MERLN PhD day & Sailing Event​​​​​​​​

13 - 15 September 2026 | Zuiderzee Museum, Enkhuizen

Regenerative Medicine at a Turning Point: Adrift or Full Sail?

This year you are invited to gather, reflect, and celebrate a remarkable chapter in the story of regenerative medicine. Over three days, September 13th–15th 2026, MERLN marks a milestone year with a series of events that are a honest showcase of where the field stands today. The theme of this year is "Regenerative Medicine at a Turning Point: Adrift or Full Sail?".

September 13th sets the stage with an opening talk that starts off the theme on the evolution of regenerative medicine. The depart from Maastricht by bus is planned for around lunchtime.

PhD Day on September 14th puts PhD Candidates on the spotlight! PhD candidates present their work through poster sessions, presentations and rapid-fire pitches. Expect lively talks and a surprising twist that we're keeping discrete for now, and a dinner together to close the day.

The closing day, September 15th, is a chance to celebrate in honour of Clemens van Blitterswijk, who founded MERLN Institute. What better way to mark his legacy than an adventurous sailing race in the charming Enkhuizen together with the entire MERLN community. The ride back is set for end of the day by bus.

Sunday 13 September

13:45 Gather at UNS40 Parking Station Randwyck

14:00 Departure bus

17:30-19:00 Arrival & check-in Hotel Van der Valk Hoorn

19:00-21:00 Dinner at Hotel Van der Valk Hoorn & Announcements

Monday 14 September

7:00-8:15 Breakfast

8:15 Departure busses to Zuiderzeemuseum

8:15-8:40 Transfer to Zuiderzeemuseum Enkhuizen

9:00-9:20 Welcome by Lorenzo + Miltenyi Biotec (Diamond sponsor)

9:20-10:00 Keynote presentation - Barend Mons

10:00-11:00 Oral session 1

11:00-11:30 Rapid fire presentation

11:30-12:00 Sponsor talks

12:00-14.15 Lunch + Poster Session + Sponsors

14:15-15:15 Debate

with Helen Kearney and Kenny van Kampen

15:15-15:45 Coffee break

15:45-17:00 Oral session 2

17:00-17:15 Closing ceremony

17:15-17:30 Awards

18:00-18:30 Transfer by bus to Hotel Van der Valk Hoorn

19:00-21:00 Dinner at Hotel Van der Valk Hoorn & Quiz

Tuesday 15 September

7:00-7:45 Breakfast & check out

7:45 Departure busses to harbor

7:45-8:30 Transfer to location

8:30-9:00 Registration & welcome at Café 'het Ankertje'

9:00-9:30 Departure from harbor

10:00-12:00 Race 1

12:00-13:00 Lunch (on board)

13:00-15:00 Race 2

15:00-15:30 Return to harbor

15:45-17:00 Borrel at Café 'het Ankertje'

17:30-20:00 Dinner at Café 'het Ankertje'

20:30 Departure busses to Maastricht

23.30 Arrival at Station Maastricht Randwyck

The scientific program includes

Presentations

PhD candidates take the stage to share their research in a concise and focused manner.

Posters

Browse through the PhDs posters to see their work one-on-one, sparking the kind of conversations that don't happen in lecture halls.

Rapid-fires

Under five minutes, PhDs pitch their project or idea and it is sharp, fast, and surprisingly memorable.

Keynote lecture

An inspiring lecture from a renowned scientist to kick start the scientific program.

Scientific debate

An interactive encounter designed to bring guests and the MERLN community together.

Why you should attend

Three days filled with distinct experiences together.

This trip includes a sailing race. An entire day on the dam, with snacks and drinks throughout, in honour of the man who built MERLN. It is an engaging adventure on a historic stretch of Dutch waterway with our community aboard. Whether you've sailed before or never set foot on a boat, it will be a memorable experience!

Location

PhD day Location

Zuiderzee Museum

Wierdijk 12-22

1601 LA Enkhuizen

Hotel