Digital health research can be both dynamic and deeply inspiring — a fact that was once again evident at the annual meeting of the Research Group Digital Health of the Technical University of Dresden, Germany, on June 4, 2025. Held in the grand hall of the Faculty of Business and Economics at TU Dresden with Dr. Hannes Schlieter as host and moderator, the event brought together over 50 partners, guests, and members of our Digital Health research group for a day of engaging insights and meaningful exchange.

Prof. Dr. Tobias Kowatsch kicked-off the event with a keynote on how digital health interventions can be designed not only to function effectively, but also to motivate users and better reach vulnerable populations. In addition to the keynote, the team of Dr. Hannes Schlieter also discussed the future role of patient pathways as integral components of oncology care and research structures in both Europe and the state of Saxony.

The four research pitches sparked lively discussions around current projects and prototypes, offering valuable insights into the innovative work underway within the group.

A fitting conclusion to the day was the presentation by Hannes Schlieter, who outlined future focus areas including the use of LLM-powered virtual coaches, the further development of digital progress hubs within the Medical Informatics Initiative (MII), and the harmonization of stroke networks across Germany.

What stood out to me most was the intensive and inspiring exchange among all participants. It once again underscored the importance of such gatherings for bridging research and practice — and for learning from one another. A big thank-you to everyone involved.