The Cellular and Molecular Immunoregulation research team of the International Clinical Research Centre of St. Anne's University Hospital in Brno and the Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, was awarded a prestigious international grant HORIZON EUROPE. The BEATsep project will focus on research into sepsis and septic shock, which affect up to 50 million people worldwide each year and account for almost 20% of global deaths.
The interdisciplinary BEATsep project will have a budget of €6.9 million and will bring together research and clinical teams working on specific aspects of the development, treatment and prevention of the long-term consequences of sepsis and its impact on patients' quality of life. The comprehensive clinical and research data collected will be integrated using artificial intelligence algorithms into an easy-to-use predictive tool that will be able to identify patients at the highest risk of complications due to septic shock.
The coordinator of the consortium of partners is the International Clinical Research Centre (ICRC-FNUSA), whose Cellular and Molecular Immunoregulation (CMI) research team initiated the project and has assembled a consortium that brings together renowned experts in immuno-metabolism, immunophenotyping, diagnostic sign research and several clinical teams caring for adult and pediatric patients with sepsis. "It has taken nearly two years of intensive preparation and networking to assemble the consortium. We used the advantage of bringing together teams with whom we have been already collaborating on several other projects," says Dr. Marcela Hortová-Kohoutková from the CMI research group, who co-headed the project's preparation.
"The project is the result of our efforts over several years within the consortium and has the chance to understand better and fundamentally change the recovery of pediatric and adult patients who have suffered septic shock. We would not have been able to develop this project without the intensive administrative support at the ICRC," added Dr. Jan Frič, head of the CMI.
In total, the BEATsep project involves 9 partners from renowned European research and clinical institutions and 1 commercial partner in six EU countries, including the Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University.
"The BEATsep project is an example of an innovative and successful combination of translational and clinical research, the know-how of our own and international scientists, and collaboration between hospitals, universities and other scientific institutions of renown. I am proud that the coordinating team is from the ICRC, a joint department of St. Anne's University Hospital and the Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University," said Prof. Irena Rektorova, M.D., Head of the ICRC.
The Grant Agency of Masaryk University has announced the results of the 2025 Career Restart call. Applications were open from 9 September to 18 October 2024. Selected applicants will receive the funding of CZK 500,000 per year for 2 years.
The Internal grant agency of the Faculty of Medicine of Masaryk University has announced the results of the Start-up and Accelerate calls with implementation start on 1st January 2025.