Four emerging scientists from across Europe are being recognised for their contributions to diagnostics, healthcare innovation and patient safety as part of European Laboratory Day 2026, taking place on 5 November.
The European Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (EFLM) has announced four young scientists who will feature in its European Laboratory Day 2026 campaign, celebrating the growing influence of laboratory professionals in modern healthcare.
Now in its fifth year, the annual initiative aims to raise awareness of laboratory medicine and the important contribution made by scientists to disease diagnosis, treatment decisions and patient care.
Under the theme Leaders in the Lab, this year's campaign recognises that leadership extends beyond senior positions, encompassing research, innovation, collaboration and improvements in laboratory services.
Selected from 50 applications and nominations representing 26 countries, the four scientists demonstrate different approaches to advancing laboratory medicine.
Stephanie Yates from Ireland became the country's first medical laboratory scientist to receive a national healthcare innovation fellowship, helping integrate laboratory expertise into healthcare service development.
Dr Hikmet Can Çubukçu from Türkiye combines laboratory medicine with software engineering, developing freely accessible digital tools to improve quality-control procedures and support patient safety.
Federico Angelo Cazzaniga from Italy is investigating less invasive diagnostic approaches that could support earlier detection of neurodegenerative conditions, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases.
Galina Coltuclu from Moldova helped establish a specialist blood cancer diagnostic service, improving access to testing previously undertaken overseas. The service has supported approximately 1,000 patients since 2022.
Together, their achievements illustrate the diverse expertise required to improve diagnostic accuracy, accessibility and healthcare outcomes.
EFLM is encouraging laboratories, professional organisations and individual scientists throughout Europe to participate in European Laboratory Day on 5 November and share examples of leadership and innovation within their own workplaces.
Further information and campaign resources are available in the European Laboratory Day 2026 toolkit.
