For the second time, the Vice-Rector for Research and Doctoral Studies Šárka Pospíšilová presented the MUNI Scientist award for excellent research results, which is a part of the Grant Agency of Masaryk University activities. The ceremony took place on 22nd November 2021 as part of the annual GAMU conference in the Mendel Refectory at the Augustinian Abbey.
Nominations to the competition are submitted by Vice-Deans for Science and Research, Directors of Higher Education Institutions, Head of the Research & Development Office MU, and the Vice-Rector for Research and Doctoral Studies. The purpose of the award is to motivate scientists to produce top research results and to spread the good name of Masaryk University in the scientific community and in the eyes of the public.
From five nominated researchers or their teams for FM MU, Lumír Krejčí and Pavel Krečí with Michaela Bosáková, all from the Department of Biology FM MU, were awarded.
Assoc. Prof. Mgr. Lumír Krejčí, Ph.D. from the Department of Biology FM MU received the award for his article “RAD51-dependent recruitment of TERRA lncRNA to telomeres through R-loops“ published in the journal Nature.
His research group at the Department of Biology focuses on DSB Repair Mechanisms using multidisciplinary approach (biochemical, structural, computational, genetic and single-molecule). He is the main researcher of one of the international grants and regularly publishes in prestigious international journals.
RNDr. Pavel Krejčí, Ph.D. and Mgr. Michaela Bosáková, Ph.D. were awarded for their study “An RNA aptamer restores defective bone growth in FGFR3-related skeletal dysplasia in mice” published in the journal Science Translational Medicine.
The research group of Pavel Krejčí at the Department of Biology is focused on research of the mechanisms of fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signalling. The research deals with pathological signalling of FGF-receptors (FGFR) in diseases, specifically in skeletal disorders caused by activating mutations of FGFR3 (hypochondroplasia, achondroplasia, thanatophoric dysplasia, SADDAN).