From Functional Genomics to Gene Therapy - Joint GeneH & CFGBC Scientific Symposium 2026

VRC Department of Translational Education and Training in Biomedical Sciences (TETra-BioMed) and Department of Metabolism and Endocrinology of Skeletal Muscle presented at a scientific conference: From Functional Genomics to Gene Therapy - Joint GeneH & CFGBC Scientific Symposium 2026 in Ljubljana, Slovenia

Petra Hudler presented TETra-BioMed, a virtual department within the Alliance4Life Virtual Research Center dedicated to advancing translational biomedical education and training. She explained that the department will combine educational research, exchange of best practices, and collaborative training to bridge fundamental biomedical sciences with clinical and educational applications. Planned activities include innovative approaches to undergraduate, postgraduate, and early-career education, technology-enhanced learning, practical and clinical skills training, modern assessment methods, online seminars, mini-courses, journal clubs, and thematic workshops. She emphasised that teaching and learning should themselves be systematically studied and evaluated to generate evidence for improving biomedical education. TETra-BioMed will also engage external stakeholders, including hospitals, patient organisations, and government agencies, to facilitate the translation of scientific knowledge into clinical practice and improved healthcare outcomes.

Blaž Kociper presented the Department of Metabolism and Endocrinology of Skeletal Muscle at the Alliance4Life Virtual Research Center. He described its research on skeletal muscle as a major metabolic and endocrine organ, with particular emphasis on the effects of diabetes, obesity, physical inactivity, and ageing on muscle structure, metabolism, and function. He highlighted the department’s aim to translate fundamental research into new preventive and therapeutic approaches for metabolic and age-related disorders, including diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and sarcopenia. He also presented the department’s interdisciplinary collaborations with other VRC departments, professional organisations, patient associations, and national and international research partners. Finally, he outlined recent activities, including the January 2026 mini-conference on skeletal muscle and metabolic disorders and the integration of multi-omics and language model-based approaches into collaborative research.