20 Years of the Centre for Functional Genomics and Bio-Chips (CFGBC): Science that Connected and Shaped the Future

The Centre for Functional Genomics and Bio-Chips (CFGBC), based at the Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, celebrated its 20th anniversary. To mark this occasion, the 20th international symposium was held on 11–12 June 2025 under the slogan “Shaping the Future of Functional Genomics for 20 Years.” The event reflected on the Centre’s past achievements while showcasing the latest scientific advances and research trends in functional genomics, bioinformatics, translational medicine, and systems biology.

The event held great significance for the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Ljubljana and the broader research community. Established in 2005 as part of the national Slovenian Biochip Consortium initiative, CFGBC had become Slovenia’s central research infrastructure for omics technologies and systems approaches in biomedical research. It brought together 14 academic, research, clinical, and industrial partners and served as a vital hub bridging fundamental, clinical, and applied science. CFGBC also participated in major European initiatives such as ELIXIR, BBMRI, and the 1+ Million Genomes (1+MG) initiative, from which the Genome of Europe (GoE) project emerged.

The event program included five scientific sessions, two plenary lectures, and workshops tailored for doctoral students. Speakers included both leading Slovenian researchers and distinguished international scientists. Among the highlights were two plenary lectures delivered by world-renowned experts:

• Prof. Dame Janet Thornton (EMBL-EBI, UK), one of the world’s leading researchers in structural bioinformatics and systems biology, discussed the development, current state, and future of genomic and structural data in biology and medicine. Her work was instrumental in advancing our understanding of protein structure and function at the genome-wide level.
• Prof. Mikael Benson (Karolinska Institute and Linköping University, Sweden), a pioneer in the use of digital twins in biomedicine, presented his research on developing personalized diagnostics and treatments through the integration of complex biological data and artificial intelligence.

The symposium served as a platform for connecting generations of scientists and exchanging knowledge across disciplines, including biomedicine, plant biochemistry, agronomy, bioinformatics, pharmacy, and computer science. A special segment of the program was dedicated to young researchers, who presented their work through posters and short pitch presentations and participated in targeted workshops.

This symposium not only marked two decades of CFGBC’s successful development but also outlined its vision for the future—strengthening research integration to improve treatments for complex diseases, promoting a systems-level understanding of biology, and fostering responsible and open science grounded in collaboration, ethics, and innovation.

 

20th International Symposium held under the slogan “Shaping the Future of Functional Genomics for 20 Years.” Photo: Eva Plestenjak

 

Among the speakers on the first day was Prof. Dame Janet Thornton (EMBL-EBI, UK), one of the world’s leading researchers in structural bioinformatics and systems biology. Photo: Tadeja Magdič

Photo: Eva Plestenjak

 

Photo: Eva Plestenjak

 

Photo: Eva Plestenjak