Pathobiochemistry and Xenobiochemistry

General Information
Entrance Examination
Framework Study Plan
Human Resources
Research Groups

1. General Information

form of study: full-time / combined
number of accepted students to the form: 1 / 1
language of study: Czech / English
standard length of study: 4 years
form of entrance examination: oral
validity of accreditation: until 24th April 2034
education field: Pharmacy (70 %), General Medicine and Dentistry (30 %)
providing faculty: FoM HK CU, FoP CU
study program guarantor: prof. Ing. Vladimír Wsól, Ph.D., prof. MUDr. Martina Řezáčová, Ph.D.

Study Program Characteristics

The aim of the study is the preparation for highly qualified research work with deep theoretical and practical knowledge in xenobiochemistry, patobiochemistry, and medical biochemistry and good knowledge in other biochemical sciences and related sciences in the field of pharmacy, biology and medicine. The core of the program is a research project based on experimental laboratory work, the results of which are published internationally and summarized in the dissertation thesis. The study is focused on biochemical disciplines with an emphasis on the interaction of xenobiotics with molecules of the organism, and on the biochemistry of pathological conditions, including clinical-biochemical aspects.

Information on Graduate Employment

Graduates of the DSP Xenobiochemistry and Pathobiochemistry are highly qualified professionals who areversatile and prepared for highly professional work in pharmaceutical, medical and bioanalytical laboratories within medical institutions or companies, for work in laboratories with a general biochemical focus, and for an academic career as a university teacher in the field of biochemical disciplines in pharmacy, medicine and biomedicine. They are prepared to continuously educate themself in these disciplines and to expand their knowledge in line with new findings in the field. They have a detailed knowledge of the full breadth of metabolism, pathobiochemistry and xenobiochemistry and scientific methods in pharmaceutical, medical and biomedical research. They apply this knowledge to experimental work in the laboratory. They are proficient in the preparation of biological models and in procedures to test the biological effects and metabolic fate of substances in vitro and in vivo. They can independently critically evaluate new findings in accordance with the principles of evidence-based medicine, design a scientific experiment to address scientific questions of a biochemical nature, prepare a research grant application, manage a small team, and interpret, discuss and present the results of scientific work.

2. Entrance Examination

Framework Content of the Entrance Examination

Oral exam from the knowledge of biochemistry, molecular biology, chemistry focused on diploma thesis or future doctoral studies.
English language exam for English language knowledge assessment (C1 at least).

Conditions of Admission

Admission to Doctoral studies is conditioned by successful completion of a Master's study programme.

Additional Conditions for Bonus Points (e.g. Practice)

Successfully completed university studies in pharmacy, medicine, biology or chemistry (rated 2 points).
Previous professional experience (rated 3 points).
Indication of the supposed training center and the approval of a specific supervisor with the management of the planned doctoral project (rated max. 5 points).

Criteria for the Evaluation Exams

Professional knowledge level – reviewed on answers to questions stated in General content of entrance exam (max. up to 10 points)
Submitted doctoral project – evaluation of project complexity, modern methodological approaches to solution, and the continuity of the project on topics already discussed by the Subject Area Board (max. up to 10 points)

The minimum admission limit is 20 points out of 30.

The Dean decides to accept the applicant(s) who have fulfilled the conditions of the admission procedure and, according to the number of points achieved, ranked in the order corresponding to the predetermined number of accepted applicants for the particular program.

Dates

3. Framework Study Plan

Study obligations

The study plan is prepared individually according to the focus of the experimental work and the doctoral student's previous education. It includes courses, tutorials and completion of sub-examinations. The partial exams are chosen according to the focus of the experimental thesis and the doctoral student's previous education so that the education in the field is as complete as possible, with an emphasis on depth in the area of focus of the experimental dissertation.

The selection of subjects for the partial examination is optional, the student is required to take two of the following core subjects:

Biochemistry
Xenobiochemistry
Pathobiochemistry
Molecular biology

In addition, the student is required to take partial examinations in at least 2 elective courses (all other courses offered in addition to the core courses).

Only after passing the partial exams, PhD student will pass the compulsory State doctoral examination. The specific responsibilities and content of doctoral studies are determined for each student by an individual study plan, including a time schedule, the fulfilment of which is subject to regular evaluation, semester by semester in the first year of study, and at least once a year thereafter.

Publication activity requirements

After 6 months from the start of the study, the student will submit a minimum 5-page (A4) description of the research project on the topic of his/her study with a clear declaration of the current state of the matter, hypotheses, scientific question, main and secondary objectives of the research project (thesis), methods used, expected scientific contribution and financial balance sheet. A review of literature sources is not included in the above scope of the description. This requirement can be met by submitting a GAUK grant or equivalent research project in the first stage of the study. During the course of the study, the PhD student actively presents his/her achievements at professional meetings (seminars, doctoral conferences, congresses, scientific conferences).

The student is required to co-author 2 publications in journals with IF thematically related to the topic of the doctoral study program, ranked in the top three quartiles according to AIS, of which at least one experimental paper is the first author. Alternatively, it is possible to publish only 1 first-authored publication thematically related to the DSP if it is an exceptionally high-quality experimental publication, i.e. published in an IF journal ranked in Q1 according to AIS; in case a given journal is listed in more than one category according to WoS, this journal is ranked in Q1 according to AIS in the field of doctoral studies/dissertation.

Requirements for completing internships

During the course of the study, the student completes an internship of a minimum duration of 3 months at a foreign workplace. During the internship, the student consults, solves and develops topics necessary for his/her dissertation and experimental results of his/her research.

Other study obligations

It is possible to participate in the courses of Basic Biochemistry, General Biochemistry, Biochemistry I, Biochemistry II, Pathobiochemistry, Molecular Biology, Practical Training in Xenobiochemistry, or in other practical training provided by the department, however, maximum is 24 hours per month. The opportunity to teach at the master's and bachelor's level within their field complements the education of a PhD student and is seen as a contribution to the comprehensive education of PhD students in biomedicine.

Dissertation themes

State Doctoral Examination

The examinee will be asked usually 4 questions during the state doctoral examination. Questions are always asked from the areas of pathobiochemistry and xenobiochemistry, the other two questions are from areas according to the focus of the dissertation.

During the state doctoral examination, the doctoral student's knowledge in the following areas is tested:

Pathobiochemistry: the molecular basis of diseases; biochemical interpretation of diseases and pathological conditions with high incidence in the human population - dyslipoproteinemia, atherosclerosis, diabetes mellitus, tumor transformation, inflammation; molecular pathology of diseases and conditions related to the dissertation topic; cellular pathobiochemistry - disorders of regulatory pathways in relation to pathological conditions - apoptosis, autophagy, proliferative signaling.
Xenobiochemistry: general metabolic pathways of substances foreign to the body, special xenobiochemistry with a focus on substances studied in the dissertation.
Human biochemistry and metabolism: chemical structures of substances involved in the structure and function of the organism, enzymology, metabolic pathways, intercellular and intracellular signalling.
Molecular biology: transmission of hereditary information, proteosynthesis, regulation of gene expression, polymorphism, pharmacogenomics, methods of molecular biology.
Laboratory techniques in biomedicine and disease diagnosis: methods, procedures, interpretation, molecular biology methods.
Selected chapters in pharmacology.

The thematic areas of each discipline are pre-specified in accordance with the focus of the dissertation.

4. Human Resources

Subject Area Board

Subject Area Board Chair and study program guarantor

prof. Ing. Vladimír Wsól, Ph.D.

Vice-Chair and guarantor of the study program for Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Králové, CU

prof. MUDr. Martina Řezáčová, Ph.D.

Members of Subject Area Board

prof. RNDr. Zuzana Bílková, Ph.D.
doc. PharmDr. Iva Boušouvá, Ph.D.
doc. RNDr. Radim Havelek, Ph.D.
doc. Ing. Petra Matoušková, Ph.D.
prof. PharmDr. Kamil Musílek, Ph.D.
doc. MUDr. Jaroslav Pejchal, Ph.D. et. Ph.D.
doc. RNDr. Tomáš Roušar, Ph.D.
prof. RNDr. Lenka Skálová, Ph.D.
doc. PharmDr. Ondřej Soukup, Ph.D.
prof. Ing. Barbora Szotáková, Ph.D.
prof. PharmDr. Tomáš Šimůnek, Ph.D.

Other members of the State Doctoral Examination and Dissertation Defense Committees other than the members of the Subject Are Board

doc. Ing. Miloš Hroch, Ph.D.
PharmDr. Anna Jirkovská, Ph.D.
prof. MUDr. RNDr. Milan Kaška, Ph.D.
RNDr. Miloslav Macháček, Ph.D.
Mgr. Alena Mrkvičková, Ph.D.
PharmDr. Darina Muthná, Ph.D.
prof. PharmDr. Petr Nachtigal, Ph.D.
Mgr. Zuzana Novická
RNDr. Eva Novotná, Ph.D.
prof. MUDr. Martina Řezáčová, Ph.D.
prof. RNDr. Lenka Skálová, Ph.D.
prof. PharmDr. František Štaud, Ph.D.

5. Research Groups

Studies of effects of drugs in various experimental pathological states

Molecular and Cellular Toxicology Group
Leader: Prof. PharmDr. Tomáš Šimůnek, Ph.D.

Workgroup of biological and medical sciences
Leader: Prof. PharmDr. Petr Nachtigal, Ph.D.
Group of pathology and pharmacology of cardiovascular and metabolic disorders | Group of clinical physiology of nutrition and metabolism | Group of microbiology and immunology

AKR|SDR Research Group
Leader: Prof. Ing. Vladimír Wsól, Ph.D.

Research Group of Xenobiochemistry and Pathobiochemistry of Liver
Leader: Assoc. Prof. PharmDr. Iva Boušová, Ph.D.

Research Group of Xenobiotic Resistance Mechanisms
Leader: Assoc. Prof. Ing. Petra Matoušková, Ph.D.