Seminář Diego F. Joseph, M.Sc.
2025-04-02 15:00 - 16:00 (Europe/Prague) | Posluchárna Milana Haška / Milan Hašek Auditorium
“Life Through Colors: Single-cell fluorescence-based reporter system for monitoring gene expression”
The presentation will depict a long journey from decision to actual making a novel reporter system for RNA silencing, which could also be adopted for studying other mechanisms manipulating gene expression. This development lead to production of two types of triple-color reporter HeLa lines where fluorescence reporters are inserted in frame in into endogenous genes encoding highly abundant soluble nuclear proteins. The system now allows for monitoring repression (loss of specific dluorescence) and derepression (appearence of previously silenced fluorescence) across the entire population of cultured cells and, possibly, for high throughput screening.

Euro-BioImaging Image Data Community Days 2025
2025-04-07 - 2025-04-11
Dear imaging users,
we would like to inform you about the Image Data Community Days that will be happening from 7-11. April this year.
This free week-long online event will bring together Euro-BioImaging Node staff, researchers and other experts from around the world to explore and exchange on the latest advances in image data through a mix of workshops, lectures and interactive discussions.
The Euro-BioImaging Data Team is pleased to announce that as of now we have officially opened registrations for this event! Find out all about the event and the preliminary agenda here:
https://www.eurobioimaging.eu/our-events/image-data-events/image-data-community-days/
We are very much looking forward to your participation in the week!
Best,
Euro-BioImaging Data Team

Seminář Jana Smolíková, Ph.D.
2025-04-09 15:00 - 16:00 | Posluchárna Milana Haška / Milan Hašek Auditorium
“Analysis of a novel chicken Pax6 mutant”
Pax6 is known as the „master control gene“ for eye formation, playing a crucial role in the development of the lens, retina, and other ocular structures. It drives the formation of the eye field, initiates lens differentiation, and helps establish the retina—all vital for vision.
While the role of Pax6 in eye development is well-studied in other species, there has been little research on Pax6 in chickens specifically. This gap in knowledge presents an exciting opportunity to understand how the mutation of Pax6 impacts eye formation in birds.
In this seminar we’ll explore the role of the Pax6 transcription factor in chicken eye development and this could provide valuable insights into vertebrate eye development.

Seminář Goncalo Oliveira, Ph.D.
2025-04-16 15:00 - 16:00 | Posluchárna Milana Haška / Milan Hašek Auditorium
“Deciphering PNKP Functions in Neurological Disorders”
Hereditary mutations in polynucleotide kinase-phosphatase (PNKP), a key enzyme in DNA strand break repair, result in a broad spectrum of neurological disorders, ranging from mild neurodegeneration to severe neurodevelopmental defects. PNKP has dual phosphatase and kinase activities essential for DNA break repair, but their specific contributions to preventing neuropathology remains unclear. In this seminar, we will present findings from mouse genetic models that highlight the crucial role of the PNKP phosphatase domain in neurodevelopment. Additionally, we will introduce a novel cell-based system to investigate the immediate effects of acute PNKP depletion and explore how this model helps identify key sources of DNA damage and the molecular mechanisms underlying PNKP-related disease pathology.

Seminář Irena Adkins, Ph.D.
2025-04-23 15:00 - 16:00 | Posluchárna Milana Haška / Milan Hašek Auditorium
“Preclinical development of IL-15-based immunocytokine SOT201 and antibody-drug conjugate SOT106 for treatment of solid tumors”
SOT201 is a novel cis-acting immunocytokine consisting of an antibody against PD-1 genetically fused to a sushi+ domain of IL-15Ra and IL-15 mutein. SOT201 targets PD-1+ TILs with a balanced cytokine potency to revive exhausted T cells in tumor microenvironment. SOT201 is currently being evaluated in Phase I clinical study VICTORIA-01 (NCT06163391) in metastatic advanced cancer patients.SOT106 is a novel antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) targeting LRRC15, comprised of a proprietary humanized monoclonal antibody conjugated to monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE) via a beta-glucuronidase (GUSB) cleavable linker. SOT106 anti-tumor efficacy was confirmed in soft tissue sarcoma and pediatric osteosarcoma models with moderate to low LRRC15 expression supporting its clinical development as a novel therapy for sarcomas. Combined with its superior performance over a clinical benchmark ADC, these results underscore the potential of SOT106 as a best-in-class targeted treatment for these challenging malignancies.

Seminar: "The unfolded protein sensor IRE1 as a regulator of homeostatic dendritic cell maturation"
2025-04-28 10:00 - 11:00 | Posluchárna Milana Haška / Milan Hašek Auditorium
Dear friends and colleagues,
it is my pleasure to invite you to a special seminar given by

Prof. Sophie Janssens, PhD.
VIB-UGent Center for Inflammation Research, Belgium
Title: The unfolded protein sensor IRE1 as a regulator of homeostatic dendritic cell maturation

Monday, April 28, 2025 at 10 am, in Hasek’s lecture hall, Institute of Molecular Genetics (Videnska 1083)
Then, after the seminar you are invited to join us for an informal post-seminar hangout with the speaker, 🍕 A PIZZA TALK 🍕🎤 Open Q&A on science, careers, life in academia, women in science & more.👩‍🔬 For students & early-career scientists.🍕 Yes, there will be pizza.
Prof. Sofie Janssens’s research team focuses on the role of the unfolded protein response (UPR) in several immune cell types. Their recent work has shown that the UPR is an important component in the functioning of the immune system. In CD8α conventional dendritic cells (DCs) the UPR sensor IRE-1α and its downstream transcription factor XBP-1s is constitutively active and deficiency of XBP-1s leads to defects in cross-presentation of dead cell-derived antigens.
Examples of recent publications:
Striking a balance: new perspectives on homeostatic dendritic cell maturation.
Bosteels Victor, Janssens Sophie
NATURE REVIEWS. IMMUNOLOGY, 125-140, 25, 2025
DOI: 10.1038/s41577-024-01079-5
Paneth cell TNF signaling induces gut bacterial translocation and sepsis.
Wallaeys Charlotte, Garcia Gonzalez Natalia, Timmermans Steven, Vandewalle Jolien, Vanderhaeghen Tineke, De Beul Somara, Dufoor Hester, Eggermont Melanie, Moens Elise, Bosteels Victor Show more
CELL HOST & MICROBE, 1-19, 32, 2024
DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2024.08.007
Activation of goblet-cell stress sensor IRE1ß is controlled by the mucin chaperone AGR2.
Cloots Eva, Guilbert Phaedra, Provost Mathias, Neidhardt Lisa, Van De Velde Evelien, Fayazpour Farzaneh, De Sutter Delphine, Savvides Savvas, Eyckerman Sven, Janssens Sophie
THE EMBO JOURNAL, 695-718, 43, 2024
DOI: 10.1038/s44318-023-00015-y
The IRE1ß-mediated unfolded protein response is repressed by the chaperone AGR2 in mucin producing cells.
Neidhardt Lisa, Cloots Eva, Friemel Natalie, Weiss Caroline A, Harding Heather, Mclaughlin Stephen, Janssens Sophie, Ron David
THE EMBO JOURNAL, 719-753, 43, 2024
DOI: 10.1038/s44318-023-00014-z
Canonical IRE1 function needed to sustain vigorous natural killer cell proliferation during viral infection.
Vetters Jessica, Van Helden Mary, De Nolf Clint, Rennen Sofie, Cloots Eva, Van De Velde Evelien, Fayazpour Farzaneh, Van Moorleghem Justine, Vanheerswynghels Manon, Vergote Karl Show more
ISCIENCE, 108570, 26, 2023
DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.108570
LXR signaling controls homeostatic dendritic cell maturation.
Bosteels Victor, Marechal Sandra, De Nolf Clint, Rennen Sofie, Maelfait Jonathan, Tavernier Simon, Vetters Jessica, Van De Velde Evelien, Fayazpour Farzaneh, Deswarte Kim Show more
SCIENCE IMMUNOLOGY, eadd3955, 8, 2023
DOI: 10.1126/sciimmunol.add3955
— Dominik Filipp, PhD Laboratory of Immunobiology Institute of Molecular Genetics AS CR Videnska 1083 CZ-142 20 Prague 4 Czech Republic

Seminář Mohamed Elgendy, Ph.D.
2025-04-30 15:00 - 16:00 | Posluchárna Milana Haška / Milan Hašek Auditorium
„SHOULD CANCER PATIENTS EAT DIFFERENTLY? Metabolomics-guided dietary intervention for optimal clinical use of anti-cancer MCL1 inhibitors.”
Diet is the major source of nutrients for tumors. However, dietary interventions in cancer patients lack personalization. One of our active research areas is aimed at tailoring metabolomics-guided strategies to enhance the therapeutic effects of anti-cancer agents and/or ameliorate their toxicity. A new class of anti-cancer agents targeting Myeloid Cell Leukemia 1 (MCL1) protein is MCL1 is upregulated in around 10% of all tumors and contributes to tumorigenersis by allowing tumors to evade apoptosis. However, our recent findings (Gui et al., In revision in Nature Comm.) have identified unexpected functions for MCL1 in regulating cellular metabolism positioning MCL1 as a hinge linking the two hallmarks of cancer of “deregulated energetics” and “evading cell death”. Using these novel insights and exploiting state-of-the-art humanized Mcl-1 mice, we devised dietary approaches to optimize the clinical use of MCL1 inhibitors currently under clinical testing.

Seminář César Nombela-Arrieta
2025-05-07 15:00 - 16:00 | Posluchárna Milana Haška / Milan Hašek Auditorium
“Structural and functional remodeling of the bone marrow stromal microenv. during tissue regeneration and acute myeloid leukemia”
Bone marrow (BM) tissues are the prime sites for hematopoietic cell production, long-term reservoirs for immunological memory and hubs in which bone metabolism is orchestrated. The BM is comprised of a complex hematopoietic compartment, as well as a heterogeneous stromal fraction made of endothelial, mesenchymal and neural cells, which beyond proving the necessary tissue infrastructure, play fundamental regulatory roles in fine-tuning hematopoietic cell production. Stromal cells have also been shown to crucially contribute to hematological disease and marrow regeneration post-myeloablative damage. We combine 3D quantitative microscopy (3D-QM) techniques pioneered in our lab, novel reporter mouse models and single cell sequencing to analyze the compositional and structural organization of BM stroma in murine and human marrow samples. In this talk I will describe our findings on the dynamic spatial reorganization of major stromal components, and the localization of HSCs during the remodeling process that leads to the regeneration of normal marrow tissues following myeloablation. I will also present our latest work on the detailed single cell analysis of the human BM microenvironment and the alterations presented during aging as well as in patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia.

4th 10x Genomics Experience Meeting 2025
2025-05-12 10:00 - 16:00 | Posluchárna Milana Haška / Milan Hašek Auditorium
Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to invite you to the 4th 10x Genomics Experience Meeting, taking place on May 12, 2025, from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM at IMG (Hašek's Auditorium).

Please find the detailed workshop program attached and join us for discussions on the current advancements in single-cell and spatial technologies.

To ensure your participation please register at https://10xgen.com/1Ls

We look forward to seeing you there!

Warm regards,

Michal Kolář

—
Laboratory of Genomics and Bioinformatics
Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences

AI-BASED SEGMENTATION AND TRACKING
2025-05-13 - 2025-05-14 | IMG
Dear all!
If you wish to analyze your microscopy image data efficiently using techniques of artificial intelligence,
YOU ARE INVITED to the practical course:
AI-BASED SEGMENTATION AND TRACKING
This intensive 2-day course takes place on May 13-14, 2025, at the Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences and focuses intensively on image data segmentation, cell tracking and denoising using state-of-the-art deep learning methods. Detailed information can be found at:
https://course.img.cas.cz/aist/
The deadline for registration is April 30.
Best regards, Martin Čapek, Michaela Blažíková, Jan Valečka and Pavel Krist (Zeiss)

Seminář Jacobus van Grootel, B.Sc.
2025-05-14 15:00 - 16:00 | Posluchárna Milana Haška / Milan Hašek Auditorium
“Evolutionary diversification of actomyosin-driven early embryo morphogenesis”
The shape of an animal arises during embryo morphogenesis and involves rotatory movements of
cells relative to eachother. These movements are driven by forces that arise in the actomyosin
cytoskeleton. Biophysical studies in C. elegans have unraveled many of the physcial mechanisms
underlying morphogenetic cell rotations. However, little is known about whether and how these
physical mechanisms diversified. We set out to study this by analyzing actomyosin-driven
morphogenesis in a panel of nematode species that covers more than 100 million years of
evolutionary distance. Although the overall pattern of cell orientations displays little variability in
these nematodes, we find striking differences in the actomyosin behavior. This indicates that
different force-generating mechanisms underlie similar types of morphogenetic cell rotations.
Altogether, these results are indicative of developmental systems drift, where different physical
mechanisms give rise to a similar developmental outcome.

Seminář David Machač, M.Sc.
2025-05-21 15:00 - 16:00 | Posluchárna Milana Haška / Milan Hašek Auditorium
“RORγt⁺ Regulatory T Cells establish a memory footprint for the primary microbiota”
A balanced immune system relies on regulatory T cells (Tregs) to prevent excessive immune responses. While thymus-derived Tregs are well known, a unique subset of microbiota-specific, peripherally induced RORγt⁺ Tregs has emerged as a critical regulator of intestinal immunity and crosstalk with microbial communities. Our data suggests that RORγt⁺ Tregs function as an immunological “memory,” safeguarding beneficial primordial microbiota, thus offering a novel paradigm for gut immune homeostasis.

Lectures „Thermoneutrality and thermogenesis“ and „Thermogenesis: by which means?“
2025-05-26 15:00 - 16:00 | Kinosal, Vídeňská 1083, Praha

Seminář Alexandra Urbančoková, M.Sc.
2025-05-28 15:00 - 16:00 | Posluchárna Milana Haška / Milan Hašek Auditorium
“PML nucleolar association: What is it and what does it do?”
Promyelocytic leukemia protein (PML) is a multivalent stress response protein that, upon specific genotoxic stress, can organize into a unique structure that encloses nucleolar material, termed the PML-nucleolar association (PNA). PNAs were described in both senescent cells and cells harboring DNA damage. We investigated the origin, dynamics, and signaling pathways leading to PNA formation. Our recent findings suggest that PNAs are involved in ribosomal DNA (rDNA) damage response by sequestration of persistent rDNA lesions and promote cellular senescence. Further analysis of PNA-associated proteins reinforces their involvement in the rDNA damage response. Together, these insights contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the functional relevance of PNAs in rDNA maintenance and cellular genotoxic stress response.

Přednáška pro nevědce a nevědkyně - V. Varga
2025-06-02 15:00 - 16:00 | Posluchárna Milana Haška / Milan Hašek Auditorium
„Cesta do nitra buňky“
Během přednášky podnikneme cestu do nitra živé buňky. Ukážeme si, jaké nástroje vědci používají, aby odhalili její mikroskopické struktury, a jak lze tyto detaily převést do podoby, kterou můžeme spatřit
pouhým okem. Zároveň zjistíme něco překvapivého – naše buňky mají víc společného, než byste čekali, s buňkami nebezpečných parazitů, například s původcem spavé nemoci. Jak moc jsme si podobní a co to pro nás znamená? To vše odhalíme v průběhu přednášky.

Seminář Piergiorgio Percipalle
2025-06-04 15:00 - 16:00 | Posluchárna Milana Haška / Milan Hašek Auditorium
“Chromatin Architecture and Gene Regulation by Actin and Myosin in Health and Disease”
Chromosomes are arranged in distinct chromosome territories, within which chromatin is further organized into chromatin compartments and topologically associating domains (TADs). By orchestrating DNA loops and promoter-enhancer interactions, this spatial organization of the genome plays a crucial role in gene expression and ultimately has a critical impact on cell identity. Disruptions in these hierarchical layers of genome organization can lead to aberrant expression of entire gene programs, contributing to various diseases, including metabolic and genetic disorders. Understanding these spatial features provides critical insights into genome function and potential therapeutic strategies. Architectural proteins such as CTCF and cohesin have been shown to play key roles in genome organization. In this talk, I will primarily focus on the critical role of nuclear actin and myosin in regulating 3D genome organization at the chromatin level and how these mechanisms, once impaired, affect metabolic reprogramming in the context of tumorigenesis and differentiation, including adipogenesis.

EMBO Practical Course "Super-resolution in Light Microscopy"
2025-06-15 - 2025-06-22 | IMG
Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to announce the upcoming EMBO Practical Course „Super-resolution in Light Microscopy,“
taking place from June 15–22, 2025, Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences (IMG) in Prague.

This 8-day course combines theoretical talks, lectures from leading experts in the field, and practical demonstrations with hands-on sessions using advanced microscopy systems.

Following the introductory day, the course is structured into three thematic 2-day blocks:

Confocal-based super-resolution (optical/mathematical reassignment, adaptive deconvolution, and radial fluctuations)
Structured Illumination Microscopy (SIM)
Nanoscopy techniques (Single-Molecule Localization Microscopy – SMLM, and Stimulated Emission Depletion microscopy – STED)

The last day is focused on deconvolution of SR images and QC approaches.

For the course, we have gathered an outstanding group of international experts who will deliver lectures and keynotes and participate actively in practical demonstrations. Leading microscopy companies will provide their latest super-resolution systems, with application specialists guiding dedicated hands-on sessions.

The course is ideally suited for biologists, microscopy facility staff, and imaging specialists who wish to enhance their practical expertise and remain at the forefront of microscopy innovations.

The registration deadline is April 14, 2025.
The course is offered in a hybrid format: 20 in-person seats and 25 virtual participant slots are available.

Course in numbers:
16 expert lectures and keynotes by global leaders in microscopy.
38 intensive practical hours to master super-resolution techniques.
12 advanced microscopy systems from industry-leading producers.
4 interactive discussions exploring specialized microscopy topics.
3 amazing social events for networking with experts

Detailed course information and registration are available at:
https://meetings.embo.org/event/25-superres-light-microscopy

Programme overview:
https://meetings.embo.org/files/2025-03/embo-practical-course-srlm-2025-overview.pdf

You can follow us on:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/embo_pc_srlm/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/embopcsrlm/

We encourage you to apply soon and look forward to welcoming you to Prague!

Best regards,

EMBO Organizing Team

Prof. Bradley Launikonis, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
2025-06-23 15:00 - 16:00 | Kinosal, Vídeňská 1083, Praha
Lecture „The role of ryanodine receptors in muscle function“
Ryanodine receptors (RyR) are the Ca2+ release channel of skeletal muscle, which are responsible for rapidly releasing a large amount of Ca2+ upon electrical stimulation to evoke contraction. In the resting muscle, RyR leak Ca2+ and require the expenditure of energy to maintain steady state Ca2+ content of the intracellular Ca2+ store. It is this function that regulates multiple processes in the muscle, including the regulation of Ca2+ permeability of the plasma membrane and distribution of Ca2+ across the intracellular compartments, non-shivering thermogenesis and adaptation to changes in muscle activity. In this talk I will describe how RyR basal function controls the movements of Ca2+ between cellular compartments following changes in the RyR due to mutations, intense exercise and changes in activity. To do this I will present novel techniques for measuring Ca2+ movements and heat generation within the fibre that we have used in conjunction with muscle from transgenic mice and fibres isolated from biopsies of human muscle.

Lecture „The role of ryanodine receptors in muscle function“
2025-06-23 15:00 - 16:00 | Kinosal, Vídeňská 1083, Praha

Seminář Rositsa Maystorova, M.Sc.
2025-06-25 15:00 - 16:00 | Posluchárna Milana Haška / Milan Hašek Auditorium
“Ontogeny of zebrafish erythropoietic waves”
Hematopoiesis is the process of blood formation, which occurs in multiple waves during vertebrate development. In zebrafish, the first wave initiates before 24 hours post-fertilization with the generation of primitive myeloid cells from cephalic mesoderm and primitive erythrocytes in the intermediate cell mass. The first definitive wave is transient, and it produces erythro-myeloid progenitors in the posterior blood island at 26-30hpf. The next definitive wave forms hematopoietic stem cells from the aortic endothelium, which migrate to the caudal hematopoietic tissue, and later colonize the kidneys and thymus. Despite the importance of zebrafish as a model organism, it has been challenging to study the erythroid waves in fish in detail, and our knowledge about these processes is limited and predominantly focused on their emergence. Through our work, we are providing more information on the dynamics of the erythroid waves, as well as globin gene expression patterns in the primitive and definitive populations. Additionally, we have managed to identify novel factors playing a role in the globin switch from larval to adult globins.

Seminar "Adoptive cell therapy with Treg cells obtained from thymic tissue (thyTreg): from a clinical trial using autologous cells to preclinical research exploring allogeneic applications"
2025-07-03 15:00 - 16:30 | Posluchárna 0.195 / Lecture room 0.195
We would like to invite you to the seminar
**********************************
Dr. Marjorie Pion

„Adoptive cell therapy with Treg cells obtained from thymic tissue (thyTreg): from a clinical trial using autologous cells to preclinical research exploring allogeneic applications“
The seminar will be held on 3rd July 2025 at 15:00 in the Lecture room (0.195) at IMG.
For more information see: https://www.img.cas.cz/2025/06/86929-seminar-marjorie-pion/

7th Annual CCP Phenogenomics Conference
2025-09-11 - 2025-09-12 | Posluchárna Milana Haška / Milan Hašek Auditorium
Dear colleagues and members of the research community,
It is my great pleasure to invite you to the 7th Annual CCP Phenogenomics Conference, taking place on September 11–12, 2025 at the Institute of Molecular Genetics in Prague.
Continuing a tradition of scientific excellence, this hybrid conference offers a unique forum to exchange knowledge and advance research in the fields of rare diseases, gene and cell therapy development, and preclinical modeling with animal systems.
We are proud to host a lineup of distinguished speakers, including leading international experts and innovators, who will present groundbreaking findings and cutting-edge technologies. Highlights include keynote lectures on in vivo gene function studies,
advanced genotype-phenotype integration via bioinformatics, and the rapidly evolving field of genome programming for tailored therapeutic solutions.
A special focus will be placed on bottom-up approaches to gene therapy development, integrating basic research with clinical perspectives through sessions featuring not only scientists but also representatives from patient advocacy groups and rare disease foundations.
This interdisciplinary dialogue aims to foster collaboration and accelerate translation from bench to bedside.
Participation in the scientific sessions is offered free of charge for all academic attendees, underlining our commitment to supporting the scientific community and encouraging broad engagement.
For detailed information on the full conference programme, featured speakers, and registration, please visit our website at https://www.ccp-conference.cz/.
Please feel free to share this invitation with colleagues and students who may be interested.
Thank you very much, and I look forward to seeing you in Prague this September.
Best regards,

Radislav Sedláček
Director of the Czech Centre for Phenogenomics
Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences

Seminář Vadym Sulimenko
2025-10-01 15:00 - 16:00 | Posluchárna Milana Haška / Milan Hašek Auditorium
“Regulation of microtubule organization in glioblastoma cells by GIT2 phosphorylation”
Glioblastoma, the most aggressive common type of brain cancer in humans, carries a very poor prognosis for patient survival. Microtubules are critical for cell division and mesenchymal migration, processes that strongly influence tumor viability and invasiveness. While the reorganization of highly dynamic microtubules is central to these events, the mechanisms by which microtubules contribute to glioblastoma cell motility remain poorly understood. We previously demonstrated that ARF GTPase-activating proteins (GITs) associate with γ-tubulin ring complex (γTuRC) proteins. Here, we show that GIT2 localizes to centrosomes, regulates microtubule organization and cell motility. Our findings indicate that the ArfGAP domain of GIT2 and protein kinase C (PKC) are essential for controlling microtubule nucleation. Furthermore, we demonstrate that glioblastoma cells can be effectively treated with newly developed functionalized upconverting nanoparticles (UCNPs), which represent a promising new approach for photodynamic therapy of glioblastoma.

Seminář Katarína Ondrušková
2025-10-08 15:00 - 16:00 | Posluchárna Milana Haška / Milan Hašek Auditorium
“How Cells Keep DNA Replication in Check”
Accurate DNA replication is the foundation of genome stability and cell survival. Our study uncovers a key “gatekeeper” complex that ensures the molecular machinery starting DNA replication is properly assembled and regulated. When this control breaks down, replication becomes uncoordinated, leading to stress, genetic instability, and changes often seen in cancer cells. By revealing this hidden layer of replication control, our work opens new opportunities to understand how cells protect their genomes and how these mechanisms could be exploited in cancer therapy.

Seminář Kihyuck Kwak
2025-10-15 15:00 - 16:00 | Posluchárna Milana Haška / Milan Hašek Auditorium
Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea
“Intrinsic mechanisms governing B cell discrimination between self and non-self antigens”

100th anniversary of the birth of Prof. Milan Hašek
2025-10-23 13:00 - 16:00
Dear colleagues and friends,
This year marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of Prof. Milan Hašek (October 4, 1925),
a giant of Czech immunology. He was not only an outstanding scientist, immunologist,
biologist, and physician, but also an inspiring mentor to an entire generation of researchers,
many of whom emigrated after 1968 and became respected ambassadors of Czech immunology
abroad. His insatiable curiosity, innovative spirit, and experimental precision, often bordering
on genius, earned him worldwide recognition as a co-discoverer of immune tolerance.
When this year’s Nobel laureate in Physiology or Medicine, Prof. Shimon Sakaguchi, was
invited to Prague, his response was clear: “I would be delighted to visit the country that gave
the world Milan Hašek.”
We are pleased to invite you to a mini-conference dedicated to the centennial of Prof. Milan
Hašek’s birth.
📅 October 23, 2025
📍 Hašek Lecture Hall, Institute of Molecular Genetics, Czech Academy of Sciences
🕐 1:00–4:00 PM (followed by refreshments)
Invited speakers include:
• Prof. MUDr. Juraj Ivanyi, Emeritus Professor of Immunology of Infectious Diseases,
King’s College London, long-term collaborator and close friend of Prof. Hašek
• Prof. RNDr. Vladimír Holáň, DrSc., leading Czech immunologist specializing in
transplant immunology and immunoregulation, former researcher at the Institute of
Experimental Medicine of the CAS and Prof. Hašek’s last PhD student
• RNDr. Jiří Hejnar, CSc., Head of the Laboratory of Viral and Cellular Genetics, IMG
CAS, expert in endogenous retroviruses, viral receptors, and gene editing in poultry
• Mgr. Ondřej Štěpánek, Ph.D., Head of the Laboratory of Adaptive Immunity, holder
of the EMBO Installation and ERC Starting Grants, and Horizon Europe Grant, focused
on fundamental aspects of T-cell biology in infection, cancer, and autoimmunity
• Mgr. Jan Dobeš, Ph.D., Head of the Laboratory of Microbial Immunity, Department
of Cell Biology, Faculty of Science, Charles University; recipient of the Česká hlava
“Invence” Award (2023), “ACTERIA Early Career Research Prize”, and grants Junior
Star, Primus, and ERC.CZ, focused on peripheral tolerance and gut immunity
• Mgr. Matouš Vobořil, Ph.D., Head of the newly established Laboratory of Viral
Immunology, Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Science, Charles University;
laureate of the Česká hlava “Doctorandus” Award (2020) and holder of Junior Star and
Primus grants, focused on immune tolerance and antiviral immunity
• Mgr. Jiří Březina, Ph.D., Postdoctoral researcher at VIB Ghent, Belgium – studying
novel mechanisms underlying the establishment of central tolerance
We warmly look forward to seeing you and celebrating the scientific legacy of Prof. Milan
Hašek together.
RNDr. Petr Dráber, DrSc., MUDr. Luca Vannucci, PhD., RNDr. Dominik Filipp, CSc.

Seminář Rositsa Maystorova
2025-10-29 15:00 - 16:00 | Posluchárna Milana Haška / Milan Hašek Auditorium

RNA Club
2025-10-31 | Posluchárna Milana Haška / Milan Hašek Auditorium

49th Advances in Molecular Biology & Genetics
2025-11-03 - 2025-11-14 | Posluchárna Milana Haška / Milan Hašek Auditorium
Dear colleagues,

I would like to invite you to register online for the seminar course Advances in Molecular Biology and Genetics and share news concerning the course. The program of the 49th course is available here:

https://pokroky.img.cas.cz/programme/

The course is a two week lecture series and is particularly suitable for individual study plans (ISPs) of the first year PhD students in biomedicine as lectures cover broad area of molecular biology and biomedical research. The course is accredited at the Charles University as MPGS0034 (https://is.cuni.cz/studium/eng/predmety/index.php?do=predmet&kod=MPGS0034). Therefore, attending the seminar course is recognized as a fulfilled study requirement in PhD programs in biomedicine at the Charles University. In the past, some students came from the University of Chemistry and Technology (VSCHT) and the Czech University of Life Sciences (CZU). The course is held in English and will take place in Hasek lecture hall at IMG from November 3rd until 14th, 2025.

For attending the course, we kindly (but firmly) ask all participants to register at the site of the course:

https://event.img.cas.cz/registration/advances2025/

The course is for free, i.e. there is no registration fee. Please, note that this registration is in addition to the course registrations/recordings at universities in PhD programs. It is for us and it is necessary, so we can have a list of all attending students before the meeting starts. Then we can make sure that there is enough cakes during coffee breaks and can keep track of attendance, which is needed for the credit.

Further details can be found at the website of the course: https://pokroky.img.cas.cz/

If you have any questions, please, contact: pokroky@img.cas.cz

With kind regards
Petr Svoboda & Jiri Jonak on behalf of the organizing team

Seminář Ludger Klein
2025-11-05 15:00 - 16:00 | Posluchárna Milana Haška / Milan Hašek Auditorium
“Role of B cells in central T cell tolerance”
Tolerance to self-antigens is a fundamental property of the immune system. During central tolerance induction in the thymus, autoreactive T cells are either eliminated or diverted into the regulatory T cell lineage. Both processes are dependent on the presentation of self-antigens by thymic antigen presenting cells (APCs). Commonly, dendritic cells and medullary thymic epithelial cells are believed to represent the key APCs for central T cell tolerance. The thymus also harbours a distinct population of B cells, raising the possibility that thymic B cells serve a non-redundant APC function in central T cell tolerance induction. I will discuss our ongoing work to test this hypothesis through large scale comparisons of the TCR composition of ‘normally’ selected T cell repertoires versus repertoires selected in the absence of B cells or Dendritic cells or both.
