In the field of experimental biology, I am mainly interested in molecular and cell biology. At the Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, I am the guarantor of the Bachelor’s degree program in Experimental and Molecular Biology and the Master’s degree program in Cell Biology. My main professional interests include tumor biology and experimental oncology with a focus on pediatric solid tumors.
I have full academic qualification in Molecular Biology and Genetics:
- In 1991, I successfully completed my Master’s degree in Molecular Biology and Genetics, and in 1994, my Ph.D. in Genetics from the Faculty of Science, Masaryk University.
- In 2005, I successfully completed my habilitation (= associate professor appointment) at the Faculty of Science of MU in the field of Molecular Biology and Genetics.
- In 2014, I was appointed full professor of Molecular Biology and Genetics.
Between 1995 and 2005 I worked as an assistant professor at the Department of Biology (Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University), where I headed the Laboratory of Tissue Cultures, which focused on the biology of cytoskeleton in relation to stress factors and the processes of apoptosis and induced differentiation. In 2006, I founded the Laboratory of Tumor Biology at the Department of Experimental Biology (Faculty of Science, Masaryk University). This laboratory is an independent research group within the Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology and I headed this group until 2024. Our current research interests include cell signaling, cancer stem cells and mechanisms of tumorigenesis. In the past, our research topics also included prognostic and predictive biomarkers and mechanisms of combination anticancer therapy.
The overview of my teaching and mentoring activities includes my current and previous courses at Masaryk University, as well as the list of my students and alumni, for whom I provide supervision at all levels. My publications in experimental biology include mainly research papers (both original research articles and reviews) and some textbooks; I have also had dozens of presentations and lectures. I have also been the principal investigator or co-investigator on a number of research or educational projects.