Dr. Julian Rudisch contributed to the CRC1451 Early Career Researcher Retreat in the Eifel with a keynote lecture on “From Motor Control Theory to Clinical Practice: Translating Functional Variability into Neurorehabilitation.”
The retreat offered a valuable opportunity to bring together the core themes of CRC1451 with the perspectives of the MSCA Doctoral Network TReND.

👉 Read the full report here

On 17-19 October 2025, Julia Jakubowska (DC08) participated in the XIII edition of "Aspects of Neuroscience" at the Faculty of Physics, University of Warsaw in Warsaw, Poland.

📰 Read more about the event here

🎙️ Speaker: Prof. Dr. Andrew Gordon, Columbia University
📌 Topic: Translating Neuromotor Research into Pediatric Rehabilitation Abstract
📅 Date: Thursday, 20th November 2025
⏰ Time: 16:00-18:00 CET
🖥️ Link to join:  https://unibe-ch.zoom.us/j/6447676603

Sofia (DC02) has new updates on her research project and the question: "Can superimposed sensorimotor variability in practice enhance motor learning in older adults and people with Parkinson's disease?"

👉 Take a look at the full update here.

Ilaria Bufacchi is DC11 and started her research project on 01.10.2025 at King’s College London, Department of Population Health Science. She investigates the Topic "Overcoming atypical variability: effects of manipulation of sensorimotor variability to enhance motor learning in children and adults with motor disorders". We wish her all the best!

Our fourth fellow, Léa Obrecht, has recently completed her secondment in Prof. Marco Davare’s laboratory at King’s College London, where she had the opportunity to develop her understanding of motor control and neurophysiological measurement methods both in theory, through discussions with experts, and in hands-on practice. 
Full report can be read here

The TReND coordinators, Claudia Voelcker-Rehage and Julian Rudisch, recently participated in a workshop that brought together representatives from five different EU-funded projects to explore synergies and share best practices and lessons learned.
In addition to the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions doctoral network TReND, four other EU funded projects were represented: an EU COST Action (PhysAgeNet), an ERA Talent Action (TBrainBoost), a Horizon 2020 project (PROCare4life), and an Erasmus+ project (Age-Well).
📰 Read more here

By bringing together representatives from diverse fields, including among others neuroscience, movement science, and clinical sciences, we create a unique research network and doctoral programme where diverse perspectives can meet and enrich one another.  
We believe that our interdisciplinary approach is crucial in achieving our mission: translating cutting-edge research on motor control and motor disorders into practical applications, ensuring that new discoveries are shared and applied in meaningful ways to improve health and quality of life of patients with motor disorders.  
Read more about the Doctoral Candidates, Supervisors and Associated Partners of our network. 
 

Meet Parkinson Vibrating Socks, an innovative project that shares TReND's vision of translating research into practice. The Parkinson Vibrating Socks project is developing a patient-centric, clinically validated vibrotactile solution: a compact, wearable device equipped with a sensor that detects and responds to freezing episodes in individuals with Parkinson's Disease. Read on to learn more about knowledge transfer in healthcare!

Our fellow Kai had the opportunity to attend ISPO2025 and ISB2025 in Stockholm, where he was able to share his research with several scholars in the field, learn about their insights and catch up with his previous supervisors and colleagues.
Check out the current status of all our fellow's projects here

We were proud to see Julian Rudisch, member of the TReND coordinator team and supervisor within the MSCA Doctoral Network, contribute to the TBrainBoost Summer School 2.0 in Slovenia last week! 
📰 More about this event can be found here

🎙️ Speaker: Prof. Dr. Mark Latash, Pennsylvania State University
📌 Topic: Structure of Motor variability as a Window into the Neural Control of Action Abstract
📅 Date: Thursday, 21st August 2025
⏰ Time: 12:00-14:00 CEST
🖥️ Link to join:  https://unibe-ch.zoom.us/j/6447676603

Our third fellow, Dilşah Gençaslan, has now completed her secondment at Aix‑Marseille University (AMU). There she worked with Prof. Dr. Rita Sleimen‑Malkoun and Prof. Dr. Jean‑Jacques Temprado, a full report can be read here.

From 10th to 13th June, the inaugural TReND Summer School was held at the University of Bern. This event brought together fellows and supervisors, as well as clinical and industrial partners of the TReND network, to explore the complexities of motor control and learning.
We would like to thank the team at the University of Bern for hosting the event, and Professor Jason Friedman from Tel Aviv University for developing the scientific programme.

More insighs into the Summer School can be found here

A successful defence of a research proposal is an important milestone for all PhD students. We are delighted that Constanze, Lea, Sofía, Victoria, Kai and Louise have already achieved this, and we look forward to seeing their ideas come to fruition!

💡What is a research proposal defence? 
Approximately six months after they start, doctoral students must present their research project plans to the consortium in an online meeting. These plans are then discussed.

The TReND Summer School is taking place next week at the University of Bern! From June 10th to 13th, the TReND Consortium will meet in person for the second time. During the Summer School our fellows supported by their supervisors will learn more about the "Theoretical Bases of Motor Control and Learning" and discuss how concepts of motor control and variability can be applied to their individual research projects. We are looking forward to a successful meeting! 

We are pleased to announce that one TReND PhD position is available at King's College London.
Key Details:
🗓️ Application Deadline: Wednesday, 11th June 2025
📆 Start of Employment: October 2025
For more information and application instructions, please refer to the PDF document. 

Our second fellow, Ajša Džindo, has now completed her secondment at the Department of Neuromotor and Exercise Science at the University of Münster. There she attended the department of Neuromotor Behavior and Exercise's retreat at the beautiful Landhaus Rothenberge, a full report can be read here.

🎙️ Speaker: Prof. Dr. Paul Cisek, University of Montreal
📌 Topic: Neural mechanisms of embodied decisions Abstract
📅 Date: Thursday, 3rd April 2025
⏰ Time: 12:00-14:00 CEST
🖥️ Link to join:  https://unibe-ch.zoom.us/j/6447676603

Our fellow Sofia has recently completed her secondment at the Department of Movement and Exercise Science at the University of Bern. There she had the opportunity to attend the Winter Academy and learned a lot about sports science research. Read more about Sofia's experience in Switzerland here.

The next PhD student we would like to introduce is Aleksandra Kaner. Aleksandra's research project is Project 07: "Effects of increasing variability during training on motor learning: Developing models and concepts for motor rehabilitation (task-specific practice)". We wish Aleksandra an interesting research and look forward to her first results!

DC08 is Julia Jakubowska. Julia started her research on 01.01.2025 and is doing research project 08: "Can the structure of behavioural and physiological variability predict physical training outcomes? - multidimensional assessment and intervention in stroke patients".
We wish Julia all the best and a lot of fun with her work!

The next PhD student we would like to introduce is Dilşah Gençaslan. Dilşah's research project is Project 01: "The relationship between cognition and motor variability in ageing and Parkinson's disease (PD) patients". We wish Dilşah an interesting time working on this question and are happy to have her as part of our team.

Today we would like to introduce you to DC05. Louise Hocke started her work on 15.11.24 and is researching the topic: Neurological factors challenging bimanual motor control and learning in children with unilateral cerebral palsy (uCP). We wish Louise an instructive and exciting time and look forward to the first results!

The next PhD student we would like to introduce is Kai Wang. Kai's research project is Project 04: "Virtual motor training of individuals with upper extremity amputations - relative effects on movement variability and cognitive load". We wish Kai an interesting time investigating this topic and look forward to the first results!

Victoria Trifonova is DC03 and started her research project on 01.10.2024 at the Aix-Marseille University. She inverstigates the question: "Can the structure of behavioural and physiological variability predict training outcomes? - multidimensional assessment and intervention in older adults". We wish her all the best!

We start the new year by introducing Sofía Avila Pérez, DC02, who is interested in the intriguing question, "Can superimposed sensorimotor variability in practice enhance motor (observational) learning in older adults?" We wish Sofía all the best in her research!