Youssif Budagaga, Ph.D., a member of the Research Group of Cancer Pharmacology from the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, has scored a major achievement in the form of an award from the Grant Agency of Charles University (GAUK). In his PhD GAUK project, he has focused on the investigation of cancer drug resistance suppressors and developed unique advanced ex vivo and in vivo models to assess their clinical value. Close cooperation with onco-surgeons and pathologists from the University Hospital Hradec Králové was crucial for the implementation of the research tasks. Equally important was the research internship with prof. Ming-Sound Tsao (Princess Margaret Cancer Centre/University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada), a globally recognized guru in the field of non-small cell lung cancer research. The results may provide new therapeutic options for patients suffering from a drug-resistant form of this lung cancer subtype.
From a total of about 400 concluded GAUK projects, the best 9 were nominated for awards, whose principal investigators presented their results and discussed their public impact in June. The competition from many different CU faculties and disciplines (archaeology, economy, IT, physics, astronomy, medicine, etc.) was really tough. Despite of this fact, dr. Budagaga managed to impress the expert jury and win the Prize of Vice-Rector for Research and Creative Activity, i.e. the prize for the 2nd best project. The official presentation of the prize and the related financial reward took place at Carolinum on 17. 11. 2024 at a gala evening organized on the occasion of the celebration of the Struggle for Freedom and Democracy Day and the International Students' Day. More information about the event is available in the press release on the UK website.
We warmly congratulate Youssif Budagaga, Ph.D. on his achievement and thank him for representing our faculty so well!
Text: Assoc. Prof. Jakub Hofman, Ph.D.
Photo: Michal Novotný, Fahda Ahmed