20 let Oddelka za eksperimentalno onkologijo na Onkološkem inštitutu Ljubljana 20th Anniversary of the Department of Experimental Oncology at the Institute of Oncology Ljubljana

2005–2025

Abstract

Dvajsetletno delovanje Oddelka za eksperimentalno onkologijo predstavlja pomemben mejnik v zgodovini raziskovalne dejavnosti na Onkološkem inštitutu Ljubljana. Raziskovalna dejavnost na Onkološkem inštitutu Ljubljana obsega dolgo in močno tradicijo, že od ustanovitve prvega laboratorija za eksperimentalno kancerologijo v brežiški bolnišnici doc. dr. Cholewa. Iz majhnega laboratorija s šestimi zaposleni je od 2005 zrasla sodobna raziskovalna skupina več kot 20 raziskovalcev, ki uspešno uresničuje vizijo translacije v onkologiji, predvsem na področjih elektrokemoterapije, genskega elektroprenosa, bleomcin elektroskleroterapije, radiobiologije in veterinarske onkologije. Z zavezanostjo translacijskim raziskavam, interdisciplinarnemu sodelovanju in prenosu znanja v klinično prakso smo pomembno prispevali k razvoju sodobne onkološke terapije v Sloveniji in širše. Uspešno smo izpeljali klinično študijo faze I, s katero je bila dokazana varnost in učinkovitost genskega elektroprenosa plazmida z zapisom za IL-12 v sklopu projekta SmartGene.si. Poleg znanstveno-raziskovalnega dela je oddelek močno vpet v izobraževalno dejavnost ter v domače in mednarodno okolje na področju biomedicinskih aplikacij elektroporacije. Tudi v naslednjih 20. letih se veselimo skupnih dosežkov na poti razvoja eksperimentalne, translacijske in klinične onkologije.

Abstract (Eng)

The twentieth anniversary of the Department of Experimental Oncology marks an important milestone in the history of research activities at the Institute of Oncology Ljubljana. Research activity at the Institute of Oncology Ljubljana has a long and strong tradition, dating back to the establishment of the first laboratory for experimental cancerology at the Brežice Hospital by Asst. Prof. Dr. Cholewa. Since 2005, the small laboratory with six employees has grown into a modern research group of more than 20 researchers who are successfully implementing the vision of translational oncology, particularly in the fields of electrochemotherapy, gene electrotransfer, bleomycin electro-sclerotherapy, radiobiology, and veterinary oncology. With our commitment to translational research, interdisciplinary collaboration, and the transfer of knowledge into clinical practice, we have made an important contribution to the development of modern oncology therapy in Slovenia and beyond. We successfully completed a phase I clinical study, which demonstrated the safety and efficacy of plasmid gene electrotransfer with IL-12 encoding as part of the SmartGene.si project. In addition to scientific and research work, the department is substantially involved in educational activities and is a part of strong domestic and international networks in the field of biomedical applications of electroporation. We look forward to future collaborative efforts in further developing experimental, translational, and clinical oncology.