Alliance4Life Mini-Conference 2025: Advancing Collaboration in Biomedical Research
The Alliance4Life Mini-Conference, held in Ljubljana on February 17–18, 2025, brought together leading scientists from across Central and Eastern Europe for two days of engaging discussions, networking, and cutting-edge research presentations. Hosted at the Center Rog, the event also marked a major milestone—the official launch of the Alliance4Life Virtual Research Center (VRC).
With an interdisciplinary program covering neurobiology, cardiovascular diseases, metabolism, and endocrinology, the conference provided a platform for collaboration and knowledge exchange between researchers from eleven European countries.
A Meeting That Delivered Real Impact
Participants praised the event for its scientific excellence, interactive format, and welcoming atmosphere, noting that the diversity of topics and the opportunity to connect with like-minded researchers made the Mini-Conference a valuable experience for both early-career and senior scientists.The Launch of the Alliance4Life Virtual Research Center.
A key highlight of the conference was the official launch of the Alliance4Life Virtual Research Center (VRC)—an initiative designed to deepen collaboration, support talent exchange, and strengthen research networks across Europe.
Through the VRC, members will have access to:
- Collaborative projects and joint publications
- International mentoring programs and secondments
- Mini-conferences, webinars, and journal clubs
- Open access to research infrastructure and job opportunities
“A focused event where I could easily talk with presenters and get to know many new people.”
Participant of Mini-Conference
Scientific Highlights
The conference featured five scientific panels, with presentations from top researchers in the field:
Neurobiology
- Jernej Jorgačevski (Slovenia) – Cell Physiology Research Group: Innovation in Neurophysiology
- Jozef Hritz (Czech Republic) – Tau–14-3-3 Interactions in Alzheimer’s Disease
- Miriam A. Hickey (Estonia) – Early Trigeminal and Sensory Impairment in Wolfram Syndrome Models
Cardiovascular Diseases
- Filip Sedlić (Croatia) – The Role of Mitochondria in Cardiovascular Disease
- Martin Helán (Czech Republic) – New Sepsis Biomarkers and Clinical Applications
- Dovilė Karčiauskaitė (Lithuania) – The Impact of Psychosocial Stress on Cardiovascular Risk
Metabolism and Endocrinology
- Maija Dambrova (Latvia) – Acylcarnitines as Biomarkers and Modulators in Metabolic Research
- Livia Petriskova (Slovakia) – Multi-Omics Analysis for Discovering Novel Molecules to Enhance Adipose Tissue Metabolism
Skeletal Muscle and Heart Research
- Sergej Pirkmajer (Slovenia) – Skeletal Muscle as a Metabolic and Endocrine Nexus
- Lea Rems (Slovenia) – Electroporation for Cardiac Treatments: From Ablation to Gene Delivery
A Venue That Symbolized Scientific Transformation
The choice of Center Rog as the venue resonated deeply with the conference's vision for open, collaborative research. This repurposed industrial site, now a hub of creativity and innovation, reflects the conceptual shift in modern science—moving away from isolated research environments toward an interactive, inclusive, and engaged scientific community.
The event also had historical significance. The redevelopment of the Rog factory was influenced by Alois Král, a Czech civil engineer and former Rector of the University of Ljubljana, whose academic legacy continues to shape Central European research institutions.
“Interesting presentations, new ideas for future collaborations.”
Participant of Mini-Conference
“By connecting researchers and fostering innovation, we are building a strong and sustainable research community that will drive biomedical progress for years to come.”
Ester Jarour, Alliance4Life Coordinator
Stay Connected and Join the Next Alliance4Life Event!
The A4L_BRIDGE Mini-Conference 2025 demonstrated that scientific collaboration within Alliance4Life is stronger than ever. With its welcoming environment, high-level expertise, and opportunities for international partnerships, the event reinforced the alliance’s role as a driving force for biomedical research in Central and Eastern Europe.
Don’t miss out on future events! Follow Alliance4Life on LinkedIn to stay updated on upcoming conferences, webinars, and collaboration opportunities.
We look forward to seeing you at the next Alliance4Life Mini-Conference!
Photos by: Katja Kodba
