On April 30, 2026, the Biomedical Center of the Slovak Academy of Sciences (BMC SAV) welcomed thirty Dutch students from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, to whom we presented our diverse research. During the visit, our researchers also took them to our laboratories or animal house.
The visit was organized by the students themselves. Every year, they choose from several destinations that are not too far away, and this year, Bratislava won the student vote. They found our center through an online search for interesting organizations to visit in the capital of Slovakia.
Director General Professor Silvia Pastoreková first briefly introduced them to the structure, mission, and research of the BMC SAS. They then split into groups, and our researchers took them to the laboratories and showed them our specialized infrastructure — including the animal facility for immunodeficient mice and specialized laboratories for working with highly dangerous pathogens. They were able to get a close look at our research in the fields of oncology, metabolism, and virology.
The students appreciated the intensive and interesting program. “The organization was great; we learned a lot, and everyone was very willing to show us around. We are very grateful for that,” commented Sofia Almeida, a participant in the visit.
Text and photo: E. Rybárová, BMC SAS
