Nele Bertels
Nele’s PhD research focuses on optimising arm and hand skill training for individuals with cervical SCI. Attending ISCoS will help her build collaborations with researchers and therapists worldwide, essential for successful implementation and cross-cultural evaluation.
Nele shares her experiences from the conference.
Receiving this grant enabled me to attend the International Spinal Cord Society (ISCoS) Conference in Gothenburg, an opportunity I would not have been able to pursue otherwise. The support facilitated meaningful scientific exchange, broadened my academic perspective, and created opportunities for future collaboration. It allowed me to meet researchers from around the world, each with their own scientific focus, which will influence our future work through the development of global research partnerships.
During the conference, I participated in a wide range of sessions, scientific presentations, and poster discussions both directly relevant to my doctoral research and extending beyond my immediate focus. I also attended the SRI Early Career Researcher Breakfast. These interactions were highly valuable, enabling me to connect with international researchers working in the same field.
A key outcome of this experience was the significant expansion of my professional network. I established several new research contacts, many of whom expressed interest in forming collaborative projects. These conversations have already resulted in concrete ideas for joint studies, which I plan to explore further in the coming months.
As I am in the final phase of my PhD, the sessions were particularly impactful. They helped me place my findings within a broader international context and provided new insights for interpreting my results. Discussions with fellow researchers sparked fresh perspectives and highlighted important questions that I aim to incorporate into my ongoing work. Equally influential were the sessions that emphasised the patient perspective, which deepened my understanding of how research outcomes translate into lived experiences. This insight will shape both my dissertation and future research directions.
Overall, this grant strengthened my confidence, enhanced my scientific capabilities, and created momentum for sustained collaborations that will continue to influence my research well beyond this meeting. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity.
