest scientific results and discussed how ongoing secondments, upcoming deliverables, and future tasks align within the overall project timeline. The lively poster session at the end of Day 1 further encouraged exchange among supervisors and DCs.
The programme also included an impactful set of expert lectures offering DCs an overview of current trends in biosensing, infection diagnostics, gene-editing technologies and antibody engineering. Through these talks, ECLectic junior researchers strengthened their scientific background while gaining exposure to clinical translation pathways, industrial perspectives and innovation strategies, all core aspects of ECLectic’s interdisciplinary training model. As the project moves forward, training increasingly focuses on transversal skills such as intellectual property management, patent strategies, and the steps required to transform a scientific idea into a functional biosensor or diagnostic device.
As with previous network events, NE4 offered important opportunities for informal exchange as well. These shared moments help reinforce the collaborative spirit of the network and the supportive environment central to MSCA training principles.
The final day included a guided tour of DCU’s Core Technologies and Life Sciences facilities, allowing participants to explore advanced infrastructures relevant to the project’s scientific activities.
The meeting concluded with a collective discussion on the next steps for the consortium, including coordination aspects related to training activities, dissemination and communication, and the upcoming phases of the project.
NE4 successfully combined scientific discussion, training, and community building. With this solid progress, the consortium now moves forward with the next research milestones and deliverables and upcoming secondments, continuing its path toward developing innovative ECL-based biosensing solutions for early sepsis diagnosis.
Watch what happened during the event on our Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/eclectic_mscadn/