Basic information

Investigators: RNDr. Karel Valeš, Ph.D., Ing. Šimon Skovajsa
Main recipient: National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Co-recipient: Institute of Physiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Third Faculty of Medicine of Charles University, Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Hradec Králové
Research period: 1/1/2018 - 31/12/2022
Total budget: 148,262,697 CZK
NIMH budget: 78,821,389 CZK
Supported by: Operation programme

Annotation

The Pharmabrain project is focused on research in the pre-application phase of one of the basic neurotransmitter systems - the glutamatergic system - which under physiological conditions controls a whole range of processes in the brain and also participates in the management of normal brain development. At the same time, however, dysfunction of the glutamatergic system plays an important role in a number of neuropsychiatric diseases. The project focuses on the role of glutamatergic neurotransmission in the development of neuropsychiatric diseases in clinical practice and experimental models. This direction of research has a long tradition at the participating workplaces and a high reputation at the international level.

The structure of research plans, goals and activities is based on the concept of translational biomedical research. The results of the research projects will simultaneously lead to a qualitative shift in the methodology of laboratory approaches and an increase in the clinical relevance of experimental work, and subsequently also to an improvement in the possibilities of knowledge transfer applicable in the prevention, diagnosis and therapy of the mentioned diseases. The results will represent individual proof-of-concepts, which will subsequently be developed in cooperation projects with the application sphere both during the implementation and in the sustainability phase of the project.

The applicant and at the same time the leading partner of the project is the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), which was created by the transformation of the Prague Psychiatric Center through the implementation of a project from the OP VaVPI operational program with a total subsidy of over CZK 895 million. The implementation of the project will ensure the sustainability and development of this new modern research and clinically oriented center. NIMH is a reference workplace for mental health in the Czech Republic. The focus of the program is research on neurobiological mechanisms leading to the development of the most serious mental disorders. Research also includes the development and testing of new diagnostic and treatment methods.

The main partner in the project consortium is the Physiological Institute of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic (FgU AV CR), which deals with research in the field of normal and pathological physiology, focusing on the study of the mechanisms of the development of serious human diseases, such as vascular and cerebrovascular accidents, ischemic heart disease, diabetes , hereditary metabolic disorders and neurodegenerative diseases. The results of the work represent a theoretical basis for the development of new treatment procedures. At the same time, it is a partner in the project of the European center of excellence BIOCEV.

The Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic (UOCHB) and the University of Hradec Králové (UHK) have established themselves on the international scientific scene in the field of medicinal chemistry and the synthesis of substances that can be used for pharmaceutical development. The Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic is a leading scientific organization in the field of commercialization and practical application of basic research results in the field of original drug development.

The consortium is complemented by the 3rd Faculty of Medicine of Charles University in Prague (3LF), which has been undergoing significant development in the last ten years, the number of employees is rather small, and in a national comparison, in terms of the number of published articles, published books or obtained research grants, it is standardly among the most productive medical faculties in the whole Czech republic. The 3rd Faculty of Medicine of Charles University is also listed on the list of medical faculties of the World Health Organization. Thanks to the project, there will be synergy and a qualitative shift in the research activity, especially the mutual connection of partial activities of the participating workplaces, both thanks to the connection of methodological approaches and the use of device capacities.