Interview: Palliative medicine is about life, but it also introduces medical students to dying
Interview with Associate Professor Jan Maláska about the expansion and importance of teaching palliative care.
Science and Medicine Hand in Hand: 10 Students Successfully Defended Their Theses in P-PooL
For the seventh time, students enrolled in the Pregraduate Program for Motivated Medical Students with Extended Scientific Training (P-PooL) gathered to defend their final theses. P-PooL is a selective program for students who have been engaged in scientific research activities since their first year of study.
Students in the P-PooL module are expected to actively present their research results at the Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, at domestic and international scientific events, and publish them (ideally as first authors in impact factor journals). At the end of their studies, they summarise their work in a final thesis defended before a committee. The P-PooL program has been operating at the faculty for eleven years. In this year's seventh round of defences, ten General Medicine students presented their work on Tuesday, April 15, 2025.
The defenses took place in three blocks, each with a three-member committee chaired by Assoc. Prof. Markéta Bébarová. The first committee included Prof. Eva Brichtová, CSc., Prof. Martin Huser, and Assoc. Prof. Aleš Hampl. The second committee consisted of Prof. Kateřina Kaňková, Prof. Eva Táborská, and Mgr. Stjepan Uldrijan. The final committee included Prof. Michael Doubek, Assoc. Prof. Ondřej Zendulka, and Assoc. Prof. Josef Tomandl.
Chairwoman Markéta Bébarová traditionally introduced each student with basic biographical information. Afterward, supervisors presented their assessments of the student's work throughout their mentorship period. The evaluations extended beyond academic performance, including insights about students' extracurricular activities. The defense consisted of presenting research results to the committee, followed by discussion, private committee discussion, and announcement of the verdict.
Through their research activities, students gain access to data, learn to process it, publish results, collaborate within and beyond their departments, participate in international internships, and present at domestic and international forums.
Congratulations to all students who successfully defended their final theses with an A grade:
Jakub Česnek
Topic: Research on Alzheimer's disease using microfluidic models of neuronal membranes
Department: Loschmidt Laboratories, Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, MU, supervisor: Prof. RNDr. Zbyněk Prokop, Ph.D.
Veronika Slonková
Topic: Rationally designed alteplase with more efficient thrombolysis, increased fibrin selectivity and inhibitory resistance
Department: Loschmidt Laboratories, Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, MU, supervisor: Prof. RNDr. Zbyněk Prokop, Ph.D.
Anna Zimovjanová
Topic: Point of Care lung ultrasound in acute stroke care
Department: Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, MU, supervisor: MUDr. Mgr. Radim Líčeník, Ph.D.
Leoš Benák
Topic: Bioartificial 3D graft for intervertebral spinal fusion
Department: Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, MU, supervisor: Assoc. Prof. MVDr. Aleš Hampl, CSc.
Julie Rafčíková
Topic: Finding connections between schizophrenia and cardiovascular diseases: new insights from animal models
Department: Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, MU, supervisor: MUDr. Tibor Stračina, Ph.D.
Daniel Diabelko
Topic: Phage therapy in combination with injectable Gum Karaya hydrogels for treatment of deep wounds infected with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in a porcine model
Department: Department of Microbiology, St. Anne's University Hospital and Faculty of Medicine, MU, supervisor: Prof. MUDr. Filip Růžička, Ph.D.
Leonard Jakubáč
Topic: Endometrial carcinoma - molecular classification and clinico-pathological correlation in a selected cohort of patients
Department: Department of Pathology, University Hospital Brno and Faculty of Medicine, MU, supervisor: MUDr. Jitka Hausnerová
Mgr. Filip Svěrák
Topic: Biosensor based on a pair of organoids for monitoring cardiac conduction disorders in vitro
Department: Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, MU, supervisor: Mgr. Vladimír Rotrekl, Ph.D.
Viktorie Svobodová
Topic: Activation and inflammatory profile of neurons and glial cells in an experimental model of neuropathic pain induced by nerve and spinal cord injury
Department: Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, MU, supervisor: Prof. RNDr. Petr Dubový, CSc.
Johana Gombíková
Topic: Functional analysis of in-frame deletions and insertions in the TP53 gene
Department: Centre for Molecular Biology and Genetics, Department of Internal Haematology and Oncology, University Hospital Brno and Faculty of Medicine, MU, supervisor: Mgr. Šárka Pavlová, Ph.D.
