At the EACR 2024 Congress in Rotterdam, a chance encounter turned into a heartwarming family reunion for two researchers who had not seen each other in two decades. Dr. Dejana Kosanovic, a Senior Research Associate from the Institute for Medical Research in Belgrade, Serbia, and her cousin, Dr. Martina Radic, a Postdoctoral researcher at the University of Bern, Switzerland, were unexpectedly reunited during the event.
While waiting outside a session room “I noticed her lanyard with her name tag ,” Dr. Kosanovic recalled. “I approached her and asked if she was originally from Slatina, a town in the Slavonia region of Croatia. When she confirmed, I revealed that we were cousins – our grandmothers were sisters. The last time we saw each other was when she was still in elementary school.”
The cousins had unknowingly followed parallel paths in their careers, both ending up in cancer research and becoming EACR members, with both scheduled to present posters at the Congress.
“Our grandmothers would be so proud to see us now,” Dr. Kosanovic reflected. “In their time, it was uncommon for female offspring to complete more than four years of school.” Now both cousins have PhDs and are contributing to the field of cancer research.
Dr. Kosanovic shared a photo of the two cousins, beaming with joy at their unexpected reunion, and expressed her delight in reconnecting after so many years apart. “It was a delightful reunion!”
Their story underscores how professional events like the EACR Congress can lead to unexpected personal connections, as well as fruitful scientific collaborations!
Join us at the next EACR Congress!
We can’t guarantee you’ll bump into a long-lost relative, but the EACR annual congress offers a warm and inviting atmosphere of learning and collaboration, with top-tier speakers presenting the latest data across the spectrum of cancer research. Click here to find out more.
