Innovation Days in Bioscience Imaging – Vision for Life
21. 04. - 23. 04. 2026
Ústav molekulární genetiky AV ČR, v. v. i., Praha
Scientists shouldn’t miss Vision for a Life — the annual meeting dedicated to innovation, imaging, and collaboration in life sciences. It’s a unique opportunity to connect with leading experts, explore the latest microscopy technologies, and gain hands-on experience with Leica’s full instrument portfolio.
With inspiring talks from 70+ researchers, practical workshops, and real user-to-user discussions, this event offers fresh perspectives, new techniques, and valuable collaborations to elevate your research. Join us this year — and every year — as Vision for a Life continues to grow and inspire the scientific community.
Register early for Vision for a Life to secure priority access to hands-on demonstrations and workshops. Early registration also ensures you receive timely updates about the event, so you won’t miss any exciting announcements, new sessions, or special opportunities. Don’t wait — reserve your spot and make the most of this unique scientific experience!
Don’t Wait — Reserve Your Spot Before It’s Full
Keynote speakers
Programme
Preliminary agenda for all days
DAY 1 - Tuesday 21. 4. 2026: Fundamental Principles and Applied Methodologies in Optical Microscopy
Room No.1 - Haškova
Topic: Precision Imaging Workflows: From Smart Sample Prep to High-Fidelity 3D Image Quantification without artefacts.
| Chairman | Time | Speaker | Talk | |
| 8:30-9:00 | Registration desk | |||
| Martin Kopecký | 9:00 | 9:20 | Martin Kopecký | Welcome and day agenda, organizing options and sessions |
| 9:20 | 9:40 | Martin Bačík | Vision and our mission for Czech, Slovak, Slovenia, Croatia countries + new service support | |
| 9:40 | 10:20 | Andreas Fulterer | Overview of technology news from Leica Microsystems for life science | |
| 10:20 | 10:30 | Pavel Hozák | CzechBioImaging - the national imaging platform for all | |
| 10:30 | 10:40 | Ondřej Horvath | UMG Core facility introduction, needs, organization etc. | |
| coffeebreak | 10:40 | 11:00 | ||
| Jiří Černy | 11:00 | 11:20 | Jiri Schimer | Basics of bioconjugation techniques: Lebel your own proteins |
| 11:20 | 11:40 | Jan Valečka | Guidelines for processing and presenting microscopy images in sctietific publication | |
| 11:40 | 12:00 | Jurij Dolenšek | Keynote speaker: Multicellular confocal imaging in pancreas tissue slices | |
| Lunch | 12:00 | 13:00 | ||
| Michaela Frolíková | 13:00 | 13:20 | Ivan Novotny | Smart sample preparation for minimal spherical aberration and superior results |
| 13:20 | 13:40 | Barbora Radochová | Clearing of the peripheral nerves – a case study comparing different clearing protocols. | |
| 13:40 | 14:00 | Jan Schumacher | Modeling Human Biology in 3D: Spinning disk Solutions for Organoid and Spheroid Research | |
| coffeebreak | 14:00 | 14:20 | ||
| Ivan Novotny | 14:20 | 14:40 | Michaela Blažíková | Advanced image deconvolution for clearer, higher-quality images |
| 14:40 | 15:00 | Jakub Pospíšil | Seeing more by Growing Bigger: Expansion Microscopy | |
| 15:00 | 15:20 | Jiří Černý | LAS X Navigator — Advanced Usage Tips and Recommended Practices | |
| 15:20 | 15:40 | Wojciech Jesionek | The Data Behind the Image: The Fundamentals of Bioimage Quantification | |
| coffeebreak | 15:40 | 16:00 | ||
| Veronika Koláčková | 16:00 | 16:10 | Aleš Hampl | Future of BioPharma Hub |
| 16:10 | 16:20 | Miroslav Hyliš | Microscopic laboratories of the Albertov Campus Biocenter - current status and planned concept and development |
|
| 16:20 | 16:30 | Daniel Hadraba | Institute of Physiology Imaging Core facility introduction | |
| 16:30 | 16:40 | Martin Kopecký | Closing Day 1 |
Paraller session
Room No.2 - Jagrova
Topic: Functional and Developmental Imaging: Confocal, FRET, and Live-Cell Approaches to Morphogenesis
|
Chairman |
Time | Speaker | Talk | |
| Lunch | 12:00 | 13:00 | ||
| Michaela Blažíková | 13:00 | 13:20 | Teije Corneel Middelkoop | Evolutionary diversification of actomyosin-driven morphogenesis |
| 13:20 | 13:40 | Vladimír Krylov | Regeneration potential of Sertoli cells | |
| 13:40 | 14:00 | Hana Kolesová | Embryonic and adult mice heart imaging - whole mounts and sections. | |
| coffeebreak | 14:00 | 14:20 | ||
| Jakub Pospíšil | 14:20 | 14:40 | Daniel Rosel | Uncovering the biology and cellular dynamics of Src protein using the Src-FRET biosensor |
| 14:40 | 15:00 | Lukáš Lacina | Multiparametric Confocal Imaging: Integrating Spectral and Lifetime Data for Functional Discover | |
| 15:00 | 15:20 | Martin Anger | The beginning of life visualised by confocal microscopy | |
| 15:20 | 15:40 | Jakub Gemprle | Magnetogenetics, magnetic tweezers and live cell imaging |
Charity RUN at Krčský Les
| Chairman | Time | |||
| Martin Bačík | 17:00 - 17:30 | Meeting and Registration at place | ||
| 17:30 - 17:35 | Picture of all runners | |||
| 17:45 | Start of the race | |||
| 19:00 | End of the race |
|
DAY 2 - Wednesday 22.4.2026: High-End Microscopy and Super-Resolution Approaches in Life Sciences
Room No. 1 - Haškova
Topic: Pushing the Limits of Light Microscopy: STED Nanoscopy for live cells, Lifetime Imaging FLIM, FLIM-FRET, Light-Sheet Microscopy Beyond Organoids and Spheroids
| Chairman | Time | Speaker | Talk | |
| Martin Bačík | 9:00 | 9:10 | Martin Kopecký | Welcome and day agenda, organizing options and sessions |
| 9:10 | 9:30 | Martin Kopecký | Annocement of the Winner of the RUN 5 km, Charity RUN | |
| 9:30 | 9:50 | Pavel Plevka | Keynote speaker: Using Cryo-EM to Study Enterovirus Replication | |
| 9:50 | 10:10 | Andreas Nowak | From Block to Breakthrough: Enuity Ultramicrotomy in Modern Research | |
| coffebreak | 10:10 | 10:30 | ||
| Aleš Benda | 10:30 | 10:50 | Michaela Procházková | Advanced light microscopy methods to evaluate differences in cell membrane fluidity. |
| 10:50 | 11:10 | Volodymyr Porokh | Illuminating Cellular Dynamics at the Dawn of Mammalian Development | |
| 11:10 | 11:40 | Andreas Fulterer | New product launch! Viventis SCAPE latest light-sheet technology | |
| 11:40 | 12:00 | Sebastian Eguiguren | Keynote speaker: Fast and gentle 3D imaging with the Leica Viventis SCAPE | |
| Lunch | 12:00 | 13:00 | ||
| Veronika Huntošová | 13:00 | 13:20 | Paolo Bianchini | Keynote speaker: Advanced fluorescence microscopy for quantitative imaging of biological systems |
| 13:20 | 13:40 | Andreas Fulterer | New confocal platform as analytical instrument with all modalities | |
| 13:40 | 14:00 | Peter Hoboth | Quantitative multicolor STED imaging of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue sections. | |
| 14:00 | 14:20 | Igor Weber | Keynote speaker: Optimization of Rac1 Imaging in Amoeboid Cells | |
| 14:20 | 14:40 | Michaela Frolíková | A Key Factor for Successful 3D STED Imaging of the Entire Oocyte | |
| coffeebreak | 14:40 | 15:00 | ||
| Nikodem Szymanski | 15:00 | 15:20 | Julita Wesołowska, PhD | Keynote speaker: High-resolution microscopy in the search fortherapies for central nervous system disorders |
| 15:20 | 15:40 | Ivana Malcová | High-resolution imaging of the Bordetella Type III secretion system | |
| 15:40 | 16:00 | Ulf Schwarz | TauSTEDXtend – gentle nanoscopy to observe the dynamics of live | |
| 16:00 | 16:20 | Aleš Benda | Beyond routine applications - line-scan (STED-)FCS and spectral reflection microscopy | |
| 16:20 | 16:40 | Petr Muller | Monitoring Proteotoxic Stress Using Halo Ligand-Based FLIM-FRET Technology | |
| coffeebreak | 16:40 | 17:00 | ||
| Peter Hoboth | 17:00 | 17:20 | Andreas Fulterer | Viventis SCAPE latest light-sheet technology LIVE SHOW |
| 17:20 | 17:30 | Veronika Huntošová |
Bioimaging facility created to support Advanced Protein Biotechnology |
|
| 17:30 | 17:40 | Aleš Benda | BIOCEV Core facility introduction, needs, organization etc. | |
| 17:40 | 17:50 | Milan Ešner | CEITEC Core facility introduction, needs, organization etc. | |
| 17:50 | 18:00 | Martin Kopecký | Closing Day 2 |
Paraller session
Room No. 2 - Jagrova
Topic: From Molecules to 3D Ultrastructure: FIB-SEM, SBF-SEM and Cryo-Fluorescence Microscopy
| Chairman | Time | Speaker | Talk | |
| coffebreak | 10:10 | 10:30 | ||
| Kateřina Kolková | 10:30 | 10:50 | Jana Nebesářová | Keynote speaker: Modified Resin Approaches Enabling 3D Visualization in High-Resolution SEM |
| 10:50 | 11:10 | Daniela Popelková | 3D Volume Electron Microscopy Using FIB-SEM: Workflows and Application | |
| 11:10 | 11:40 | Markéta Dalecká | Visualization of T-cell microvilli and their role in the immunological synapse by combined cryo-fluorescence microscopy andFIB-SEM tomography |
|
| 11:40 | 12:00 | Marie Vancova | Electron Microscopy in Parasitology: From Ultrastructure to Host–Pathogen Interactions | |
| Lunch | 12:00 | 13:00 | ||
| Daniela Popelková | 13:00 | 13:20 | Perla Vega | Refeyn technology: Seeing molecules in native state |
| 13:20 | 13:40 | Piotr Jurkiewicz | Cryogenic fluorescence microscopy - beyond CLEM | |
| 13:40 | 14:00 | Jiří Týč | What SBF-SEM and Array Tomography Can Reveal: From Sample Preparation to Biological Applications |
DAY 3 - Thursday 23.4.2026: Synergies in Biomolecular Imaging: From Cryo-EM and Mass Photometry to Spatial Biology
Room No.1 - Haškova
Topic: High-Resolution Quantitative Imaging of Cancer Microenvironments: Condensates, Proteases, and Spatial Proteomics
| Chairman | Time | Speaker | Talk | |
| Matej Novak | 9:00 | 9:10 | Martin Kopecký | Welcome and day agenda, organizing options and sessions |
| 9:10 | 9:30 | Jan Golda | Specion partner for your research and more | |
| 9:30 | 10:00 | Dita Loudilová | Kapka naděje, support charity | |
| 10:00 | 10:20 | Perla Vega | Mass Photometry Meets Cryo-EM: Synergies and Emerging Workflows | |
| 10:20 | 10:40 | TBD | New product launch! MASS Photometry product | |
| coffebreak | 10:40 | 11:00 | ||
| Matej Novak | 11:00 | 11:20 | Andreas Nowak | Bridging Cryo Fluorescence and Cryo-EM: The Coral Cryo Workflow |
| 11:20 | 11:30 | Jiří Nováček | Cryo-electron Microscopy and Tomography Core Facility at CEITEC Masaryk University | |
| 11:30 | 11:40 | Vlada Filimonenko | EM Core facility introduction of IMG Prague | |
| 11:40 | 11:50 | Kamila Hrubanová | Introduction of Institute of Scientific Instruments of the CAS, Brno | |
| 11:50 | 12:00 | Eva Durinová | yCSMS: Connecting Young Microscopists | |
| Photo of all participiants | 12:00 | 12:10 | ||
| Lunch | 12:10 | 13:00 | ||
| Veronika Koláčková | 13:00 | 13:20 | Patrice Mascalni | AIVIA-Driven Image Analysis of Biological Samples: From Contrast and Live-Cell Imaging |
| 13:20 | 13:40 | Martin Sztacho | Quantification of Phase-Separated Condensates in Cancer Cells | |
| 13:40 | 14:00 | Petr Bušek | Using microscopy to study proteases and tumor–stroma interactions in cancer | |
| 14:00 | 14:20 | TBD | Proteomics Solutions for Quantitative and Spatial Biology | |
| coffeebreak | 14:20 | 14:40 | ||
| Martin Sztacho | 14:40 | 15:00 | Przemek Fleszar | New ATTO TECH cooperation and news |
| 15:00 | 15:20 | Ulf Schwarz | SpectrPlex – 3D high-plex imaging across scales | |
| 15:20 | 15:40 | TBD Leica | Label-Free Molecular Imaging: Applications of CARS Microscopy | |
| coffeebreak | 15:40 | 16:00 | ||
| Martin Kopecký | 16:00 | 16:30 | Martin Bačík | Maintaining Peak Performance: The Role of Service Contracts in System Reliability |
| 16:30 | 16:40 | Martin Kopecky | All Specion, UMG, Leica team introduction | |
| 16:40 | 17:00 | Martin Kopecky | Closing the Conference |
Paraller session
Room No.2 - Jagrova
Topic: Innovations in Cryogenic Electron Microscopy: FIB Lamellae, Waffle Method, High-Pressure Freezing, and Mass Photometry
| Chairman | Time | Speaker | Talk | |
| Kateřina Kolková | 13:00 | 13:20 | Dominik Pinkas | Using negative fluorescence guided cryo FIB lamella preparation to make intracellular protein crystals accessible for electron diffraction. |
| 13:20 | 13:40 | Jana Moravcová | The Waffle Method in Cryo-EM Sample Preparation: Applications Across Biological Systems | |
| 13:40 | 14:00 | Perla Vega | Mass Photometry: Applications and work in biomolecular world | |
| 14:00 | 14:20 | Pavel Urban | Cryogenic technologies for conversion of room-temperature EM to cryo-EM | |
| coffeebreak | 14:20 | 14:40 | ||
| Dominik Pinkas | 14:40 | 15:00 | Tomáš Láznička | Microfluidic Chip for High-Pressure Freezing: Technical Realization and Pilot Testing |
| 15:00 | 15:20 | Monika Kubíčková | TBD | |
| 15:20 | 15:40 | Pavel Křepelka | High-resolu on Cryo-FIB-SEM volume EM enables sub-volume averaging of cellular structures with CLEM targe ng |
Contact
Organizer
Co-organizer
Venue
Location
Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences
Vídeňská 1083
142 20 Prague 4
Czech Republic
Accomodation
Accommodation for event participants is not arranged by the organizers, but we recommend booking your stay well in advance at hotels near the event venue, such as:
- HOTEL ILF, Budějovická 743/15, 140 00 Prague 4 – Michle
- Chateau St. Havel – Wellness Hotel, Před nádražím 6, Prague
- Occidental Praha, Na Strži 32, Prague, 140 00
- Rezidence Emmy, K Zelené Louce 2A, Prague, 140 00
If you encounter any difficulties with accommodation, please don’t hesitate to contact us for assistance.
Transportation
From Prague Main Train Station
- Public Transport: Take the subway and bus combination, Travel time: ~30 minutes., Cost: 40 CZK (~1.5 Euros) for a 90-minute ticket.
- Taxi: Direct travel from the train station to IMG, Travel time: ~30 minutes, Cost: ~25 Euros.
From Václav Havel Prague International Airport
- Public Transport: Use a subway and bus combination, Travel time: ~1 hour, Cost: 40 CZK (~1.5 Euros) for a 90-minute ticket.
- Taxi: Direct travel from the airport to IMG, Travel time: ~30 minutes, Cost: ~50 Euros.
About the area
The IMG is housed in a modern building, opened in 2007, and is fully equipped to host congresses, conferences, workshops, and courses.
Facilities:
- Seminar rooms and a lecture hall with state-of-the-art audiovisual equipment and Wi-Fi.
- The course lecture room accommodates 50 seats with tables for laptops.
- Ample parking capacity available for attendees.
Outdoor Spaces:
IMG features a wooden terrace and a small park with a pond, providing a relaxing environment for social activities such as barbecues.
This combination of advanced facilities and pleasant surroundings ensures a productive and enjoyable experience for all participants.
