Professor Silvia Pastoreková, Director General of the Biomedical Research Centre of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, was elected as the first representative of the Slovak scientific community to the major international organization in the field of life sciences – European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO), whose members are or have been almost a hundred Nobel laureates. Membership in this grouping recognizes excellence in research and outstanding achievements in the life sciences.
This year, 120 scientists from 37 countries in Europe and beyond were elected as new EMBO members. They were honored for achievements that span the entire spectrum of life sciences research, including work that has contributed to a better understanding of the spread of infectious diseases, the intricacies of nutrient cycling in the oceans, the mysteries of cell signaling networks, the secrets of plant survival in desert environments, and the links between the biology of our brains and our emotions.
Silvia Pastoreková, whose research work focuses on elucidating the impact of oxygen deprivation in tumour tissue on the development and progression of cancer, sees her election as a great honour and an excellent opportunity to deepen the links between EMBO and Slovak scientists:
“I will use this position to promote EMBO’s capabilities to our young male and female researchers, to spread awareness of Slovak science in Europe, and to inspire the excellent research carried out by the EMBO community.”
EMBO members guide the implementation of the organization’s programmes and activities, for example by reviewing funding applications, serving on the EMBO Council and committees, and contributing to initiatives such as training, policy, outreach, and mentoring. In addition, they nominate and elect new members.
EMBO will officially welcome new members at the EMBO Community Meeting from 29 October to 1 November 2024 in Heidelberg, Germany.
Prof. RNDr. Silvia Pastoreková, DrSc. has been working at the Institute of Virology of the Slovak Academy of Sciences since 1985, currently as the Director of the Biomedical Research Centre of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, and senior researcher in the field of experimental oncology and virology.
She is mainly focused on the elucidation of the influence of oxygen deficiency in tumour tissue on the development and progression of cancer. She is the co-discoverer of the gene and protein CA9, a biomarker of aggressive tumors and a promising target for anticancer therapy.
Prof. Pastoreková has authored and co-authored over 300 publications cited more than 17,000 times and international patents on the diagnostic and therapeutic use of CA9.
She is a laureate of the ESET Science Award in the category of Exceptional Personality of Science in Slovakia (2022), winner of the Slovak Academy of Sciences Award for Scientific Research (2003), Slovak Woman of the Year Award in the category of Science and Education (2009) and Crystal Wing Award in the category of Medicine and Science (2005). In 2020, the President of the Slovak Republic Zuzana Čaputová awarded prof. Pastoreková the state decoration of the Ľudovít Štúr Order of the Second Class for extraordinary merits for the development of science.
The European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) was established in 1964. Initially, it had 169 members; today, it boasts over two thousand. Over the past six decades, 92 Nobel Laureates have been part of its prestigious membership.
EMBO aims to support talented researchers at all career stages, promote the exchange of scientific information, and contribute to creating a European research environment where scientists can excel.
A comprehensive list of all EMBO members and associate members, along with their affiliations and subject areas, is available here.
Published 19.07.2024, slord
