Brno honors outstanding research by young scientists. At a ceremonial event on Wednesday, March 19, at Brno's New Town Hall, talented doctoral students from the Faculty of Medicine at Masaryk University received significant awards for their contributions to science. Their projects focus on advanced cancer treatment methods, investigating drug addiction mechanisms, and innovative approaches to cell therapy. Each of the awarded scientists strives to push the boundaries of knowledge and bring the medicine of the future closer to clinical practice.
The city of Brno received 120 applications for this year's Brno Ph.D. Talent program, from which the expert committee selected 50 finalists based on their presentations. After further narrowing, only 25 of the best remained. Among the selected recipients are five from the Faculty of Medicine at Masaryk University and twelve from other faculties of Masaryk University. Behind the successful projects stand ten women and fifteen men from five countries who will receive scholarships totaling 9 million Czech crowns from the city of Brno. For each recipient, this means 360,000 crowns distributed over three years.
Sefa Furkan Demirci – New Pharmacological Possibilities for Addiction Treatment
Field: Neuroscience | Supervisor: Jana Rudá Kučerová
Furkan focuses on finding safer and more effective methods for treating drug addiction. In his work, he uses an operant self-administration model in which laboratory animals voluntarily consume drugs, allowing for a better understanding of human addiction. His project also addresses gender differences in response to treatment, which is still an insufficiently explored area.
Viktor Kostohryz – Safer CAR-T Therapy Using Non-Viral Vectors
Field: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology | Supervisor: Ondřej Slabý
CAR-T therapy is a breakthrough method for treating leukaemia, but its current form carries the risk of secondary leukaemia. Viktor's research focuses on developing a safer alternative using non-viral episomal vectors that eliminate some of the key risks of this innovative therapy.
Petra Pavelková – Transcription Factor FoxO1 in Lymphoma Resistance to Treatment
Field: Oncology and Hematology | Supervisor: Václav Šeda
Petra investigates the role of the transcription factor FoxO1 in B-cell receptor (BCR) signalling in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. Her research could help clarify the mechanisms behind cancer cell resistance to therapy and contribute to finding more effective treatment strategies.
Renata Bartošová – Impact of Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress on Immunotherapy Success
Field: Oncology and Hematology | Supervisor: Tomáš Kazda
Renata studies the role of endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) in the tumour microenvironment of ovarian carcinoma. Her project examines how ERS affects immune system function and contributes to the failure of immunotherapeutic approaches. The results could lead to the development of more effective treatment strategies.
Johana Mayerová – Comprehensive Analysis of High-Risk Multiple Myeloma
Field: Oncology and Hematology | Supervisor: Jana Kotašková
Johana's research focuses on patients with so-called functional high-risk (FHR) multiple myeloma who escape standard diagnostics and have shorter survival times. Her goal is a detailed analysis of this phenotype and identification of mechanisms leading to its development, which could help develop more targeted treatments.
What connects all the recipients? Science for them is not just work but a path to discovering new possibilities and directly improving patients' lives. They see in it certainty in a chaotic world, an opportunity to apply new knowledge to medicine, and a way to push the boundaries of human knowledge. They also share enthusiasm for Brno – a city they perceive as a dynamic center of cutting-edge research, an ideal place for interdisciplinary collaboration, and a life full of culture, great food, and accessible nature.
The ceremonial recognition of young scientists demonstrated not only the strength of the scientific community at the MU Faculty of Medicine but also how important it is to support innovative thinking and determination to find new paths in medical research. Congratulations to all recipients, and we wish them much success in their future work!
Since 2009, this year's twenty-five young talents have joined the ranks of 232 students recognized and supported by this scholarship program. The next round for natural science or technical fields will begin in September 2025. Follow the website of the organizer - South Moravian Centre for International Mobility (JCMM).
This year, 55 students received the Dean’s Award in Czech study programs and the Excellence Award in English study programs across several categories. The awards were presented to the students by the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at MU, Martin Repko, Vice-Dean Eva Brichtová, and Vice-Dean Lubomír Křivan.
At its regular meeting on March 25, 2025, the Academic Senate of the Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, approved the budget for 2025.
