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INSTITUTE OF EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE OF THE CAS
Institute of Experimental Medicine CAS, v.v.i., (IEM) was founded in 1975 by the merger of several laboratories of the Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences (CSAV), founded in 1953-1957. At present, IEM is the leading institution in the Czech Republic in basic and applied research in neuroscience, stem cell research, cell therapy and tissue engineering and cancer research. The Institute consists of 11 scientific departments and two support units - technical - economic management and project support and technology transfer. The Institute employs approximately 70 scientists and researchers and 60 doctoral students. Since 2007, the Institute has a status of public research institution under Act No. 341/2005 Coll.
In the field of stem cell research, the Institute devotes significant efforts to cell therapy and tissue engineering in area of ophthalmology, orthopedics and CNS, the differentiation and implantation of neural and non-neural stem cells, as well as the construction of tissue replacements based on natural or synthetic hydrogels or biodegradable matrices from unwoven nanofibres.
IEM further develops its activities in the field of biotechnological innovations. The special focus is on technology transfer and cooperation with commercial sphere in the field of regenerative medicine and advanced therapy medicinal products, through education and implementation of applied research and development projects, e.g. within the GAMA TACR project (http://komercializace-vystupu-vav.uem.avcr.cz/vysledky-projektu/).
In 2007-2008, IEM built an Innovation Biomedical Center (IBC) to support applied research and the competitiveness of biomedicine. Since 2008, IBC has been a member of the Czech Science and Technology Parks (www.svtp.cz) and the CzechBio Association. The IBC is equipped with clean rooms (Class A / B) that meet good manufacturing practice standards for the production of cellular and other aseptic products. These spaces are currently used by biotechnology companies (Bioinova, s.r.o., EponaCell, s.r.o.) for the preparation of stem cells for human and veterinary applications.
In 2008 – 2013, the Center of Cell Therapy and Tissue Replacements was established as a part of the infrastructure for biomedical research with the support of the Operational Program Prague Competitiveness (OPPK), aiming to obtain the results of basic research in the fields of cell therapy, tissue engineering, and nanotechnology. The main focus of the Center is the development and preclinical testing of new therapeutic methods using modern therapy products (stem cells, biomaterials) for applications in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.
The Institute is a part of a consortium of the BIOCEV project - Biomedical and Biotechnology Center of CAS and Charles University (https://www.biocev.eu/cs), which was established as one of the new centers of excellence within the Operational Program Research and Development for Innovation. Furthermore, IEM is a partner of the European Translation Medicine Infrastructure (EATRIS, www.eatris.eu) and NanoEnviCz (Nanomaterials and Nanotechnologies for Environmental Protection and Sustainable Future).
IEM cooperates with leading Czech institutions, especially with the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Medical Faculty of Charles University, with the Medical Faculty of Masaryk University in Brno, with the Medical Faculty of Charles University in Hradec Králové and in Pilsen, with the Institute of Clinical and Experimental Medicine (IKEM), with the Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry of the ASCR, within the framework of intersectoral cooperation with the Institute of Physics of the CAS. Researchers from the Institute are involved in undergraduate and postgraduate student education, and the Institute also provides doctoral degree programs. These links were strengthened by the establishment of three joint workplaces -with the Department of Neuroscience of the 2nd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, the Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion and the Institute of Physics of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic.
IEM has expertise and technologies that enable realize research projects of basic and applied research in the development of advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMP). IEM is accredited for work with genetically modified organisms (in the first and second risk categories), embryonic stem cells and for the use of experimental animals (mouse, rat, guinea pig). Animal models focus on spinal cord injury, stroke and cerebral ischemia, healing of skin, bone, cartilage and cornea defects, as well as models of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, ALS and aging. Breeding and experiments are conducted under conventional or IVC conditions. Another part of research is testing of nanomaterials and the evaluation of the potential adverse effects of nanoparticles on human health.
Key persons: Pavel Rössner, Ph.D.
Platform participation: ATMPs