Dalibor Košek received Otto Wichterle Prize (27.6. 2022)

Twenty-five outstanding young scientific talents have received a prestigious award of the Czech Academy of Sciences: Otto Wichterle Prize 2022. The future generation of scientists under the age of 35 received the award from the President of the Czech Academy of Sciences Eva Zažímalová during a ceremony on 20 June 2022. One of the awardees is Dalibor Košek from the Institute of Physiology of the CAS. Dr. Kosek studies DNA transposons, which are mobile genetic elements present in the genome of almost all organisms. Among other things, they are involved in the emergence and spread of antibiotic resistance in bacteria. Dr. Košek has contributed significantly to the elucidation of a number of questions and is an expert in addressing the molecular mechanisms involved in DNA recombination. He has also described a mobilisation system that may have future applications in genetic medicine. 

Přemysl Jiruška received the Award of the Minister of Health (13.6. 2022)

On 7 June, Minister of Health Vlastimil Válek awarded the significant projects in health science and research the Award of the Minister of Health for Health Research and Development for 2021. Přemysl Jiruška was one of the five honoured and received the prize for his studies of anatomical and functional changes in the brain after a stroke or epilepsy, which he carried out as part of his scientific work at the Institute of Physiology. The new findings regarding CMS will allow to identify patients who will benefit most from early rehabilitation. In the case of epilepsy, the results will then be used to determine the risk of seizures and to introduce new treatments. Funding for the projects is distributed by the Czech Medical Research Agency (AZV), with more than six billion crowns for the years 2020 to 2026.

Lucie Bačáková received the prestigious Academic Award - Praemium Academiae 2022 (6.6. 2022)

Lucie Bačáková was awarded the prestigious Academic Prize - Praemium Academiae 2022. The purpose of the Academic Prize, as a strictly selective instrument of financial and moral support for scientific excellence in the Czech Academy of Sciences, is to support outstanding scientists who are conducting research at the top international level and to create conditions for them to better develop their potential for the benefit of the Czech Academy of Sciences and Czech science as a whole. Congratulations to doc. Bačáková and her team!

PHD PROGRAMME 2022 (15.3. 2022)

Deadline was extended to March 31 to facilitate applications of Ukrainian students. More information

Awarding of J. E. Purkyne medals and celebration of the 70th anniversary of the Physiological Research Journal (3.3. 2022)

On Tuesday, March 1, Josef Zicha and Jan Kopecký received from the hands of P. Mareš and B. Ošt'ádal the Jan Evangelista Purkyně Honorary Medals for Merit in Biomedical Sciences. This award has been awarded by the Czech Acadeny of Sciences since 1965 in recognition of outstanding results of scientific work in biology, especially in the fields of biomedicine. During the award ceremony, J. Zicha summarized past years of Physiological Research, a bimonthly journal published by the Institute of Physiology in English, which celebrates 70^th anniversary this year.

Train your brain (not only) during Brain Awareness Week! (24.2. 2022)

IPHYS enables to try selected psychological tests as part of online Brain Awareness Week 2022, The tests are used to determine memory impairment and spatial orientation disorders connected with Alzheimer's disease, epilepsy or schizophrenia. The tests were developed by scientists from the Laboratory of Neurophysiology of Memory.

František Vyskočil received the Silver Medal of Charles University (3.2. 2022)

On Thursday, 27 January, the Scientific Council of Charles University awarded a commemorative medal to eight prominent personalities whose professional lives are connected with the University. Prof. RNDr. František Vyskočil, DrSc. received a silver commemorative medal for his significant lifetime work in the field of physiology and his long-standing scientific and pedagogical activities at Charles University. 

František Vyskočil has been researching neurophysiology and biophysics of cell membranes since his student years. His discoveries have significantly deepened the knowledge of the transmission of nerve impulses and the overall functioning of the nervous system of animals, including the human brain. His first research work, which he undertook as a student at the Faculty of Science of Charles University, on neuromuscular coupling was published in one of the most prestigious scientific journals, Nature. František Vyskočil also gained international attention for his discovery and description of the mechanism of so-called non-quantum excretion of neurotransmitters at mammalian synapses. In total, he is the author of 310 scientific papers. Professor Vyskočil connected his professional life with the Institute of Physiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences and still lectures at the Faculty of Science of the Charles University. He is also a popular teacher and popularizer of science, for which he has received numerous awards. 

A Day of Physiology and Medicine for Undergraduate Students - 24.2.2022 (26.1. 2022)

Are you studying a natural science or medical degree? We have prepared a special open day for you, offering interesting topics for your bachelor or master thesis and topics for PhD studies. Scientists from IPHYS will present them to you in the morning session (hybrid form – at present and online) and you will have the opportunity to take a look directly into their laboratories in the afternoon. We look forward to seeing you:)

More information and registration

Jan Kopecký received J. E. Purkinje Honorary Field Medal (25.1. 2022)

The Director of the Institute, MUDr. Jan Kopecký, DrSc. was awarded the Jan Evangelista Purkinje Honorary Field Medal for Merit in Biomedical Sciences. This award has been granted by the Czech Academy of Sciences since 1965 in recognition of outstanding results of scientific work in biology, especially in the fields of biomedical sciences.

Jan Kopecký has contributed to a significant advance in research on the problems of metabolism and obesity on a global level and has thus contributed to the improvement of treatment procedures for patients. He has co-authored more than 188 scientific articles mainly in the field of biochemistry, molecular biology and metabolism. His current research topics include the influence of white adipose tissue metabolism on whole-body lipid and carbohydrate metabolism, ontogenetic development of energy metabolism, and translational research on cachexia and adipose tissue. His work defined the concept of a "healthy adipocyte", i.e. a fat cell with a high capacity for oxidative phosphorylation and the ability to respond flexibly to metabolic changes. Congratulations on the award!

Alena Sumová was appointed a Professor (16.12. 2021)

Alena Sumová was appointed a Professor in Animal physiology. Czech president signed a letter of appointment on December 15, 2021. The appointment procedure took a place at South Bohemian University in České Budějovice.