Inge Varik, a PhD student from the TalTech Reproductive Biology Research Group, received the Young Scientist Award at the Estonian Society of Human Genetics XXVI Annual Conference held in October.
On October 17-18, the Estonian Society of Human Genetics (EstSHG) held its XXVI Annual Conference at the Ugala Theatre in Viljandi. The conference gathered top scientists from Estonia and abroad, with this year’s focus on advances and applications in personalised medicine.
A special session dedicated to young scientists provided an opportunity for promising early career researchers to present their work to a wider audience. Inge Varik’s research explores the intercellular communication mechanisms within the nutrient-rich follicular fluid that surrounds the human oocyte. By studying specific subpopulations of extracellular vesicles, she aims to better understand their role in female fertility. Her findings could lead to the development of more effective infertility treatments in the future. The prize for the best presentation includes a scholarship to participate at the 2025 European Society of Human Genetics Congress in Milan.
The conference also featured several engaging presentations on fertility, underscoring the importance and current relevance of this field. Signe Altmäe presented research on the impact of microbiota on fertility, Maire Peters discussed genetic testing options for embryos, Kristiina Rull introduced the prenatal diagnostic strategies in Estonia, and Marina Loid shared her research on the ageing endometrium.
Recordings of the conference presentations, available only in Estonian, are available on Postimees’ website.
