Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sona Ciernikova, PhD., MPH
Associate Professor Dr. Sona Ciernikova is dedicated to improving cancer care through patient-oriented research and education. At the National Oncology Institute (NOI), she holds the position of Research and Education Project Coordinator and Secretary of the Scientific Council of NOI, and collaborates closely with the Ministry of Health of the Slovak Republic to fulfill the goals of the National Oncology Program of the Slovak Republic.
At the international level, she participates in initiatives together with the WHO, IARC, OECI, UICC, and ECO. Sona Ciernikova is a member of the EU expert group on the Mission on Cancer Configuration of the Horizon Europe Programme Committee and a member of the Sub-group on Cancer under the Expert Group on Public Health. Currently, she is involved in efforts to reduce disparities in cancer research, innovation, and access to quality care across CEE countries and contribute to various projects aiming to fulfill the goals of Europe´s Beating Cancer Plan. In Slovakia, she coordinates or co-coordinates several European projects related to the European network of Comprehensive Cancer Centres (CraNE, EUnetCCC), the development of a comprehensive cancer infrastructure (CCI4EU), and the creation of the European network of National Cancer Mission Hubs (EChoS).
As a long-time member of the Slovak Cancer Research Foundation, she participates in workshops and conferences, aiming to disseminate the results of cancer research for the scientific community, cancer patients, and the general public. Importantly, the issue of primary cancer prevention is very close to her, so she participates in scientific-educational workshops at high schools to raise awareness of cancer in young people. Currently, she closely cooperates with the cancer patient organisations and devotes a significant effort to active patient involvement and empowerment in cancer research and care.
