Research Overview

Research group of Placenta in Health and Disease

Team leader: Prof. PharmDr. František Štaud, Ph.D.

The team studies the functions of the placenta and their importance for fetal development and programming. Specifically, the research team investigates:

• The effects of drugs used during pregnancy (antiderpressants, antidiabetics and others) on placental monoamine homeostasis
• The effects of inflammation during pregnancy on the placental metabolism of tryptophan and monoamines and fetal neurodevelopment
• The effects of maternal obesity on endocrine functions of the placenta

Detailed information: Research group website

Research group of Clinical and Molecular Pharmacotherapy

Team leader: Prof. Petr Pávek, PharmDr., Ph.D.

Interdisciplinary research group of researchers from the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Department of Biophysics and Physical Chemistry and Department of Pharmaceutical Technology.

The group work on the following topics:

• Development of novel nuclear receptor ligands
• The study of xenobiotic and endobiotic metabolism regulation via nuclear receptors
• Development of novel radiopharmaceuticals (Laboratory of Radiopharmacy - head Prof. František Trejtnar, PhD.)
• Development of novel nanoformulations for targeted delivery (PharmDr. Ondřej Holas, PhD.)
• Mathematical modeling of drug effects and in silico docking (Doc. Jurjen Duintjer Tebbens)

Detailed information: Research group website

Research group of the Cardiovascular and respiratory pharmacology and toxicology

Team leader: Prof. Přemysl Mladěnka, Pharm.D., Ph.D.

• Effects of flavonoids and other polyphenols on the organism in physiological and pathological conditions
• Screening of novel antiplatelet and anticoagulant drugs and assessment of the mechanism of action
• Effects of drugs on vascular smooth muscles both ex vivo and in vivo
• In vitro screening of novel iron/copper/zinc chelators

Detailed information: Research group website

Research Group of Cancer Pharmacology

Team leader: Assoc. Prof. RNDr. Jakub Hofman, Ph.D.

The group focuses on the following research topics:

• study of mechanisms of anticancer drug resistance in vitro
• development of strategies for overcoming resistance in solid tumors in vitro
• application of ex vivo and in vivo models for the evaluation of clinical potential of obtained in vitro results

Detailed information: Research group website

Research Group of Cell Pharmacology and Oncology

Team leader: Assoc. Prof. PharmDr. Martina Čečková, Ph.D.

Research conducted by our team is focused on membrane transport systems, especially at ABC and SLC transporters involved in transfer of drugs, nutrients and endogenous molecules across cellular membranes. This thematic line is followed with regard to the phenomenon of drug resistance, especially in acute leukemia cells, pharmacokinetic drug-drug or drug-nutrient interactions, but also addressing the role of membrane transporters in pathophysiological processes.

Detailed information: Research group website