The main mission of the Center of Biosciences of the Slovak Academy of Sciences (CBs) is to conduct creative scientific research, educate doctoral students and young scientists, and disseminate scientific knowledge through professional publications and lectures, including activities intended for the general public. CBv research focuses on two main areas – cell biology and animal physiology – and is primarily oriented towards basic research with some overlap into applied research.
Publications
The long-term goal of CBs is to achieve high-quality scientific publications. If we consider the journal’s quality to be one criterion for high-quality work, we are succeeding in this task. In 2025, out of a total of 62 indexed publications, 68% were published in first quartile (Q1) journals, and 92% were published in Q1 and Q2 journals (according to SJR). The quality of the research is further confirmed by the number of publications in top journals from the first decile (D1), of which there were a total of 20 (up to 32% of the total number of CBs papers), of which 7 were works with the first and/or corresponding author from CBv:
- 3 chapters in scientific monographs published by the foreign publishing house Elsevier (note: the editors of the scientific monograph Resistance in Hematologic Malignancies and Cancer were employees of CBs)
- 62 scientific papers registered in CCC, WoS Core Collection, SCOPUS
- 2 scientific papers in other international journals
Project activities
Most of CBs’s research activities in 2025 were funded by national grant schemes, but one European project was also supported. The following were implemented:
- 1 Horizont Europe project
- 1 JRP (Joint Research Projects) project
- 12 COST projects
- 4 Mobility projects
- 2 other bilateral projects
- 9 projects under the Slovak Republic’s Recovery and Resilience Plan
- 31 APVV projects
- 30 VEGA projects
- 6 PostdokGrant projects
- 3 projects under the Return Project Scheme
- 4 DoktoGrant projects
In 2025, two Horizon Europe projects were submitted under the Cofund Action program, two projects under ERA.NET calls, two COST projects, three applications for non-repayable financial contributions from European Structural and Investment Funds, ten international projects from other schemes, 16 APPV projects, 11 projects under the DoktoGrant program, 9 projects under the PostdokGrant program, 1 project from the SAV Return Project Scheme, and 1 contribution from ERASMUS+ KA1.
International conferences
In 2025, CBs organized or co-organized three international scientific events:
- 49th annual yeast conference, Smolenice, 90 participants, May 13-16, 2025
- Meeting of the V4 Society for Developmental Biology, Stará Lesná, 170 participants, September 5–7, 2025
- 50th Annual Conference on Yeasts, Smolenice, May 19-22, 2026
During the year, researchers actively participated in international conferences, presenting their results through lectures or posters.
Teaching activities
CBs systematically emphasizes the creation of a high-quality and stimulating research environment that enables young scientists to develop their professional, methodological, and publishing skills and prepares them for independent scientific careers. In 2025, 34 bachelor’s or master’s theses were supervised or consulted at CBs, thereby fulfilling one of the indicators of the Performance Agreement. Twenty-nine doctoral students were trained at CBs, five of whom were newly admitted. Two scientific conferences for doctoral students and young researchers were organized at CBs, one in Bratislava and one in Košice.
People, Popularization, and the Public
In 2025, the Center for Biosciences of the Slovak Academy of Sciences actively participated in the popularization of science:
- Participation in major events: Experience Science with SAV, We Are SAV, European Science Night, Science and Technology Week 2025, Science Slam.
- Primary and secondary school students had the opportunity to try out laboratory work as part of Science Camp 2, the Summer School for Young Scientists, and other smaller events and excursions.
International Advisory Board
In December 2025, members of the International Advisory Board (IAB) visited CBs. Staff presented their most significant scientific results and visions for further development. IAC members also toured the laboratories and animal facilities of the Bratislava institutes (IAP from Košice was connected via telebridge). Intense and constructive discussions took place throughout the meeting. The task of the IAB members is to prepare comments on the scientific direction and activities of CBs and, if necessary, to propose adjustments or additions to the objectives of the Action Plan.
What to expect in 2026
In the coming period, but especially in 2026, the institute will focus primarily on:
- further strengthening of infrastructure and the social impact of research,
- VER 2026 evaluation,
- acquiring new international projects,
- maintaining the high quality of publications.
Source: Annual Report on Activities and Financial Management for 2025
Edited by: Matúš Tomko