ACADEMIC STAYS

VISION Trainings: Training in confocal microscopy (characterisation, uptake of nanomaterials and in situ oxidative stress on live cells), and High throughput genotoxicity testing training – organized by NILU – Radka Macova (BMC SAV), Michaela Blazickova (BMC SAV) – June 3 – June 25, 2023

Radka Macova, MSc., a Ph.D. student at the Cancer Research Institute, Biomedical Research Center, SAS

Bare bok gjør ingen klok. This Norwegian proverb (which means that a mere book makes no one wise) is doubly true if you are at the beginning of your career as a scientist/researcher. Therefore, I am extremely grateful to the VISION project, which gave me the opportunity to participate in two trainings organized by the Norwegian Institute for Air Research (NILU) during the first year of my PhD studies. Thanks to the project, I learned the basics of confocal microscopy (from sample preparation to machine handling and evaluation of results) and genotoxicity testing using the comet assay and its several modifications within a month time period. At the time of the trainings, I had a chance to try working in an international (and of course multicultural) team and fully realize how important mutual respect, communication (including endless questioning!) and sharing of knowledge (both theoretical and practical) are for taking steps forward in research. I am pleased that throughout my internship I was surrounded by people who, in addition to being excellent scientists, are also remarkably inspiring personalities willing to help in any situation. I am really looking forward to the future cooperation with those amazing human beings and to using and expanding the knowledge I brought home from Norway!

Michaela Blažíčková, Msc., a Ph.D. student at the Cancer Research Institute, Biomedical Research Center, SAS

Thanks to the VISION project I was able to spend three weeks at the Norwegian Institute for Air Research (NILU). The first training was focused on confocal microscopy and included sample preparation (cell cultures), basic microscope system setup, image analysis and evaluation of results using programs ZEN blue and ZEN black. During the second training, I learned new modifications to the comet assay, including the twelve-point comet assay and two-tailed comet assay for the detection of DNA single and double strand breaks. I´m grateful to have been able to take these trainings with amazing people. I believe that the acquired knowledge and experience will be beneficial not only in the preparation of my dissertation thesis, but also in the future.

VISION Trainings: Training in protein expression analysis – organized by NKUA – Maria Urbanova (BMC SAV), Nikoleta Mojzesova (BMC SAS) – June 5 – 22, 2023

Maria Urbanova, MSc, a Ph.D. student at the Cancer Research Institute, Biomedical Research Center SAS:

I am grateful to the VISION training program for the opportunity to attend an internship at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, dedicated to the different methods of protein analyses. During this internship, we meet inspiring people of different specializations and collaborate with them on pancreatic cancer-related project. This experience has not only enhanced my technical abilities in protein analysis but has also instilled in me a deeper appreciation for the importance of teamwork and collaboration in cancer research.
In conclusion, I would like to thank Agapi Kataki Ioanna Angelioudaki, Alexandros Mitrousias, Alexandros-Georgios Tzingounis, and the whole group from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens for their time, warm welcome, the possibility to learn new methods and get some experiences in the protein analyses.

Nikoleta Mojzesova, MSc, a Ph.D. student at the Cancer Research Institute, Biomedical Research Center SAS:

Together with Maria Urbanova, we had an opportunity to meet new, smart and skilled scientists in the laboratory of Aretaieion University Hospital and at the pathology department of Ippokrateio General Hospital of Athens. During our nearly three-week stay, we learned new methods to implement and practice in Slovakia in the future as well.
I think that in science, it is essential to be able to collaborate with other researchers and share our acquired knowledge. During my scientific practice at the Cancer Research Institute BMC SAS, I learned that collaboration in science is one of the most significant keys to achieving success and reaching your goals. We can learn the theory from books, but from the other point of view, the valuable advice and long-term experience of our colleagues or other scientific workers are irreplaceable and priceless. I would like to thank Agapai Kataki and her scientific research team for their willingness, kind and friendly approach, and time invested in us.

VISION Trainings: Training in advanced co-culture intestine model, and Training in in vitro 3D cell cultivation and stem cell differentiation – organized by FhG – Emma Barreto Melian (SERMAS/IRYCIS) – May 8 – June 2, 2023

Thanks to VISION project, I have had the chance to visit Germany and the Fraunhofer Institute. Being abroad is always an enriching experience inside the lab and outdoors. The techniques and approaches I have learnt during this month were completely different to my comfort zone, it was more challenging because of my lack of experience in cell culture, but more fruitful at the same time. I left Fraunhofer’s with new knowledge and skills, and I’m sure this will be very useful in my professional career.

This was my third and last academic stay thanks to VISION, and once again I found great people that made me feel at home even being so far from everything I know.

VISION Trainings: Training in circulating tumor cells isolation methodology, Training in isolation of circulating exosomes and their characterization, Initiation in Medical Genetics and Genetic Counselling, Training in protein expression analysis – organized by NKUA – Emma Barreto Melian (SERMAS/IRYCIS) – January 16 – February 17, 2023

Thanks to the VISION project, I had the great opportunity of moving abroad and visit another lab. In the 2 nd Department of Surgery in Aretaeio Hospital, I learned about several techniques, mostly focussed on liquid biopsy, which is very useful, but also some protein expression assays and genetic counseling in the clinics. The whole team did their best to teach me and show me new skills. It was amazing to spend that time with them, they are great people, and for sure, they deserve the best. Efcharistó poly!

VISION Trainings: The use of the liquid biopsy in precision medicine, The use of mouse models in oncology research – organized by SERMAS/IRYCIS – Lucia Balintova (BMC SAV) – November 7 – December 3, 2022

Thanks to the VISION project I was able to join and participate in liquid biopsy and in-vivo tumor models trainings at Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal in Madrid. These trainings provided an invaluable experience in multiple scientific approaches and methods. During my one-month stay at IRYCIS, we practiced isolation and culture of tumor and stroma cells from primary tumors, the use of ultrasound, and the processing of patient samples, we also tried a new iblot2 machine for western blot which was very interesting. I am very thankful for this opportunity to learn new laboratory techniques and also for the very nice people I met, who inspired me and helped me to accomplish my ideas.

Jesús Frutos, MSc, a PhD student and Biomedical Researcher at the Ramón y Cajal Health Research Institute:
Thanks to VISION project I was able to stay during one month at Germany doing an internship at the Fraunhofer-Institut für Biomedizinische Technik (IBMT). For me, it was not only a great experience as a researcher, it was also a personal step forward as a human being. As a researcher, I learnt advanced techniques that I will use during my PhD, optimized methods that I will continue using daily and compared the ones I knew with great scientists. The research facilities of the IBMT were incredible and working in such a high quality institute (with that equipment and brilliant minds) was just awesome. On the personal aspect, adapting to a new center, knowing other cultures, living abroad and sharing experiences with colleagues made me able to grow mentally. I want to thank all the people at the IBMT that made me feel like at home since the first day and for spending their time in showing me their knowledge. I think that the best way to move forward and learn in Science is sharing knowledge and experiences, and the VISION project allow young researchers to do this, specially the ones that are starting their scientific career. This month was very inspiring for myself, and I am sure it will help me to achieve my goals in the future.

Kristina Jakic, MSc, a Ph.D. student at the Cancer Research Institute, Biomedical Research Center, SAS:
The VISION project gave me the opportunity to spent a month in the laboratories of Fraunhofer Institute for Biomedical Engineering (IBMT) in Germany. I could see and personally try how to work with stem cells, to prepare the 3D cell culture and to differentiate them. We also worked with very interesting advanced intestine model. It was great to see the work process in different laboratory and to exchange the experiences and knowledge with other talented scientist. I´m very thankful, that I could meet these great people. This stay was very inspirational, broadened my horizons and brought new ideas to me.

Lenka Trnkova, MSc, a Ph.D. student at the Cancer Research Institute, Biomedical Research Center, SAS:
Training in confocal microscopy gave me valuable experience in imagining methods which I am now able to apply in my scientific work. During the course, we practiced multiple approaches for in vitro cell imagining, which gave me a number of ideas for my future experiments. We were supervised by experienced scientists who were willing to share their knowledge, guide us and help us with every aspect of our stay. Spending time in the laboratory of the Norwegian Institute for Air Research (NILU) was thus a great experience that helped me to gain new laboratory skills useful for my future work in oncology research.

Maria Urbanova, MSc, a Ph.D. student at the Cancer Research Institute, Biomedical Research Center SAS:
The VISION course at the NILU Institute of Oslo enabled me to practice the method of confocal microscopy and learn a wide amount of potential uses of this method. We practically tried many different methods and steps of confocal microscopy, such as sample preparation, immunofluorescence labeling, protein visualization, toxicity assay, and many others. It was also a great opportunity to collaborate with great scientists from all around the world, see different scientific approaches, and exchange our experiences. I believe that these new skills and experiences provided by this course will help me accomplish my Ph.D. goals as well as be beneficial in my future research.

My training at the Laboratory of Medical Oncology, at the Ramon y Cajal, University Hospital (“Molecular epidemiology and cancer predictive markers’ group) was a great experience for me, as a PhD student and provided many valuable insights for my future steps, in many aspects. It, certainly, corroborated VISION program’s aim to bring people from different universities and EU countries together, to exchange knowledge and experience and see themselves develop in a personal and professional level. That is how excellence and innovation can be materialized and bear fruits. Importantly, this collaboration among people from different backgrounds and disciplines, but who share core values, make this process challenging and inspiring at the same time.

VISION project not only gives the opportunity of visiting another research group in a different country, it provides a great key for opening a new door inside your mind. Having access to high quality scientific knowledge, with great researchers that take their time to teach and show you how to do it, is something really encouraging for young researchers that are starting their scientific career. Working together is the most powerful tool we have to keep growing as professionals and human beings. It is not the amount of time spent, but the quality of it.

VISION Training: The use of mouse models in oncology research - organized by SERMAS/IRYCIS – Lenka Trnkova (BMC SAV), Maria Urbanova (BMC SAV) –October 1 - 31, 2021

Lenka Trnkova, MSc, a Ph.D. student at the Cancer Research Institute, Biomedical Research Center, SAS:
„VISION project enabled me to spend one month in Madrid as an intern in the laboratory within Ramón y Cajal University Hospital. During this time, I was able to practice many laboratory methods related to the field of my expertise and participate in ongoing research in the laboratory focusing on pancreatic cancer. I was fortunate to work in a group led by experienced researchers and meet new colleagues and friends within the laboratory, with whom I could share my scientific knowledge and discuss new ideas. Also, I was able to learn different methods that will be useful for my future work during my Ph.D. studies and in my future scientific career. Overall, I am happy that I could spend this month in the laboratory at Ramón y Cajal University Hospital as a part of a team of great people, and I am sure that this experience will help me in my future work in oncology research.“

Maria Urbanova, MSc, a Ph.D. student at the Cancer Research Institute, Biomedical Research Center SAS:
“Thanks to the VISION project, I had the opportunity to spend a month on an internship in Madrid and take part in a course dedicated to the preparation of in vivo and in vitro models derived from patient samples. In the laboratory of Molecular Epidemiology and Predictive Markers in Cancer, where we were very pleasantly welcomed, and they practically showed us the preparation of in vitro organoids as well as mouse xenografts from the pancreatic tumor tissue. This course has also allowed me to meet top scientists in cancer and broaden my horizons in pancreatic cancer research approaches. I believe that this stay will be a great enrichment for my Ph.D. work as well as other scientific activities.”

VISION Training in surgical operational procedures aiming to treat patients with GI tumours - organized by NKUA – Peter Dubovan (BMC SAV) – 21 August – 19 September 2021

In order to improve the world we are living in, we ourselves have to become better. As it is said, in order to achieve greatness there are many paths to choose, but whichever road we choose there will be a need for the openness of our minds and hearts. Vision programme offers us amazing opportunity to gather knowledge on one hand, but on the other to get familiar with different culture, different nation with their habits and to get to know other people and forge new relationships. As we are moving forward in this ever-globalizing world we see, that only Together Everybody Achieves More.

Peter Dubovan, MD, PhD student, (white coat) visited the 2nd Department of Surgery, Aretaieion University Hospital, Athens, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece.