Research Infrastructures

We are a member of the Czech-Bioimaging, EATRIS, and NanoEnviCz infrastructures.

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EATRIS

IEM CAS is part of the Czech platform of the EATRIS – European Research Infrastructure for Translational Medicine (open in a new window), which integrates academic research institutes and workplaces of the public application sphere to ensure optimisation of the translational R&D process in the process from basic research to clinical research and clinical practice.

In the field of translational research, IEM CAS has the appropriate infrastructure and expertise in the following research areas:

  1. Regenerative medicine – stem cells and tissue engineering
  2. Neurosciences – neurobiology, neurophysiology, neuropathology
  3. Genetic ecotoxicology and research of malignant diseases

The main directions of research include the study of morphological and electrophysiological properties of glial cells, arrangement of biological membranes, research of mechanisms of sound stimulus processing in the mammalian auditory system, mammalian embryogenesis, changes of cell nucleus plasticity and genetic regulation of embryonic development, study of mechanisms of glutamate receptor function in the mammalian central nervous system. system (CNS), CNS diseases, brain and spinal cord injuries and neurodegenerative diseases, research into the toxic effects of fine particles and nanoparticles in the environment on the human body and the molecular characteristics of cancer. The development and preparation of tissue replacements, especially biodegradable and nanofiber-based ones, is also underway, focusing on the possibilities of practical use of the results.

IEM CAS is an accredited institute for work with genetically modified organisms (in the first and second risk categories), embryonic stem cells and for the use of experimental animals (mice, rats, guinea pigs). Animal models are developed for the study and treatment of eg spinal cord injury, stroke and ischemia, Alzheimer’s disease, ALS and ageing and healing defects of the skin, bones, cartilage and cornea. Breeding facilities include conventional or IVC systems.

To support applied research and competitiveness in biomedicine, the Innovation Biomedical Center (IBC) was built in 2007–2008, which has become a member of the Society of Science and Technology Parks of the Czech Republic (open in a new window) and the CzechBio Association since 2008. Currently, clean rooms (class A / B) and laboratories of the IBC building are used by Bioinova, s.r.o., which specialises in developing drugs for modern therapies based on mesenchymal stromal cells. Bioinova is a certified manufacturer of aseptic products and prepares somatic cell preparations for clinical use according to standards of good manufacturing practice (GMP). IEM CAS is also involved in developing and preclinical testing new therapeutic methods using modern ATMP therapy products (stem cells, biomaterials) for applications in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.

IEM CAS has the expertise and technologies that enable basic and applied research projects in the field of advanced therapy medicinal product (ATMP) development.

The institute is part of the consortium of the BIOCEV – Biomedical and Biotechnology Center of the Czech Academy of Sciences and Charles University in Prague (open in a new window), which was established as one of the new centres of excellence within the Operational Program Research and Development for Innovation. Furthermore, IEM CAS is a partner of the NanoEnviCz infrastructure (Nanomaterials and Nanotechnologies for Environmental Protection and a Sustainable Future).

IEM CAS cooperates with leading Czech institutions, especially with the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Faculties of Medicine of Charles University, with the Faculty of Medicine of Masaryk University in Brno, with the Faculty of Medicine of Charles University in Hradec Králové and Pilsen, with the Institute of Clinical and Experimental Medicine (IKEM ), with the Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry of the ASCR, in the framework of interdisciplinary cooperation with the Institute of Physics of the ASCR. Researchers of the department participate in undergraduate and postgraduate teaching of students, and the department also provides doctoral study programs. These ties were strengthened by the establishment of three joint collaborations – with the Department of Neurology of the 2nd Medical Faculty of Charles University, the Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion and the Institute of Physics of the CAS.

Devices provided and provided by IEM for use by external entities

  • Fully equipped laboratories for genomic and proteomic analysis: MiSeq Illumina Sequencer, iScan Illumina Microarray Analyzer, Apogee A-50 Micro Cytometer, QuantStudio ™ 6 Flex Real-Time PCR System, StepOne Plus Real-Time PCR System, Bugbox Plus, Zetasizer Nano ZS, Agilent Fragment Analyzer, Roche LightCycler® 480 Real-Time PCR System
  • Cell Culture Laboratories (BSL2)
  • Histological laboratories
  • Electrophysiological laboratories (Patch clamp)
  • Laboratories with calcium imaging and neurosurgery equipment (Neurostar Stereotaxic Robot)
  • Wide range of behavioural tests with appropriate analysis (MotoRater, Morris Water Maze, von Frey)
  • Imaging technologies for live and fixed specimens: Zeiss LSM 5 Duo Confocal Microscope, Olympus FV1200 MPE, Two-photon Microscope (Ultima IV), Electron Microscope (Philips Electron Optics), Leica DMI 6000B Fluorescence Microscope with TissueGnostics Image Analysis, Lightsheet Microscope (LaVision ), Olympus SpinSR10 Spinning Disk Confocal Super Resolution Microscope

Contact

Head of the Department
Pavel Rössner, Ph.D.

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Head of the Department
Jan Prokšík, M.Sc.

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NanoEnviCz

NanoEnviCz (open in a new window) integrates the infrastructure facilities of Czech research organisations for research in nanotechnology sciences. The program is focused on research in nanomaterials and nanocomposites for environmental and related applications. Our services include controllable syntheses of nanomaterials, their complex chemical, structural, morphological and surface characterisation, tuning their functional properties, and monitoring their potential toxicity and hazard.