On April 29, 2026, the Student Science Conference ŠVOČ was held at the Faculty of Medicine, Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice. A total of 14 papers were presented – 6 in the Theoretical and Preclinical Section and 8 in the Clinical Section. Altogether, 32 students participated in the preparation.
Theoretical and Preclinical Section
Committee:
prof. MUDr. Viliam Donič, CSc. – Chair
doc. RNDr. Katarína Čurová, PhD.
doc. MUDr. Ondrej Zahornacký, PhD.
MVDr. Martina Hrubovčák Tejová – PhD student
Vanesa Rybovičová – student representative
1st place
The Impact of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases on Infertility
Author: Dávid Dražil, 4th year, General Medicine
Supervisors: Mgr. Peter Artimovič, prof. RNDr. Miroslava Rabajdová, PhD.
Department: Institute of Medical and Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, UPJŠ, Košice
2nd place
From Pathophysiology to Theranostics: Somatostatin Receptor Biology as a Target for Peptide Receptor Radionuclide Therapy in Neuroendocrine Tumors
Author: Wassim Sayeg, 2nd year, General Medicine (English programme)
Supervisor: prof. MUDr. Mária Pallayová, PhD.
Department: Institute of Pathological Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, UPJŠ, Košice
3rd place
Association of Selected Gene Polymorphisms with Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
Authors: Kamila Groholová, 2nd year; Filip Paľa, 5th year, General Medicine
Supervisors: RNDr. Eva Slabá, PhD., RNDr. Lucia Klimčáková, PhD.
Department: Institute of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, UPJŠ, Košice
Clinical Section
Committee:
prof. MUDr. Ivan Tkáč, PhD. – Chair
doc. MUDr. Ľuboš Tomčovčík, PhD.
doc. MUDr. Martina Vidová Ugurbaş, PhD., MPH
MUDr. Soňa Palovčíková – PhD student
Laura Sokolová – student representative
1st place
Inflammation as an Indication for Skeletal Scintigraphy and SPECT/CT
Author: Alica Olexová, 5th year, General Medicine
Supervisor: MUDr. Mgr. Ivana Jochmanová, PhD.
Department: Department of Nuclear Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, UPJŠ and Institute of Nuclear and Molecular Medicine, Košice
2nd place
The Use of AI Chatbots in Mental Health Issues: A Survey Among Students of the Faculty of Medicine UPJŠ Focused on Depressive Symptoms and Suicidal Ideation
Authors: Ema Macková, Katarína Hybelová, 4th year, General Medicine
Supervisor: doc. MUDr. Aneta Bednářová, PhD.
Department: 2nd Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, UPJŠ and UNLP, Košice
3rd place
Epilepsy in Tuberous Sclerosis
Authors: Ema Kerpčárová, 6th year; Zuzana Bagoňová, 4th year; Dagmar Holejová, 5th year, General Medicine
Supervisors: MUDr. Petronela Christová, doc. MUDr. Eva Feketeová, PhD.
Department: Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, UPJŠ and UNLP, Košice
3rd place
Matrix Metalloproteinases as Potential Biomarkers of Pancreatic Cancer
Authors: Martina Sokolová, 5th year; Jakub Tarča, Mariana Kikalo, 6th year; Tamara Emma Pivarníková, 5th year; Andrea Rosa, 3rd year, General Medicine
Supervisors: MUDr. Veronika Roškovičová, PhD., prof. MUDr. Jana Kaťuchová, PhD., MBA
Department: 1st Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, UPJŠ and UNLP, Košice
The Faculty of Medicine, UPJŠ awarded a total financial prize of EUR 1,200 to the winners.
This amount was distributed as follows: 1st place – EUR 300, 2nd place – EUR 200, 3rd place – EUR 100. In the Clinical Section, two 3rd places were awarded, and the prize was divided among the students.
We congratulate the winning teams and their supervisors and wish them continued success in their future work!
