XXVIII Biological Days 2025 Highlighted Current Topics in Reproductive Biology and Oncology

05. 12. 2025

On November 25–26, 2025, the 28^th Biological Days of the Czech-Slovak Biological Society took place in Vestec near Prague. This year's edition, subtitled Reproductive Biology and Oncology – From Conception to Healthy Ageing, was hosted by the Biotechnology and Biomedicine Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences and Charles University (BIOCEV). The conference was held with the support of the Strategy AV21 project – Future of Assisted Reproduction (ART).

The two-day conference attracted nearly 160 participants from academic and applied research institutions. The scientific programme featured a total of 42 contributions, including 20 lectures and 18 poster presentations, covering a wide range of current topics in reproductive biology, oncology, and related interdisciplinary fields.

Main Scientific Sessions and Keynote Lectures

The conference was opened by prof. Ondřej Slabý, whose plenary lecture entitled "The Use of Advanced Genomics Tools in the Diagnosis of Ultra-rare Diseases and for the Purposes of Precision Oncology" presented the latest applications of genomic methods in medical practice. This was followed by thematic sessions devoted to reproductive biology and oncofertility, offering a comprehensive perspective from molecular mechanisms to clinical implications.

The second conference day was opened by prof. Jiří Neužil with a lecture entitled "Horizontal Mitochondrial Transfer as a New Hallmark of Tumours" introducing a session focused on the role of mitochondria in tumour biology and emerging directions in tumorigenesis research.

Awards for Distinguished Scientists and Student Contributions

As is customary, the conference also included the presentation of awards recognising lifetime scientific contributions and the development of biological disciplines, as well as prizes for outstanding student presentations. These awards traditionally represent highlights of the programme.

This year, the prestigious Babák Medal was awarded to prof. Jaroslav Petr, a leading expert in the anatomy, physiology, and reproduction of farm animals. In his lecture "The Impact of Microplastics and Nanoplastics on Reproduction," he summarized current knowledge on the effects of environmental stress on reproductive health, offeringa clear yet alarming insight into this rapidly developing field of research.

The Studnička Award for the best student oral presentation was received by Michal Boček from the Institute of Pathological Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University for his contribution "The Microbiome in Oncology: A New Predictor of Response to Treatment and Modern Approaches to Its Analysis." The best poster award was presented to Natálie Klímová from the Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences for her work "The Effect of Heat Stress on the Developmental Competence of Oocytes in Terms of Translation Regulation." Her research was directly supported by the Strategy AV21 – Future of Assisted Reproduction project.

The conference naturally aligned with the objectives of the ART – Future of Assisted Reproduction project (Strategy AV21), which promotes dialogue between basic research and clinical practice, with a strong emphasis on interdisciplinary collaboration. We warmly congratulate all award recipients and thank the organisers for an excellently prepared conference and an inspiring meeting full of new insights, discussions, and ideas.

Participants of Biological Days 2025. Main organiser Kateřina Komrsková with Prof. Jaroslav Petr, recipient of the Babák Medal (Photo: M. Krejčí).

XXVIII Biological Days 2025 Highlighted Current Topics in Reproductive Biology and Oncology

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