New research facilities will support interdisciplinary collaboration
Two research teams from the International Clinical Research Center (ICRC), a joint workplace of St. Anne’s University Hospital in Brno and the Faculty of Medicine at Masaryk University, have been relocated to the SmartPark facilities. The newly established science and technology park in the Brno district of Pisárky will provide an environment that enables close collaboration between the teams.
The Cellular and Molecular Immunoregulation and Mechanobiology of Disease teams at the International Clinical Research Center (ICRC) have successfully moved into newly developed facilities, providing modern laboratory infrastructure and enhanced conditions for interdisciplinary research. The upgraded environment will allow both teams to efficiently share expertise, leverage advanced technologies, and pursue joint projects at the intersection of molecular biology, immunology, and medicine.
“Relocating to these new facilities marks a major milestone for our research teams. They will benefit not only from cutting-edge infrastructure and technologies but also from an environment that actively encourages cross-disciplinary collaboration. I am confident that these conditions will foster innovative projects with meaningful impact on both science and society,” said Prof. RNDr. Michal Masařík, Ph.D., Head of ICRC.
The Cellular and Molecular Immunoregulation team, led by Mgr. Jan Frič, Ph.D., MHA, will focus in the new facilities on research into various aspects of the immune response. One of their main projects is the study of the consequences of sepsis and septic shock. In 2023, Dr. Frič and his team secured funding of €6.9 million, which enabled the creation of the BeatSep Consortium, connecting hospitals and research institutions across six European countries.
The second research group to establish itself at SmartPark is the Mechanobiology of Disease team, focusing on disorders of the cardiovascular system. The international team, led by Giancarlo Forte, Ph.D., investigates mechanobiological changes associated with pathological conditions during aging, the development of heart disease, and cancer, using tissue and cellular models. The team participates in several European research projects.
A total of 41 staff members, including 14 students, will work in the SmartPark laboratories. The SmartPark building is divided into two sections: Biology Park Brno and the Smart Innovation Center. The ICRC teams are based in the Biology Park Brno section, occupying nearly 650 square meters, of which 401 square meters are dedicated to laboratory space. SmartPark forms part of the region’s active innovation infrastructure, supporting interdisciplinary collaboration between seemingly distant scientific fields and activities in the South Moravian Region.
