One of the year’s highlights was the appointment of Fiona Müllner as our fifth Group Leader in August, completing a strong leadership team that will drive cutting-edge research for years to come. This milestone reflects our commitment to fostering world-class science and leadership.

Funding success also defined 2025. 

DANDRITE researchers secured an impressive number of external grants, setting a record in our 13-year history. Among these, two prestigious ERC Starting Grants awarded to Fiona Müllner and Chao stand out as a testament to the strength and ambition of our research environment.

In October, we hosted the inaugural DANDRITE Symposium – a bi-annual event that brought together over a hundred participants for a vibrant scientific programme. This marks an important step in establishing DANDRITE as a hub for neuroscience dialogue and collaboration, and we look forward to continuing this tradition in 2027. 

Our community has grown locally as well. This year, the thirteenth affiliated researcher joined DANDRITE, and many are already actively engaged in collaborations. Meanwhile, our early-career organisation, YoDA, has been buzzing with activity, launching new initiatives in partnership with YNN. A dynamic environment for young scientists is essential for attracting the next generation of talent, and we are proud to see this energy flourish.

Finally, we were delighted to welcome Nanna Brix Finnerup as the new Chair of our Board in June. Her clinical expertise will bring fresh perspectives that will strengthen our research in the years ahead.

2025 has been a year of growth, collaboration, and scientific excellence. We thank all our partners and supporters for contributing to this success and look forward to continuing our mission to advance neuroscience in 2026 and beyond.