ONDŘEJ JURČEK

PROJECT: MOPHARM - Metal-Organic Materials for Pharmaceutical Applications

Host Institution: CEITEC MASARYK UNIVERSITY
Country of Origin: Czech Republic
Previous Workplace: Finland

TOPIC OF MY RESEARCH:

For many years now, I am dedicated to study of steriod molecules, including bile acids and their possible pharmaceutical or biological applications. Bile acids are essential in the human body, especially for the transport and metabolism of fat, cholesterol and some vitamins. 

WHY I HAVE CHOSEN THE TOPIC:

Inspired by this fact, our project will deal with the use of bile acids for the preparation of nanostructured porous media (metal-organic frameworks) for transport of drugs. These carriers are important for several reasons; they can increase stability and effectiveness of drugs, they can lead to possibility of targeting drugs to diseased tissue, thereby limit or completely remove unwanted side effects associated with treatment.

USE OF THE PROJECT RESULTS IN PRACTICE:

Design and development of carriers will be directed primarily to their applicability in drug transport. However, due to the specific spatial arrangement of the molecules of bile acids (chirality), porous materials prepared from them, may find wide application, e.g. to isolate drugs (enantiomers), or due to the presence of small quantities of metal to catalysis reactions in the chemical industry (enantiospecific reaction).

WHY SOMOPRO

The level of science in the Czech Republic is constantly increasing and therefore we are at the top in technical equipment in some areas. SoMoPro grant provides an ideal opportunity for foreign scientists to work in Southmoravian region. From a career perspective, this grant offers me the possibility of moving from Finland to Czech Republic, where I can work in an excellent workplace CEITEC MU and on my own project, to participate actively in Czech science and at the same time build quality and stable base for future research.

You can read more about the project HERE.