OncoPharm Project Conference Presented Current Research Results

On 12 May 2026, a scientific conference of the OncoPharm project was held at the Education Centre of the Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, located within the University Hospital Hradec Králové campus. The conference focused on presenting current results and progress achieved within the individual work packages in the areas of novel anticancer drug development, research on cancer resistance, and prevention of serious complications associated with anticancer therapy.

The conference was opened by the project’s principal investigator, Prof. Vladimír Wsól, who, in his introductory speech, summarised the project’s progress to date, including the current status of monitoring indicators, and emphasized the importance of cooperation among the project partner institutions – the Faculty of Pharmacy in  Hradec Králové,  Charles University; the Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Králové,  Charles University; the University Hospital Hradec Králové, and Generi Biotech – as well as collaboration with additional partners from the application sector.

The event was intended not only for members of the OncoPharm project research team, but also for academic and research staff of the partner institutions and other experts interested in experimental oncology, pharmacology, and novel drug development. The scientific programme was divided into three thematic blocks corresponding to the project’s main work packages. The conference also provided an opportunity for the active involvement of junior researchers and doctoral students, who presented the results of their work carried out within the OncoPharm project.

The morning session was dedicated to Work Package 2 – Research and Development of New Anticancer Drugs. The presentations focused primarily on the design and synthesis of new FLT3 kinase inhibitors, the investigation of their biological effects, and the search for novel bioactive compounds with potential anticancer applications. Results concerning natural alkaloids and their derivatives were also presented.

The following block, dedicated to Work Package 3 – Cardiotoxicity of Anticancer Drugs, focused on the adverse effects of anticancer therapy on the cardiovascular system. The presented results included research on the mechanisms of anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity, the investigation of potential cardioprotective compounds, and a proteomic perspective on chronic cardiotoxicity associated with anticancer drugs. The relationship between the structure of the developed compounds and their biological effects was also discussed.

The afternoon session focused on Work Package 1 – Drug Resistance in Oncological Diseases. Presentations addressed mechanisms of multidrug resistance, particularly the role of ABC transporters and metabolic enzymes in the resistance of cancer cells to therapy. The programme also highlighted the potential use of FLT3 inhibitors in acute myeloid leukaemia and novel approaches to the modulation of chemoresistance.

The meeting provided a platform not only for presenting current research results, but also for expert discussion, the exchange of experience, and the strengthening of collaboration among the participating institutions and individual work packages of the project.

More information about the project: www.faf.cuni.cz/OncoPharm

Prof. Vladimír Wsól, Ing. Mgr. Anna Opitz

Text and photo: Ing. Mgr. Anna Opitz

The project “Pre-application Research of Drugs for Oncological Diseases and for the Prevention and Treatment of Serious Complications Caused by Them” (OncoPharm), Reg. No. CZ.02.01.01/00/23_021/0008442, is co-funded by the European Union.