History

 

The Institute of Molecular Biology (IMB) was established as a workplace of the Jessenius Faculty of Medicine (JFM) and the   University Hospital Martin (UHM) at a detached workplace in Vrútky on the basis of a resolution of the Academic Senate of JFM CU of 17 October 2001 as a joint research institute of JFM CU and UHM. The first head of the institute was assoc. prof.  Ing. Viera Mezesova, CSc. In 2004, IMB changed to the teaching base of JFM CU and UHM, and RNDr. Zora Lasabová, PhD, started working at the institute. The tasks of the institute were finally defined in the field of teaching, research and development and realization of diagnostics in cooperation with clinics and institutes of UHM.

Since the academic year 2006/2007, the head of IMB is doc. RNDr. Z. Lasabová, Ph.D. In 2006, Andrea Vaňochová joined the workplace as a technician. In 2007, the management of JFM CU approved the establishment of a common laboratory of the Institute of Molecular Biology and the Institute of Pathological Anatomy at the workplace in Vrútky named Laboratory of Molecular Biology. After retirement assoc.prof. Ing. Viera Mézešová, CSc, Mgr. Tatiana Burjanivova, PhD. started on the position of assistant professor in the academic year 2008/2009. RNDr. Petra Tilandyová, Ph.D., Mgr. Veronika Holubeková (nee Janušicová), PhD., Mgr. Andrea Hornáková (nee Mendelová), PhD., Mgr. Karin Jašek (nee Gemzová) PhD., Mgr. Eva Ježková, Ph.D., RNDr. Martin Vážan, PhD., RNDr. Dusan Loderer, PhD., RNDr. Z. Kolková (nee Sňahničanová), PhD., RNDr. B. Malicherová, PhD., RNDr. B Vanova, PhD. carried out and completed their dissertations at the institute under the guidance of supervisors from the Institute of Molecular Biology or supervisors working at clinics and institutes of JLF UK. Mgr. Veronika Holubekova, PhD. and Mgr. Andrea Hornáková, Ph.D. joined as postdoctoral students in 2014 and 2015, respectively. Both later joined the Oncology Division in Biomed. Mgr. E. Lukáčová has been a doctoral student since 2020.

Since 2009, the department has been part of the Center for Excellent Research in Perinatology. We worked intensively on a project funded by the EU Structural Funds - Molecular Diagnosis of Cervical Cancer. Thanks to these projects, the department was equipped with state-of-the-art instruments for molecular-biological and genomic analyzes.

The employees of the department participated intensively in the creation of the concept of the Division of Oncology and the Laboratory of Genomics, which was established within the Biomedical Center Martin. In 2015, the department moved from Vrútky to new rooms in Mala Hora. In 2016, the department was included among the preclinical institutes at JFM CU, with emphasis on close cooperation in the research and diagnostic area with the Laboratory of Genomics and Prenatal Diagnostics of Biomed,with the  Institute of Pathological Anatomy JFM CU and UHM,  and with the Surgical Clinic and Transplant Center UHM. Many alumni of the Institute of Molecular Biology have found employment at the Martin Center for Biomedicine - Biomed.

In 2018, the department was renamed to the Institute of Molecular Biology and Genomics. At present, the department focuses mainly on teaching the subject Molecular Biology for students of general medicine (in Slovak and English) and research on cancer molecular biology and genomics.