Programme

Friday, 24 April 2026

9:00

Opening – Welcome

T. Zima (EFLM President), T. Ozben (IFCC President), E. Macintyre (Biomed Alliance President), M. Fuhrer (MedTech Europe)

9:15–10:00

Keynote Lecture

Chair: Tomáš Zima

Value-based laboratory medicine – moving forward
M. Plebani

10:00–10:30

Coffee Break

Session 1: Harmonisation – the role of EFLM

Chairs: Sverre Sandberg, Christa Cobbaert

Aim of session: To give a short overview of current harmonisation initiatives in laboratory medicine, and to develop a strategy for identifying which activities the EFLM should prioritise. The session will also explore how to establish an appropriate structure to support these activities and how to engage the IVD-industry, with the goal of presenting a proposal for the EFLM Executive Board following the conference.
10:30–13:00

Harmonisation of the different phases in the “brain to brain loop” – what is possible and who has the responsibility?
S. Sandberg

What is the present role of EFLM in the harmonisation work
M. Zaninotto

Harmonisation projects in IFCC: Current projects and future directions
C. Cobbaert

What are the priorities from industry concerning harmonisation, and what would industry like EFLM to work with
R. Molinaro, Siemens Healthineers

Round table

Moderators: Sverre Sandberg, Mauro Panteghini

How EFLM can make a strategy concerning harmonisation and what area EFLM should engage in.

How EQALM can contribute in relation to EFLM and other stakeholders to shape the future of laboratory medicine 
G. Gidske

Big Data Analytics and its Application in Reference Interval Harmonization across Laboratories and Analytical Systems
K. Adeli

Making more achievable the standardization benefits through structured post-market surveillance and application of suitable performance specifications
M. Panteghini

C. Vogl (Roche)

13:00–14:00

Lunch

Session 2: Shaping the Future: AI Data-Driven Innovation and Emerging Technologies in Laboratory Medicine

Chairs: Damien Gruson, David Friedecký

14:00–17:00

Advances in Mass Spectrometry: Automation, Integration, and Future Directions
P. Vermeersch

Multi-Omics Revolution: From Data to Tailored Therapies
D. Friedecký

Smarter Labs: AI, Bots, Robots and Automation for Operational Excellency
J. Cadamuro

Safe and Sound: Implementing AI with Confidence and Governance
A. Padoan

Discussion and Interactive Break
D. Gruson

AI in Healthcare – Designing the Future for Better Healthcare Outcomes
E. Popova

Round table

Moderators: Damien Gruson

Panelists:

  • EFLM President – T. Zima
  • MedTech Europe – M. Fuhrer
  • Roche – T. Dráb – New sequencing technology
  • Abbott – U. Ansari – AI technology
  • ThermoFisher – J. Last – MassSpec
  • AI – TBA
17:00–17:30

Coffee Break

17:30–18:30

Discussion with IVDR companies – MedTech Europe

A. Hallersten (Roche), M. Fuhrer (MedTech Europe)
Abbott, Beckman Coulter, Snibe, ThermoFisher

Saturday, 25 April 2026

Session 3: Cooperation with Clinicians

Chairs: Tomáš Zima, Mario Plebani

8:30–11:00

Holistic approach to the diagnosis of heart failure: Laboratory methods are essentials
P. Seferovic

Measurement of albuminuria or proteinuria for screening and monitoring chronic kidney disease
R. Gansevoort

Laboratory measurement of protein glycation in the era of precision medicine – biomarkers of metabolic dysfunction and health decline
P. J. Thornalley

Driving health care pathways through intergrative diagnostic medicine
M. Neumaier, S. Schonberg

Round table

How will be implemented these topics to daily practice and into EFLM – who, when and how we moving forward
E. Macintyre (Biomed Alliance)

Cooperation between laboratories and clinicians

European Academy of Neurology (EAN), European Society of Radiology (ESR), European Patients’ Forum (EPF) TBA

11:00–11:30

Coffee Break

11:30–12:30

Discussion – Cooperation and sharing the best practice

Chairs: Tomáš Zima, Damien Gruson

IFCC + Regional Federations – EQALM, ESR, FEBS, JCTLM

Bridging the Gap Between Basic Research and the Clinical Laboratory: Finding Common Ground
M. de la Rosa (FEBS)

APFCB-EFLM Collaboration to Promote Best Laboratory Practices across Regions
P. Sharma (Asia Pacific Federation of Clinical Biochemistry and Laboratory Medicine)

12:30–13:30

Lunch

Session 4: Young Scientists, Visibility, Communication and Education

Chairs: Aleš Kvasnička, Tara Rolič

13:30–15:30

From Shadows to Spotlight: How EuLabDay Reframes Our Profession
T. Rolič

AI in the Clinical Lab: Opportunity or Risk?
J. Adler

One Open Door Can Change Everything: A Journey Through LabX and Beyond
N. Kozopas 

Building Future Leaders Through Education: Leveraging the EFLM Academy and EFLM Syllabus Course
L. Alič

Round table

Moderators: Daniel Rajdl, Snežana Jovičič, Michel Langlois, Evgenija Homsak

Young scientists: A. Kvasnička, T. Rolič, J. Adler, N. Kozopas, L. Alič

Academy:

  • What have we achieved with the EFLM academy?
  • How can we develop it further?
  • Academy (new AI platform?) – EFLM, IFCC cooperation

Syllabus:

  • Are we able to keep it updated?
  • Too many lectures/too few? What is missing?
15:30–16:00

Coffee Break

16:00–17:00

Strategy for the Future

Chairs: Mario Plebani, Damien Gruson

Strategy of EFLM in future: comments and improvements from auditorium
T. Zima

17:00

Closing remarks – Tomáš Zima