Development of New Drugs and Diagnostics: Hope for a Better Life

žurnál Magazine of Palacký University Olomouc, 2016 / 1 theme Development of New Drugs and Diagnostics: Hope for a Better Life Genius loci… Palacký�nforma�n� University centrum Olomouca obcho� InformationUniverzity Palack Centreého and Shop InformationInformace U D�mčerného � �ern�ho psa psa GiftsDárk andov� Souvenirsp�edm�ty Horní�orní náměstí nám�stí 12 12 OlomoucOlomouc CZ-779 779 00 00 FashionMódní Collectionkolekce Knihy a publikace Books and Publications OpeningOtevírací hours: doba: PostersPlakáty and a pohlednice Postcards Mon–FriPo�Pá: 9:00-17:009 am – 5 pm So: 9:00-12:00 CaféPosezení u kávy Sat 9 am – noon www.upoint.upol.czwww.upoint.upol.cz facebook.com/upoint.upolfacebook.com/upoint.upol contents 2 — Development of New Drugs and Diagnostics: Hope for a Better Life 6 — UN at UP – International Students in the Role of Diplomats 6 — New Course at the Faculty of Theology: Friars to Friars 7 — Deans: Milan Kolář Re-Inaugurated at the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry. The Faculty of Law Senate Elects Zdenka Papoušková 7 — Conference Seeking Answers to Topical Questions in Obstetrics Today 8 — Successful Robotically-Assisted Surgery Dear Readers, at the Department of Urology 8 — Natural Scientists Hear Lecture by Chemist Peter Various 2015 world university Sadler rankings have testified to the well- 9 — Accreditation Ensured for Almost All Programmes known fact that Palacký University at the Faculty of Education until 2021 excels in science. Cutting-edge 9 — Czech Academic Games 2015: Silver for Palacký research in an entire spectrum University Olomouc of disciplines, the increasingly 10 — U.S. Patent Confirms Significance of Anti-Cancer international nature of our Substances Discovered in Olomouc academy, the steadily widening 11 — UP Study Findings Contribute to More Effective network of our partner academies, Treatment of Resistant Hypertension humanitarian activities in favour of 12 — Small Card Can Test Contamination of Drinking the needy, as well as close contacts Water with our alumni across the globe. 13 — Profile – Ingeborg Fialová The combined effects of all these 16 — Kaleidoscope of Brief News factors helped Palacký University 20 — Success to rise in the prestigious and highly esteemed Times Higher Education 24 — University Mapping Creative Industries in Olomouc World University Ranking and US 28 — Student Counselling Centre – First Step News & World Report Ranking. As to a Successful Career one shepherding a major Central 29 — UP Endowment Fund Supports Talented Students European academy, the results 30 — Photostory – Olomouc: City of Animation bring joy and satisfaction. 31 — Naděžda Calabová: In Jordan I Teach Physical Needless to say, our prime has Rehabilitation of War Injuries yet to come. The English issue of 33 — Vladimír Birgus: A Life with Photography UP Žurnál, however, covers some other achievements but I hasten to 35 — Joy of Movement and Culture add: In 2015, we have done so much 36 — Sleep Out 2015: Trying Life on the Street more. 38 — Famous Mathematician from Haná 39 — Reflection – Studies in Olomouc: The Doors Are Open to Education Jaroslav Miller 40 — University on the Net UP Rector Žurnál | Published annually in English | Czech Registration No.: MK ČR E 12524, ISSN 1804- 6754 | Published by Palacký University Olomouc, Křížkovského 8, CZ-771 47 Olomouc, Czech Republic | VAT No.: 61989592 | Chairman of the Editorial Board: Petr Bilík | Editor- in-Chief: Ivana Pustějovská | Layout: Věra Marešová | Graphic Editor: Michaela Cyprová | Proofreading: Matthew Sweney | Editorial Board | Biskupské nám. 1, Olomouc | Telephone: cover – Faculty of Science +420 585 631 155 | E-mail: [email protected] | Print | Profi-Tisk Group Olomouc | 1 000 copies photo: Kristýna Erbenová Development of New Drugs and Diagnostics: Hope for a Better Life To understand the underlying causes of cancer, infectious, and inflammatory diseases and to develop future medicines and diagnostics – this is the mission of the Institute of Molecular and Translational Medicine (IMTM), which develops excellent basic and applied biomedical research in Olomouc. The journey leading to the chance for patients with often fatal diseases is, however, a mar- athon journey, landscaped with millions of molecules, thousands of exacting experiments and endless hours in the laboratory. The principle of molecular medicine is in bility and efficiency,” explains Marián Ha- finding answers to the basic question: How jdúch, Director of the IMTM. does the human body work in health and It is a study of diseases that may have in illness? “We study diseases in terms of similar mechanisms, so similar types of their pathogenesis, aiming toward the very therapy or diagnostics may be applied. basis of what is the cause of the disease. “Diseases resemble each other on the mo- When you understand the cause, you can lecular-cellular level more than it seems. suggest correct treatment, or the most suit- A similar pathophysiology can be found in text & photo: able diagnostics. On the molecular level, a variety of diseases, only details or the lo- Velena Mazochová there is a potential targeted treatment that calisation of the process may differ,” adds repro: will fight the disease with the best proba- Hajdúch. Žurnál UP 2 žurnál 2016 1 2 3 4 5 6 1. Immunohistochemical detection of the antibody Phospho-Rb (Ser807/811) “I appreciate that the (Cell Signalling) on a paraffin section theme of human tumour tissue. Tenfold mag- study of mechanisms on nification. the molecular level is used 2. Demonstration of an Aspergillus for the pursuit of potential mould in paraffin sections of immuno- preventive effects of new suppressed lungs of a rat (histologic molecules. Besides, the coloration by Grocott staining). Ten- fold magnification. IMTM is not acting alone at Palacký University – its 3. Immunohistochemical detection of the antibody Rb (4H1) (Cell Signalling) research activities are on paraffin section of human tumour linked with another two tissue. Tenfold magnification. research centres at the UP 4. Demonstration of an Aspergillus Faculty of Science.” mould in paraffin sections of immunosuppressed lungs of a rat (histologic Prof Jitka Ulrichová coloration by Grocott staining). Twen- tyfold magnification. IMTM Science Director and UP Vice-Rector for Science 5. Hematoxylin–Eosin staining of a paraffin section of immunosuppressed and Research lungs of a rat, infected by an Aspergil- lus mould. Twentyfold magnification. 6. Histological Grocott staining of a paraffin section of immunosuppressed lungs of a rat, infected by an Aspergil- lus mould. Twentyfold magnification. The transfer of information from ba- finds a new key protein or gene, active in “In order to have a competitive advantage sic research to the patient is the task of the repair of nucleic acids, we can launch against the rest of the world, we need yield translational medicine. “It is a closed cy- screening for identification of substances from our combination of knowledge, in- cle called the ‘bench to bedside and back that are able to inhibit this molecular tar- terdisciplinary research, and unparalleled approach’. It transfers the needs of clinical get, or to activate it. It depends on what the technologies. Excellent basic research is medicine into research, and at the same specific disease requires.” a necessity, but there is no guarantee that time it transfers projects that have relevant Such discoveries in the area of the mo- the findings will have practical applica- outcomes in research and may satisfy a rel- lecular basis of diseases facilitate find- tions,” sums up Hajdúch. evant medicinal need into the validation ing possible medical strategies which are A good example of a complete research, phases of clinical studies as soon as possi- within the competence of other research from discovery to phase 1 clinical trial, is ble – called ‘proof of concept’. This allows programmes. One of them is Medici- fenretinide, a drug with a potential use in answering the question whether the cho- nal Chemistry, in the area of which large the treatment of cystic fibrosis. It is able to sen path is right or wrong,” says the IMTM groups of chemists from the Czech Re- partly regulate a metabolic disorder which Director. public and abroad are collaborating, send- is accompanied with vulnerability to cer- ing substances to Olomouc to have them tain types of infection that are eventual- Discovery: It begins with tested for biological activity. The extensive ly the cause of death for patients with this a molecular target chemical library in the IMTM currently serious disease. Olomouc scientists de- During the development of new drugs, consists of 120,000 compounds, occupy- veloped fenretinide in collaboration with the IMTM scientists focus on the first two ing a chemical space of roughly 15 million their colleagues in Canada, where the eval- stages: drug discovery and preclinical re- molecules. “Other research groups then uation of a phase 1 clinical trial has been search, which ends shortly before the first investigate how complicated the com- completed in 2015 with very encouraging administration of the drug to human sub- pound is to prepare or its pharmacologi- results. jects. There are six research programmes cal properties. The chemical structure has for this purpose, starting with research of to be very often further modified and op- Personalised medicine the molecular basis of diseases and mo- timised for future medicinal application,” and tailored drugs lecular targets. “In order to have well-tar-

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