Excellence in Regenerative Medicine

Excellence in Regenerative Medicine (Exregmed) is a unique multidisciplinary research project aimed at developing and applying new treatment methods for the regeneration of damaged tissues and organs. The project is supported by the Johannes Amos Comenius Operational Program and brings together leading Czech scientific institutions, universities, and hospitals.

The research focuses on cell and gene therapy, tissue engineering, the development of biomaterials, and testing of treatment methods in preclinical models. The project addresses serious civilization problems such as central nervous system injuries, neurodegeneration, vascular damage, retinal, cartilage, bone defects and chronic wounds.

• To create an internationally competitive research center.
• To develop new therapies that can be used in clinical practice.
• To strengthen cooperation between science and practice.
• To support the education of a new generation of scientists and experts in the field of regenerative medicine.

The specific objectives include the implementation of six research work packages, strengthening research infrastructure, involvement of foreign experts, international cooperation, and open access publication of results.

Each of the eleven partners contributes with its specific knowledge, technologies, and infrastructure:

• Institute of Experimental Medicine CAS (IEM) is the project coordinator. It focuses on research of the central nervous system, the development of tissue replacements, and gene therapy.
• Institute of Physiology CAS (IPHYS) contributes its expertise in the field of normal and pathological physiology. It investigates the mechanisms of serious diseases and participates in the development of new treatment methods, including tissue engineering and wound healing.
• Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics CAS (IAPG) is engaged in biomedical research and preclinical testing of therapeutic approaches on large animal models.
• Institute of Chemical Process Fundamentals CAS (ICPF) provides expertise in the fields of chemical sciences, chemical engineering, and environmental technologies. It is also involved in the development of new materials and advanced biotechnologies.
• Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry CAS (IMC) specializes in the development of new synthetic and technological processes, primarily in the field of polymers for the use in medicine.
• University Hospital Hradec Králové (UHHK) participates in research of bioindicators in clinical medicine, the development and evaluation of drugs, and the introduction of new surgical techniques and technologies.
• Palacký University Olomouc (UP) contributes with its biomedical research, development of nanotechnologies, new materials, and research of plant systems.
• Central European Institute of Brno University of Technology (CEITEC BUT) focuses on advanced nano- and microtechnologies, the development of modern materials, technical cybernetics, and systems integration.
• Technical University of Liberec (TUL) offers expertise in the fields of materials, mechanical, and textile engineering. It is also involved in research of nanomaterials, robotics, automation, and biotechnology.
• Jan Evangelista Purkyně University in Ústí nad Labem (UJEP) focuses on environmental protection, the development of biomedical nanomaterials, and new production technologies for biomedical applications.
• University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague (UCT Prague) brings expertise in technical chemistry, chemical and biochemical technologies, materials and chemical engineering, food science, nutrition, and environmental sciences to the project.

Project manager: Assoc. Prof. Pavla Jendelová, PhD
Expert consultant for nerve tissue regeneration (WP1-3): Prof. James Fawcett
Expert consultant for tissue engineering: Assoc. Prof. Lucie Bačáková, CSc.
Heads of research projects: Mgr. Kristýna Kárová, Ph.D., Mgr. Martin Horák, Ph.D., prof. MVDr. Jan Motlík, DrSc., Assoc. Prof. Lucie Bačáková, CSc., Mgr. Eva Filová, Ph.D., Mgr. Elena Filová, Ph.D.

• Ing. Zuzana Kodymová (project manager): personnel costs, personnel issues, indicators
• Ing. Jan Tomanec (financial manager/project manager): material costs, budgets
• Ing. Jan Prokšík (project manager): public procurement
• Barbara Ráczová: worksheets and general administration

International Scientific Advisory Board (ISAB) is a scientific advisory body composed of seven renowned international experts. ISAB provides expert oversight of research quality, proposes strategic priorities and evaluates the results of individual research projects.

Its members include world leaders in the fields of neuroregeneration, gene therapy, tissue engineering, and biomaterial development. Each research project has its own expert from among the ISAB members.

ISAB Members:

• Prof. Håvard J Haugen
  University of Oslo/Corticalis/ Institute of Clinical Dentistry, University of Oslo/ Corticalis
• Dr. Marlene Durand
  Bordeaux University Hospital/Inserm/ BioTis, Bordeaux University / Centre d’Innovations Technologiques, CHU de Bordeaux
• Prof. Dr. Eckhardt Wolf
  Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich/ Gene Center Munich/ Center for Innovative Medical Models
• Prof. Elizabeth Bradbury
  King’s College London/ Wolfson Sensory, Pain and Regeneration Centre
• Prof. Elżbieta Pamuła
  AGH University of Science and Technology/ Department of Biomaterials and Composites
• Prof. Jens Pahnke
  Universität zu Lübeck/ Pahnke Lab / Lübecker Institut für Experimentelle Dermatologie
• Prof. Pasi Kallio
  Tampere University/ Micro- and Nanosystems Research Group

Each research work package focuses on a different type of damaged tissue and uses advanced methods of regenerative medicine.

WP1 – Nervous tissue regeneration after injury

Leader:

• Mgr. Kristýna Kárová, Ph.D.

Research Objectives:

• Study of cellular mechanisms affecting axon growth.
• Restoration of neural connections in the adult CNS through axon regeneration.
• Development of bioactive carrier to bridge damaged brain and spinal cord tissue.
• Restoring plasticity and reducing the inhibitory environment by modulating ECM and perineuronal networks
• Protecting the damaged nervous system with stem cells

WP2 – Addressing the problem of neurodegeneration

Leader:

• Mgr. Martin Horák, Ph.D.

Research Objectives:

• Design and synthesis of new chemical compounds with a combination of modulatory effects to ChE and GluN2B-NMDAR.
• Nanomaterials for delivery of newly developed chemicals with a combination of modulatory effect to ChE and GluN2B-NMDAR via BBB
• In vitro evaluation
• In vivo experiments

WP3 – Degenerative diseases of the retina

Leader:

• Prof. MVDr. Jan Motlík, DrSc.

Research Objectives:

• Development of effective methodologies for the study changes in the damaged retina and their treatment in experimental mice models.
• A comprehensive study of retinal changes in transgenic minipigs with a homozygous mutation in the USH1C gene and hiPS-derived organoids from Usher syndrome patients.
• Testing the safety, efficacy, and functionality of RPE cells differentiated from human corrected pluripotent cells (hiPS cells) carrying a MERTK mutation causing retinitis pigmentosa, and their transplantation on nanofiber scaffolds.

WP4 – Vascular tissue engineering

Leader:

• Assoc. Prof. Lucie Bačáková, CSc. (open in a new window)

Research Objectives:

• Preparation of vascular patches.
• Construction of vascular replacements.
• Evaluation of selected vascular patches and replacements in vivo and their preservation.

WP5 – The healing of osteochondral defects

Leader:

• Mgr. Eva Filová, Ph.D.

Research Objectives:

• The development of 3D porous carriers for bone regeneration containing osteogenesis-stimulating substances.
• The development of drug delivery systems for bone regeneration based on dendrimers, exosomes and microfibers.
• The development of 3D carriers for bone regeneration containing osteogenic and angiogenic substances.
• The development of hydrogel carriers for cartilage regeneration.
• The validation of bone regeneration in vivo in a rat model.
• The preparation of a biphasic carrier and verification of its effect in a rabbit and pig model.

WP6 – Skin tissue engineering, active wound healing

Leader:

• Mgr. Elena Filová, Ph.D. (open in a new window)

Research Objectives:

• Development of functionalized nanofibre materials.
• Development of a hydrogel-based or 3D composite material containing antimicrobial agents, exosomes.
• Preparation of an in vitro chronic wound model.
• In vivo evaluation in a hypoxic wound model.
• Development of materials for improving chronic wound healing based on chitosan, elastin and cellulose.

The project emphasizes the popularization of science and communication with both the professional and general public. We regularly publish project news and interesting results on social networks. Researchers participate in the most important popularization events. Follow us on Facebook.

The project is committed to the principles of open science, ensuring that all research outputs are publicly available at any time under an Open Access regime. In line with the principle of “as open as possible, as closed as necessary,” we strive to maximize the transparency and accessibility of research data while protecting sensitive information if necessary.

Research data generated within the project is managed in accordance with FAIR principles – we ensure that it is findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable. The data and related materials are stored in trusted open repositories, with most of them stored in the Zenodo project community under open licenses (CC-BY) with the possibility of its reuse and reproducibility.

The data management plan (DMP) for supporting appropriate data handling throughout the project lifecycle is continuously maintained using the FAIR Wizard tool of the Data Stewardship Wizard platform. This tool helps the project team document their work with data and align their practices with the FAIR and Open Science principles.

The project data administrator is Mrs. Arzuv Čaryjeva, PhD.

As part of the project, state-of-the-art research equipment was purchased, which is essential for the implementation of research objectives.

Institute of Experimental Medicine CAS

• Abator
• Ethylene oxide sterilizer
• PCR cycler
• Incubator
• Incucyte
• System for long-term monitoring of activity and temperature in mouse models with neurodegenerative disorders
• Upgrade of the microscope and expansion of capacity for electrophysiological imaging from acute sections
• Biohazard box for the cultivation of mammalian cells from mouse models with neurodegenerative disorders

Central European Institute of Brno University of Technology

• ElastoSens Bio

Palacký University Olomouc

• PCR equipment with Biometra accessories
• Laminar box with accessories
• CO2 incubator for cell cultivation

Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry CAS

• HPLC/GPC chromatograph

Institute of Physiology CAS

• Tube chamber
• High-speed centrifuge with various rotors

University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague

• XRD – X-ray diffractometer

• The Axon Repair conference will take place in Prague on March 4–6, 2026