Institute of Medical Biology, Genetics and Clinical Genetics

Institute of medical biology, genetics and clinical genetics in Bratislava (originally Institute for general biology) was established in 1923. The main aim of this institute was to introduce basic and general information from zoology, botany and anthropology to the medical students. The Institute began with teaching in the school year 1923/1924. Professor Frankenberger was entrusted with the leadership. Prof. Frankenberger also convinced Dr. Josef Florian Babor moved to Bratislava and took over as head of institute in 1924/1925 after his habilitation. Dr. Babor was a graduate of medicine at Charles University in Prague and attended a three-year study trip to major European universities after graduation. Dr. Vladimir Vršanský began working at the Institute under his leadership and subsequently became a leader in 1943. He focused on educational and research activities of institute. Institute’s new directions/approaches in human and medical genetics were applied thanks to him in the 70s of the last century. Dr. Vršanský, together with prof. Gustav Čatár, DSc., founded Institute of Parasitology in 1968. Prof. Čatár became his successor in 1980 when the prof. Vršanský retired. Between 1992 – 2007, the head of the institute was prof. Ján Vojtaššák, CSc. and assoc. prof. Daniel Böhmer, PhD. has been the head of institute from 2007 until now.