The Midwest Retina Neurobiology Workshop

A trainee-focused weekend of science, workshops, and team-building in Madison, WI.

September 25-27, 2026.

THANK YOU TO THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE REGISTERED. REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED.

Program details and talk/poster information will be emailed by September 5th.

The Midwest Retina Neurobiology Workshop

In its inaugural year, this workshop is an event for trainees, by trainees. The program will include opportunities to give talks, present posters, practice career skills like grant making and experimental design, and develop relationships with other retina neurobiologists working in the Midwest region of the US.

Note: Lab heads are encouraged to attend to support the community of trainees. If you are interested in helping to facilitate the workshop, please get in touch with Anna Vlasits.

Register is closed. Registration deadline: August 14, 2026

Abstract submission is closed. Abstract deadline: August 21, 2026

Because this is a trainee-focused event, only trainees should submit abstracts. Notifications about abstract acceptance and whether you will present a poster vs. a talk will be sent by September 5, 2026.

  • Our workshop will take place in the Health Sciences Learning Center at 750 Highland Ave at University of Wisconsin in beautiful Madison.

  • You are responsible for booking your own hotel room.

    Hotel blocks have been reserved at the following hotels.

    1. Best Western Plus InnTowner Madison

      To reserve rooms online use the link above or call 608.233.8778 ext 0 and mention code 3479-1. Note that this link will expire on August 27.

      Location: 2424 University Avenue, Madison, Wisconsin 53726 United States

      10-15 minute walk to HSLC

      Price: $138 a night plus tax

    2. AmericInn by Wyndham Madison West

      To book, call and reference the 'retina group' or use code ‘092526UWM’ online

      Location: 516 Grand Canyon Dr, Madison, WI  53719, United States

      15 minute drive, 25 minute public bus to HSLC

      Price: $94.71 a night plus tax

  • more details coming soon

    Friday

    3-4PM Registration and Welcome reception

    4-6PM Trainee talks

    6PM Keynote speaker: Patrick Kerstein, Purdue University

    Conference Dinner at Vintage Brewing Company

    Saturday

    8AM Breakfast

    9-11AM Trainee talks

    11-12:15 Workshop session 1

    • Designing a research project with Greg Schwartz (Northwestern)

    • Grant writing panel with JL Lee (Indiana University), Mrinalini Hoon (UW Madison), and Raunak Sinha (UW Madison)

    • Transition from post-doc to faculty with Miranda Scalabrino (Medical College of Wisconsin) and Daniel Kerschensteiner (WashU)

    12:15-12:45 Lunch

    12:45-2 Workshop session 2

    • Crafting the perfect Specific Aims page with Anna Vlasits (UIC)

    • Leveraging public datasets with Vikki Weake (Purdue) and Greg Schwartz (Northwestern)

    • Experiment brainstorming session

    2-4PM Trainee talks

    4-7PM Poster session

    Dinner on your own with conference attendees

    Sunday

    8AM Breakfast

    9-11AM Community Building with Whitney Stevens Sostre (UW Madison) and Anna Vlasits (UIC)

    Farewell

  • Every effort has been made to make this event affordable for trainees.

    Registration is free thanks to generous support from the McPherson Eye Research Institute and the UIC Dept. of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences.

    There will be one dinner “on your own” at the event. All other food will be provided during the program.

    Costs of hotel and travel to the event are the responsibility of the attendee. We recommend carpooling, taking public transit, and/or finding a hotel roommate to reduce costs.

  • We are a group of retinal neurobiologists from around the Midwest region dedicated to improving training opportunities and building strong scientific connections in our region. Led by Anna Vlasits (University of Illinois Chicago), the planning committee includes trainees Julia Fadjukov (Northwestern University), Seth Lammert (Purdue University), Makayla Marlin (Purdue University), and Andrew Miller (UW-Madison).

    Generous hosting and support is being provided by the McPherson Eye Research Institute and the Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences at University of Illinois, Chicago