30th Symposium on Biology and Immunology of Reproduction

The 30th Symposium on Biology and Immunology of Reproduction (SBIR) took place at Chateau Liblice, bringing together leading experts and young scientists in reproductive biology, immunology, and related fields. This year’s event was jointly organized by the Institute of Biotechnology of the Czech Academy of Sciences and the Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, under the leadership of Assoc. Prof. Kateřina Komrsková and Dr. Dominik Filipp.

Theme: Reproduction under the influence of environment and immunity

The program offered a diverse mix of lectures, poster sessions, and flash talks, highlighting current research trends in reproductive science — from cellular and molecular mechanisms to the environmental impacts on fertility.

The symposium featured three distinguished invited speakers:

• Prof. Jean-Pierre Allam (University Hospital Bonn, Germany) – keynote lecture Male genital tract inflammation and its impact on male fertility, exploring the immunological aspects of male reproductive health.
• Dr. Deidre Mattiske (University of Melbourne, Australia) – Defining the Impacts of Environmental Pollutants on Reproductive Health, addressing the effects of environmental toxins on mammalian reproduction.
• Dr. Zofia E. Madeja (Poznań University of Life Sciences, Poland) – The role of mitochondria in shaping embryonic developmental competence from oocyte maturation to the first cleavage division, presenting new insights into mitochondrial function in early development.

Supporting the next generation of scientists

A strong focus was placed on student presentations. Young researchers competed for awards in three categories — Best Poster, Best Oral Presentation, and Best Flash Talk.

Award winners:

• Best Poster Award:
1. Aneta Pilsová – Mapping H₂S-producing enzymes in reproductive tissues and spermatozoa: a multi-technique approach
2. Simona Pikulová – Impact of Centrobin Deficiency on Spermatogenesis
3. Iván Oseguera-López – Ganglioside GM1 Activates CaV2.3 Channels During Human Sperm Capacitation and Favors Acrosomal Reaction
• Best Oral Presentation:
  Zuzana Pilsová – Hydrogen sulfide mediates protein persulfidation and regulates motility in boar spermatozoa
• Best Flash Talk Award:
  Kristína Jančovičová – The role of AIRE in female fertility

Tradition, innovation, and international collaboration

The 30th SBIR maintained its long-standing reputation as a unique meeting point for the reproductive biology community. Alongside scientific sessions, participants enjoyed lively discussions, poster exhibitions, and an informal evening program, fostering new collaborations and ideas for future research.