Science School for Physicians
ISPAD is proud of the annual Science School for Physicians, which brings together 20-25 young researchers from around the world in a recognized Centre of Excellence.
This unique program took place at the Children’s Hospital AUF DER BULT in Hannover, Germany, from June 15 to 19, 2025. Participants spend a week engaging with current world experts in all areas of diabetes. A central element of the school is the students’ presentation of their own ongoing or proposed research programs, which are debated openly and critically so that the individual leaves not only with a much stronger proposal but often also with offers of support. Most participants have moved on to leading clinics or research positions worldwide.
Science School for Physicians 2025
- Day 1: On Sunday, June 15, the 24th ISPAD Science School for Physicians kicked off in Hannover, Germany! 🎓 23 participants from all continents were selected from over 75 applicants. The first day featured former ISPAD President Prof. David Maahs (Stanford University), who introduced ISPAD’s mission, global efforts in under-resourced countries, and the benefits of membership.
An inspiring roundtable discussion followed on research opportunities and support for under-resourced settings, with key insights from Breakthrough T1D’s Sanjoy Dutta and Prof. Thomas Danne, convenor of the first-ever ISPAD Science School in 2005.
- Day 2: Fantastic lectures have been held to the participants: Sanjoy Dutta, Chief scientific officer Breakthrough T1D explained the vision, successes and funding possibilities in by BreakthroughT1D, formally known as JDRF. Furthermore, he explained clearly important key points for a publication.
Thomas Danne, convenor of the first science school in 2000, BULT hospitals‘ former Chief physician and now chief medical officer, international in BreakthroughT1D, reported on milestones in diabetology in the past and provided a vision of coming therapies as immunotherapeutics and cell therapies.
Prof. Julia Mader, Professor for Diabetes Technology in Graz showd the participants how large scale trials work, and gave practical recommendations how to find appropriate collaborators.
From the Hannover Team, convenor Professor Kordonouri reported upon therapeutic goals and the importance of a common team philosophy.
Felix Reschke, head of scientific programm in Hannover, led a discussion on the idea of early detection, participitans intensively discussed pros, cons and possible hurdles, while in general, all agreed on the necessity to find a way to implement a system.
Prof Lenka Drnkova from Prague University showed together with convenor Dr. Torben Biester the course of investigator initiated trials and gave examples how to indentify potential issues.
After lectures, the participants had the chance to present their own research ideas in break-out groups to the mentors Prof. Klemen Dovc, Dr. Claudia Piona, Prof. Agata Chobot and Prof Lenka Drnkova who led peer discussion in the groups on how to potentially improve the ideas.
To learn about Hannover, the group visited the Royal Baroque Garden of Herrenhausen and ended the evening in a local brewery restaurant.
Apply to host ISPAD's Science School for Physicians
Invitation to apply for hosting ISPAD Science School for Physicians
Supporting researchers in clinical and basic science focusing on type 1 and type 2 diabetes affecting children and young people, is fundamentally important. ISPAD offers an annual research training course in this field for young physicians. This program is aimed at enhancing trainees’ performance of research in pediatric diabetes in order to advance care, find cures, and offer prevention for youth affected by diabetes worldwide. The course will enable attendees to enhance their knowledge in the principles of research methodology, including basic/laboratory and clinical/translational approaches used in diabetes-related research. Interaction with world leaders in the field and colleagues around the globe usually create lifelong collaboration.
These Science Schools for Physicians are held independently of the Annual Conferences and in different venues.
We would like to invite ISPAD members, who are interested in organizing the school in collaboration with ISPAD to submit their application.
Applications are now open for hosting the ISPAD Science School for Physicians 2026! Please submit your application before June 15, 2025.
Click here to download the form and further informationMore Information about Past Science Schools for Physicians (2008-2024)
- 23rd Science School for Physicians (read the full report) - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA, September 22-27, 2024.
- 22nd ISPAD Science School for Physicians (read the full report) - April 16 to April 21, 2023, in Verbania, Villa San Remigio, Italy.
- 21st ISPAD Science School for Physicians (read the full report) - May 22 to May 26, 2022, in Prague (Czech Republic)
- 20th ISPAD Science School for Physicians (read the full report) - May 2 to May 6, 2021, virtual
- 19th ISPAD Science School for Physicians (read the full report) - September 8 to September 12, 2019, in Rotterdam (the Netherlands)
- 18th ISPAD Science School for Physicians (read the full report) - September 30 to October 3, 2018, in Kanagawa (Japan)
- 17th ISPAD Science School for Physicians (read the full report) - April 9 to April 14, 2017, in Cremona (Italy)
- 16th ISPAD Research School for Physicians (read the full report) - September 25 to September 30, 2016, in Oslo (Norway)
- 15th ISPAD Research School for Physicians (read the full report) - April 19 to April 24, 2015, in Milano (Italy) by Andrea Scaramuzza
- 14th ISPAD Research School for Physicians (read the full report) - April 6 to April 11, 2014, in Boston (Massachusetts, USA) by Lori Laffel
- 13th ISPAD Science School for Physicians (read the full report) - July 22 to July 26, 2013,in Sydney (Australia) by Maria Craig
- 12th ISPAD Science School for Physicians
November 15 to November 21, 2012, in Lodz (Poland) (read the full report) by Wojciech Mlynarski
August 31 to September 4, 2012, Kyoto (Japan) (read the full report) by Tatsuhiko Urakami
ISPAD Science School for Physicians (read the full report)
This School was supposed to take place in Japan in 2011, but was postponed due to the earthquake.
- 11th ISPAD Science School for Physicians (read the full report) - September 2010, in St. Louis (USA) by Neil White
- 10th ISPAD Science School for Physicians (read the full report) - November 15 to November 20, 2009, in Cambridge (UK) by Carlo Acerini
- 9th ISPAD Science School for Physicians (read the full report) - 2008, in Denver (USA) by Georgeanna Klingensmith
- 8th ISPAD Science School for Physicians - 2007, Glostrup (Denmark) by Henrik Mortensen
- 7th ISPAD Science School for Physicians - 2006, Tours (France) by Claire Levy-Marchal
- 6th ISPAD Science School for Physicians - 2005, Boston (USA) by Joseph Wolfsdorf
- 5th ISPAD Science School for Physicians - 2004, Turku (Finland) by Olli Simell
- 4th ISPAD Science School for Physicians - 2003, St Andrews (Scotland) by Stephen Green
- 3rd ISPAD Science School for Physicians - 2002, Toronto (Canada) by Denis Daneman
- 2nd ISPAD Science School for Physicians - 2001, Lisbon (Portugal) by Catarina Limbert and Thomas Danne
- 1st ISPAD Science School for Physicians - 2000, Berlin (Germany) by Thomas Danne
Testimonials about Past Science Schools for Physicians
Find out what some of our past participants have to say about their experience after attending the ISPAD Science School for Physicians!
- Testimonial from Sanja Panic (Belgrade), participant at the ISPAD Science School for Physicians in Prague in 2022.
"Everything is fine except the ISS is over, but we must live with that! Once again, I want to thank you all guys but especially you and Lenka for the great hospitality and very pleasant atmosphere to work in. ISS was a centre of all good human characteristics, and I am so honored that I was part of it. Hope we will all meet as faculty one day on ISS as you all did. I am so happy that Yempabou Sagna won the prize. It will be very helpful to his patients as well as the whole country and especially to the diabetes community. Congratulations and all the best in future work! If we can somehow help, we are here.I would like to take this opportunity to thank all ISPP faculty for picking my case report for ISPAD E-learning and to congratulate Meghan and Francesco as well but also to all guys who presented,all cases were amazing. It is a great honor and pleasure for me and for my whole team.”
- Testimonial from Maja Raicevic (Delegate from Montenegro), for the ISPAD Science School for Physicians in Prague in 2022.
"They say that ISPAD Science School for Physicians is a life changing moment. I would say that attending the ISPAD Science School for Physicians 2022 in Prague was definitely the most encouraging, mind changing moment of my life. The experts in the field of pediatric diabetes all around the world have shared their experience with us and helped us to gain priceless knowledge as well as to make a quality baseline for our research careers.
The best part of this School was meeting young colleagues working worldwide, realizing the opportunities and trammels they are challenging, and networking with them. As a result we have plans for few multicentered studies.
At the end, as a former student in the ISPAD Science School for Physicians I would sincerely recommend it to all young people to improve their clinical and research skills in the field of pediatric diabetes, because I am certain that they will greatly benefit from participating.”
- Testimonial from Rade Vukovic (MD, PhD, Serbia) who attended the ISPAD Science School for Physicians in Rotterdam in 2019.
"Attending the ISPAD Science School for Physicians 2019 in Rotterdam, was an amazing experience. We learned a lot from world renowned experts, greatly improving our research knowledge as well as clinical skills in the field of pediatric diabetes
Most importantly, new friendships were formed from around the world and we still keep in touch today, solving difficult clinical cases together on our WhatsApp group.
We have continued to collaborate within the JENIOUS group and have published multi-centered research papers together. Also, as a direct result of attending the ISPAD SSP, I was invited to give lectures at international meetings, co-authored two papers published in the Pediatric Diabetes journal and became an ISPAD Science School mentor in 2021!"
- Testimonial from Claudia Piona (MD, PhD Student, Italy) who attended the ISPAD Science School for Physicians in Tokyo in 2018.
"Attending the ISPAD Science School for Physicians 2018 in Tokyo was an incredibly valuable opportunity to improve my research and clinical skills in the field of Diabetes, to have interesting interactions with excellent experts and to make new friendships with other young colleagues!
After the ISPAD Science School for Physicians I started a very fruitful collaboration with the members of JENIOUS group.
I can honestly say that the school was a key turning point in my career allowing me to be more and more involved in ISPAD activities and to become a JENIOUS leader."
