First Lady of Lithuania and the First Gentleman of Slovenia Visit VU LSC

On 18 November, the Vilnius University Life Sciences Center (VU LSC) welcomed two distinguished guests: the First Lady of Lithuania, Diana Nausėdienė, and the First Gentleman of Slovenia, Dr Aleš Musar, accompanied by members of the Slovenian and Lithuanian delegations. The visit highlighted the growing international interest in Lithuania’s achievements and leadership in the life sciences sector.

The delegation was received by the Director of VU LSC, Dr Arvydas Lubys, together with the Advisor for International Relations, Prof. Eglė Lastauskienė and the Head of Communications and Marketing, Kristina Černiauskienė. During the meeting, VU LSC representatives presented an overview of the Center’s research priorities, study programmes, and its growing role in supporting start-up development within the life sciences ecosystem.

The guests also expressed particular interest in how VU LSC fosters partnerships between academia and industry. Dr A. Musar also expressed interest in the historical connections between Slovenian and Lithuanian universities, highlighting the importance of long-standing academic traditions as a foundation for future collaboration.

The visit concluded with a tour of several laboratories. The guests were introduced to the genome editing laboratory led by Dr Stephen Knox Jones Jr., followed by the microfluidics laboratory of Prof. Linas Mažutis. The program ended at the Cryo-Electron Microscopy (CryoEM) facility, where Dr Giedrė Tamulaitienė guided the visitors through the advanced research infrastructure.

The visit not only strengthened scientific ties between Lithuania and Slovenia but also underscored VU LSC’s role as a leading regional hub for world-class research, talent development, and innovation.