Brief description
The institution caters for research topics ranging from veterinary to biomedical applications and further to general issues of basic research. The problems represented include especially those of cell signalling, which are crucial for the understanding of the processes that control the embryonic development, differentiation of tissues and their regeneration, as well as processes of carcinogenesis or immunity regulations.
The PhD program Animal Physiology, Immunology and Developmental Biology is focused on the study of current problems of modern biology. The research is conducted both on models of whole animal organisms and on the cellular level where techniques of molecular biology are employed.
The spectrum of immunity issues is resolved on a wide range of organisms, from invertebrates across fishes and farm animals to man. The department has been also specialized in the model group of insects, where neuro-ethological and immunological problems have been investigated. Thus, the field integrates methodical approaches of molecular biology, genetics and cellular biology with morphological and behavioural aspects.
Our graduates are prepared for a career in both research- and application-oriented institutions. The wide spectrum of themes resolved in co-operation with a number of training institutions outside the Faculty provides the graduates with the possibility of finding vacancies both in the top-ranking biomedical research and at the associated clinical institutions of human medicine.
The aim of the Animal Physiology, Immunology and Developmental Biology PhD program is to prepare the PhD students for independent scientific career and to equip them with the knowledge and skills required for work in a wide spectrum of institutions on the international level.
Supervisors – Research groups that you can join
Prof. Vitezslav Bryja – Cellular Communication
Mechanisms and components of Wnt signalling pathway, Wnt signalling in the pathogenesis of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia and ovarian cancer, extracellular vesicles, proteomics in cell biology; more info
Assoc. Prof. Marcela Buchtova – Molecular and Comparative Morphogenesis
Molecular and cellular processes during embryonal and postnatal development, intercellular interactions involved in changes in cell proliferation and their differentiation in tissues during development, mechanisms involved in lip cleft formation, palate and other defects in the craniofacial region, mechanisms of limb development, including related disorders; more info
Assoc. Prof. Pavel Hyrsl – Comparative Immunology, Pathogen-Host Interaction
Innate immunity of insects and its molecular nature, the role of eicosanoids in insect immune reactions, entomopathogenic nematodes and their effect on host immune responses, bacteria of the genus Photorhabdus and the effect of their products on the immune system, immunology of fish and birds; more info
Dr. Jiri Pachernik & Dr. Jirina Medalova – Stem Cells and Cell Biotechnology
Myocardial stem cell biology and neural stem cells, pluripotent stem cells and cardiomyogenesis, regulation of cardiomyocyte phenotype, 3D myocardial bioprint, neural stem cells and neurogenesis, analysis of biocompatibility of artificial materials for biomedicine; more info
Assoc. Prof. Martin Vacha – Neuroethology
Circadian rhythm of animals and magnetic fields, magnetoreception of animals, signal role Cry and effects of magnetic fields, insect behavioral neurobiology; more info
Profiles of our graduates
Pharm.Dr. Ján Remšík, Ph.D.
Supervisor: Mgr. Karel Souček, Ph.D., Institute of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences
PhD Thesis: Regulation of plasticity of cell surface phenotype and its role in cancer progression
Current Position: Postdoc, Human Oncology & Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
„After successful PhD defense at the Department of Animal Physiology and Immunology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, focused on tumour cell plasticity, I joined the research team of Dr. Adrienne Boire at MSK, where I work as a postdoc on research of immunology of breasts, lungs and melanoma cancer metastases to the central nervous system.„
Mgr. Kateřina Straková, Ph.D.
Supervisor: Prof. Gunnar Schulte, PhD. (Karolinska Institute, Sweden)
Co-Supervisor: prof. Mgr. Vítězslav Bryja, Ph. D., Dept. of Animal Physiology and Immuno-logy, Faculty of Science, MUNI
PhD Thesis: Interaction of Class Frizzled receptors with G proteins and Dishevelled
Current Position: Assistant Professor – Department of Biology – Theoretical Departments – Faculty of Medicine MUNI
„I have been teaching the basics of biology to students studying at the Faculty of Medicine, MUNI – medical students, dentists, medical technicians or physiotherapists. Most of my work consists of communicating with students, preparing lectures and seminars, and organizing tea-ching at our department.„