Biomedical researchers join forces as Martin hosts leading European experts
In late September 2026, the Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin, Comenius University Bratislava (JFMED CU), welcomed more than 200 participants and nearly 50 experts from around the world to the International Conference on Biobanking & Translational Medicine 2026 (ICBBTM 2026). Alongside the exchange of knowledge, the event marked an important milestone for Slovak healthcare and science with the formal signing of a memorandum of cooperation by representatives of key national research infrastructures.
From the laboratory to the patient
The three-day scientific programme, held from 23 to 25 September 2026, brought together scientists, clinicians, research infrastructures, innovative companies and the next generation of researchers. Discussions focused on key areas of modern medicine: biobanking, translational oncology, regenerative medicine, biomarker development, and applications of artificial intelligence and digital health.
Key international speakers included representatives of the European research infrastructures BBMRI-ERIC and EATRIS-ERIC, as well as representatives of European and national research infrastructures from Czechia, Austria, Slovenia, Denmark, the Netherlands, Hungary and Lithuania.
Also attending were members of the JFMED CU leadership, including Dean Andrea Čalkovská; Dalibor Murgaš, representing Martin University Hospital; Peter Valkovič, Chair of the Scientific Council of the Slovak Ministry of Health; Ján Kočišek, representing the Slovak Ministry of Education, Research, Development and Youth; Petra Zappe, representing the Research and Innovation Authority (VAIA); and the national directors of the two research infrastructures, Zuzana Danková of BBMRI.sk and Erika Halašová of EATRIS-SK.
Participants agreed that translational medicine provides an essential link between basic research and clinical practice, allowing scientific findings and high-quality biological data to be applied more quickly to diagnosis, prevention and patient treatment.
Slovak research infrastructures sign menorandum
A highlight of the conference’s opening ceremony was the signing of a memorandum of cooperation between four national nodes: BBMRI.sk, EATRIS-SK, ELIXIR Slovakia and SLOVACRIN.
The memorandum lays the groundwork for closer cooperation and the sharing of resources, expertise, data and technologies, strengthening the position of Slovak biomedical research within the European Research Area. It is a significant recognition of JFMED CU’s role, as the faculty hosts the national nodes of both BBMRI.sk and EATRIS-SK.
“The idea for this memorandum grew out of the need to bring the main pillars of biomedical research closer together and make the most of what each has to offer. We want to share our resources and experience, and create opportunities for innovative projects that will help improve people’s health,” said Zuzana Danková, National Director of BBMRI.sk, who initiated the memorandum.
The memorandum was signed by Zuzana Danková, National Director of BBMRI.sk; Erika Halašová, National Director of EATRIS-SK; Tomáš Szemes, Chair of the ELIXIR Slovakia Board; and Miroslava Rabajdová, representing SLOVACRIN. Zuzana Danková and Erika Halašová also provided scientific oversight for the conference.
Signatories to the memorandum
- BBMRI.sk is the Slovak national node of BBMRI-ERIC, the European research infrastructure for biobanking.
- EATRIS-SK is the Slovak node of EATRIS, the European infrastructure supporting translational research and the introduction of innovations into clinical practice.
- ELIXIR Slovakia is the national node of ELIXIR, the European infrastructure for biological data, bioinformatics and data services.
- SLOVACRIN, the Slovak Clinical Research Infrastructure Network, is the national partner of the European infrastructure ECRIN.
Opportunities for young researchers and public engagement
The conference also featured a poster session and the presentation of Young Scientist Awards. The top prize went to Oľga Chodelková and her team from the host faculty, JFMED CU, for their research on the characterisation of pancreatic cancer cell lines. Karol Forró and his team from the CU Faculty of Medicine were also among the award winners, recognised for their research on modelling intestinal inflammation.
The programme also reached out to the public through a tour of the National Biobank at JFMED CU and activities linked to European Researchers’ Night 2026 on the final day. The conference in Martin demonstrated how advances in medicine depend on close cooperation between people, institutions and research infrastructures across disciplines and national borders.