SBIR 2024: Fostering Collaboration in Reproductive Biology and Immunology

From October 13 to 15, 2024, the picturesque Chateau Liblice hosted the 29th edition of the Symposium of Biology and Immunology of Reproduction (SBIR). This long-standing conference brought together 62 participants, primarily from the Czech Republic and Slovakia, to discuss the latest advancements in reproductive biology, assisted reproduction, and immunology.

A Platform for Scientific Exchange
Founded by doc. RNDr. Jana Pěknicová, CSc. and Prof. MUDr. Zdenka Ulčová-Gallová, DrSc., SBIR has been a vital platform for the past 25 years.

Since 2021, the conference has been organized under the leadership of doc. Dr. Kateřina Komrsková, Ph.D., head of the Laboratory of Reproductive Biology at the Institute of Biotechnology of the Czech Academy of Sciences. The co-organizer of this year's edition was Dr. Dominik Filipp, Ph.D., from the Laboratory of Immunobiology (Institute of Molecular Genetics of the CAS).

A new feature of this year’s conference was the opportunity for short oral presentations in the form of a three-minute flashtalk. Thanks to the support of sponsors, the expert committee awarded prizes to the three best young scientists in the Young Scientist Competition poster contest, as well as to the two best young speakers.

The symposium aims to create an inclusive forum for researchers, medical professionals, and students to share their findings and ideas on reproduction and related fields. The conference encourages participation from both senior and junior scientists, offering presentations and poster sessions to foster open collaboration and the exchange of ideas.

Invited Speakers
This year’s invited speakers included:

• Dr. Christiane Pleuger, Ph.D., Justus-Liebig-University Giessen:
  "A Balancing Act Between Tolerance and Defense: The Multifaceted Role of Resident Immune Cells within the Murine Epididymis"
• PharmDr. Zuzana Holubcová, Ph.D., Masaryk University:
  "Looking into Oocyte Maturation and Beyond – Heights and Pitfalls of the Bench-to-Bedside Journey"
• Prof. Ing. Peter Šutovský, Ph.D., Dr.h.c., University of Missouri:
  "Biomarker-Based High Throughput Sperm Phenotyping: Andrology in the Age of Precision Medicine and Agriculture"

The conference continues to serve as a hub for scientific dialogue, expanding both the national and international communities in reproductive science.