The International Student Congress Of (bio)Medical Sciences, also known as ISCOMS, is an annually held student congress on biomedical sciences. The primary aim of ISCOMS is getting medical students acquainted with research and its many elements.The 32nd edition of ISCOMS was held in June 2025 with 653 participants from 55 countries, while the 33rd edition of ISCOMS took take place from the 1st to the 4th of June, 2026.
History ISCOMS started as a congress for medical students in Groningen, named "Studenten Congres Geneeskunde". In 2003, the Student Congres Geneeskunde changed to an international congress with the name International Student Congress of Medicine. In 2004 the name was changed to ISCOMS. In 2010, the name was changed to the International Student Congress Of (bio)Medical Sciences, to show that it is a congress for students in all biomedical fields.
Location ISCOMS takes place at the University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG) in the Netherlands every year. It is one of the largest hospitals in the world, offering supraregional tertiary care to the northern part of the Netherlands. The medical center employs almost 17.000 people, numbers almost 1.400 beds and is affiliated with the University of Groningen.
Congress structure The congress is for (bio)medical students who are interested in research. Students may be either presenting or non-presenting participants. If a participant wants to present their research, they are required to submit their abstract beforehand. A strict selection procedure takes place and only the best students are invited to present their research at ISCOMS. Nonetheless, everybody is welcome to ISCOMS to attend the keynote lectures and to participate in workshops. When accepted, participants are divided into different sessions in which they present their research. This may be either through a poster presentation, or an oral presentation where students can present their research using a slideshow presentation. In both sessions other students and professionals from the UMCG listen and discuss the research. Thirdly, there is a plenary session, during which the eight best abstracts will be presented in the primary lecture hall of the UMCG. The congress also holds pre-course masterclasses about research skills, and a great variety of workshops during the congress days on practical skills. Besides that, ISCOMS offers keynote lectures from renowned scientists presenting their research to the participants. Moreover, ISCOMS offers an extensive social programme, where all the participants have the opportunity to get to know each other and the ISCOMS organising committees. Finally, there is a post-congress tour visiting parts of the Netherlands.
Keynote Speakers ISCOMS 2026
Nobel Prize laureates at ISCOMS Nobel Prize laureates who have given a keynote lecture during one of the previous ISCOMS editions.
Other remarkable keynote speakers at ISCOMS
Yearly themes
2025 The theme for the 2025 congress was ´Harmonious Healthcare´ focusing on global health challenges related to the environment, climate change, and conflict, with an emphasis on (future) collaboration between the so-called Global North and Global South. These concepts refer to the diverse socio-economic landscapes of our world. In the developing countries of the Global South, there is a young and dynamic population with great potential for innovative ideas. Meanwhile, the Global North has advanced technological knowledge, but its population is ageing. The core question is: how can these two worlds strengthen each other in a harmonious and beneficial way? Therefore, the aim is to approach these complex global issues with optimism to find solutions together. Harmonious Healthcare represents the alignment of various topics aimed at bringing together diverse backgrounds and talents.
2026 The 2026 congress was held under the theme "Breaking Biomedical Boundaries". Therefore, it highlighted the importance of innovation and how it can help to push the limits of the biomedical world through collaboration. More precisely, it aims to drive cross-disciplinary collaboration that includes diverse genders, cultures and nationalities.
Organisational structure The organisation of ISCOMS consists of (bio)medical students from the University of Groningen. There are nine Executive Board members and 25 committee members. Committees include the Scientific Programme, Sponsors & Fundraising, International Contacts, Hosting & Logistics, Media & Branding, and Research & Development.
ISCOMS Research Fellowships (IRF) ISCOMS is more than just a congress; it also incorporates several different projects. The ISCOMS Research Fellowships (IRF) is such a project and is unique in Europe and has become an integral part of the experience. It provides a starting point for students to pursue a career in medical sciences, broaden their scientific network, increase the range of their knowledge and amplify their experience with research by giving 30 enthusiastic and talented students the opportunity to join a research group in the University Medical Center Groningen. During a challenging two-week period, chosen students will work on their own individual project and for some this may transcend into a chance to conduct a long-term PhD project in Groningen.
Notes and references
External links International Student Congress of (bio)Medical Sciences