Katharina Kriegel

Image: Ekaterina Nazarova, DKFZ

Published on 27.07.2026

ORena SAVE FOCUS Challenge tests VLM’s surgical video understanding

Can vision-language models help surgeons keep track of every surgical object during an operation? The ORena SAVE FOCUS challenge puts that question to the test. Teams are invited to train their models on expert-annotated surgical video data and compete against the baseline models and each other. A $60k prize pool will be distributed among the top performers!

Promotional graphic for the Helmholtz Imaging Best Scientific Image Contest 2026 public voting, featuring a collage of colorful contest images arranged in triangular shapes and the words “Public Voting” on a black background.

Image: Katharina Kriegel, Helmholtz Imaging, DESY (images: selection of 2026 contest submissions) | info

Published on 23.07.2026

Cast Your Vote for the Public Choice Award

The images are in – and now it is your turn to choose your favorite scientific images for the Public Choice Award in the Helmholtz Imaging Best Scientific Image Contest 2026. Voting is open until August 18, 2026.

Visual to promote DeepMI-course showing edited brain graphics.

Image: DeepMI Lab | info

Published on 14.07.2026

DeepMI FastSurfer / FreeSurfer course 2026

Join this 2.5-day, hands-on, introductory course on state-of-the-art deep-learning methods for fast and reliable neuroimage analysis from October 14 to 16 in Bonn!

Person standing on a paved walkway outside a modern building, holding a large lightweight square frame made of white rectangular elements and the letters "H" and "I" attached to metal rods.

Image: Sabine Niebel (generatively extended using Photoshop) | info

Published on 26.06.2026

Helmholtz Imaging moves to Matrix

We are moving our community chat from Mattermost to Matrix. The new Helmholtz-wide platform, hosted by HIFIS, will support secure exchange and collaboration across the Helmholtz Association. Join us!

Group photo of the Helmholtz Imaging team at their booth at HAICON26

info

Published on 23.06.2026

Helmholtz Imaging at HAICON26: Connecting Imaging, AI and Scientific Discovery

With hands-on workshops, a busy booth, and a poster spotlight on the Helmholtz Model Zoo, Helmholtz Imaging had many opportunities at the conference to connect with AI-savvy researchers and discuss how we can lift their imaging-related research to the next level.

Image: Created with ChatGPT | info

Published on 16.06.2026

Helmholtz Imaging is moving to Matrix

Helmholtz Imaging is moving its community communication from Mattermost to Matrix. Join our new Matrix space for community updates, exchange, and sharing. Mattermost will be shut down by July 1, 2026.

Decorative image showing abstract particles in bluish colors rendering on dark background.

Image: Envato Elements | info

Published on 16.06.2026

Open Call: ScienceServe, Boosting Research Software at Helmholtz

Apply for project funding to enhance the sustainability and quality of research software! Deadline: August 14, 2026

decorative visual; blue-futuristic-stream-data-communication-flying; added text: Which data science skills are most relevant for your research?

Image: Envato Elements | info

Published on 04.06.2026

Survey: Help Shape Helmholtz’ Data Science Training Portfolio

Participate in a short survey on current training needs and future skill development priorities!

Image: Digital Forest / Digital Twin by Aldino Rizaldy, Sam Thiele, Sharad Kumar Gupta, HZDR | info

Published on 29.05.2026

Helmholtz Imaging Newsletter Issue No. 27

From the Project Call 2026 and upcoming training opportunities to new community tools and a preview of Helmholtz Imaging Week 2026, our latest newsletter highlights what’s happening across Helmholtz Imaging and beyond.

This image shows long vertical streaks in bright yellow, turquoise, blue, and purple. The layered colors and textured lines resemble dripping paint or weathered wood grain, creating a vivid, striped pattern across the image.

Image: Anja Rösel, DLR & Polona Itkin, UiT - The Arctic University of Norway | info

Published on 13.05.2026

Ron Kikinis Honored with KIT International Excellence Award 2026

Congratulations to Ron Kikinis, member of Helmholtz Imaging’s Scientific Advisory Committee, on receiving the 2026 International Excellence Award of KIT for his internationally renowned contributions to medical image processing, image-guided therapy, and biomedical informatics.

This image resembles an abstract mosaic or painting. It is composed of many irregular, crystal-like shapes in vivid shades of pink, yellow, turquoise, orange, blue, and black. The fragmented patterns create a textured appearance similar to stained glass or cracked ice illuminated by polarized light. It shows a longitudinal thin section of a sea ice core.

Image: Anja Rösel, DLR & Polona Itkin, UiT - The Arctic University of Norway | info

Published on 13.05.2026

Helmholtz Imaging contributes to two Excellence Clusters in Hamburg

From uncovering hidden ancient texts with mobile X-ray imaging to studying sustainable water-driven materials, two Excellence Clusters in Hamburg showcase how advanced imaging enables interdisciplinary research across the humanities, natural sciences, and engineering.

Promotional graphic for the Best Scientific Images 2026 call, showing a black background with past winning images arranged in triangular shapes. One triangle displays a question mark, symbolizing the search for the next winning image.

Image: Katharina Kriegel, DESY | info

Published on 29.04.2026

Best Scientific Image Contest 2026: Call for Submissions

Extended deadline: Submit your best scientific images by May 13, 2026 for a chance to win best image in one of the three categories Jury Award, Public Choice Award & Participants’ Choice Award, and exciting prizes including €4,500 in total prize money. Show us what your research looks like!

Hyperspectral data cube symbolizing the general remote sensing and hyperspectral imagery domains, showing an aerial view of a landscape at the front with bluish, green and reddish colored lines leading to the back of the cube.

Image: Aaron Christian Banze | info

Published on 27.04.2026

NEW on CONNECT: Estimating Soil Properties from Satellite Data with Explainable AI

How can we accurately and transparently predict soil nutrients from space? A new CONNECT blog post presents Hype-Spectral, a top-performing approach combining hyperspectral imagery and explainable AI.

Image: Envato Elements | info

Published on 13.04.2026

From Data to Impact: Helmholtz Imaging Shapes the MEDAL Project

A €3 million grant from the Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung supports the MEDAL project at DKFZ, led by Helmholtz Imaging Center Coordinator Lena Maier-Hein, marking a major step toward clinically meaningful AI in medical imaging by developing a global standard for evaluating AI systems.

Image: HEREON | info

Published on 10.04.2026

PhD Position: Deep learning for phase-contrast synchrotron X-ray tomography

Hereon is seeking a PhD student at its outstation at DESY in Hamburg. Apply by May 7, 2026!