Prague, 1 June 2026 – The Czech EATRIS Spotlight Programme Event took place at the Kaiserstein Palace in Prague, bringing together leading experts to support translational medicine and strengthen collaboration among research infrastructures in the Czech Republic and across Europe. The event welcomed approximately 100 participants, including scientists, clinicians, representatives of research organisations, public authorities, and European partners.
Among the distinguished guests were representatives of the Czech Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, namely Mgr. Judita Klosáková, Governor of the Czech Republic in EATRIS, and RNDr. Marek Vyšinka, PhD, Head of the Research Infrastructures Department at the Ministry. Their participation highlighted the importance of research infrastructures for advancing Czech research and strengthening its integration into the European Research Area.
The full-day programme showcased achievements in Czech biomedical research and emphasised the role of EATRIS-CZ in bridging basic research and clinical practice. Participants discussed novel therapeutic approaches, advanced diagnostic methods, the use of multi-omics data, artificial intelligence, and shared research capacities to accelerate the development of innovative healthcare solutions.
The conference was opened by Assoc. Prof. Marián Hajdúch, MD, PhD, National Director of EATRIS-CZ, who stated:
“The Czech EATRIS Spotlight Programme Event demonstrated that Czech biomedicine has much to offer the world. Bringing together more than one hundred experts under one roof clearly shows the potential of networking across research institutions, hospitals, companies, and public administration. Our goal is to ensure that promising discoveries move from laboratories to patients as quickly as possible – and this is exactly what the infrastructure we are building within EATRIS-CZ is designed to achieve. Science progresses slowly without collaboration; EATRIS-CZ is a platform that helps accelerate this process.”
The scientific programme featured presentations on new strategies for the use of disulfiram in oncology, innovative polymer-based drug delivery systems, novel vaccination approaches against pertussis, advanced radiopharmaceuticals for the diagnosis of infectious and oncological diseases, and new biomarkers for early disease detection.
A significant part of the programme was dedicated to synergies between research infrastructures. Participants explored collaborations with national and European initiatives in rare diseases, cancer research, bioinformatics, open science, and data ecosystems. Discussions focused on the effective use of shared capacities and the creation of an environment that fosters innovation with a direct impact on healthcare.
The event was also attended by Antonio L. Andreu, MD, PhD, Scientific Director of EATRIS-ERIC, who praised the active role of the Czech Republic within the European translational medicine community:
“The Council of National Directors highly recognises the outstanding scientific contributions of EATRIS-CZ to the pan-European EATRIS-ERIC infrastructure. Their consistently high level of expertise, dedication, and active engagement plays a crucial role in strengthening the European research ecosystem. As a highly valued member of the EATRIS community, the Czech National Node is one of the organisation’s key pillars and makes a significant contribution to the development and sustainability of Europe’s leading translational medicine research infrastructure.”
The scientific programme concluded with a panel discussion on the future of European research infrastructures for translational medicine. Representatives from EATRIS member countries discussed challenges related to personalised medicine, the use of health data, the implementation of artificial intelligence, and ensuring the long-term sustainability of research infrastructures.
The event also included a social programme featuring a guided tour of Prague’s historic centre and a gala evening at the Rudolfinum, providing opportunities for networking, new partnerships, and informal scientific discussions.
About EATRIS-CZ
EATRIS-CZ is the Czech national node of EATRIS (European Infrastructure for Translational Medicine), a European research infrastructure dedicated to translational medicine. Its mission is to facilitate the transfer of biomedical research results into clinical practice and to connect research organisations, universities, hospitals, and other partners in the development of new diagnostic, preventive, and therapeutic approaches.
Photo: Denisa Pavelková
