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International Colloquium on the Emmaus Cycle Preservation

Anonymous — Fri, 06 Feb 2026 07:00:00 +0000

International Colloquium on the Emmaus Cycle Preservation Anonymous (not verified) Fri, 02/06/2026 - 08:00

An international project for detailed research of the wall paintings of the so-called Emmaus cycle in Prague was presented at an international colloquium.

On 22 and 23 May 2025, an international colloquium was held at Emmaus Abbey to summarize the findings of the restoration and natural history research carried out on the wall paintings located in the monastery's ambulatory. The research was carried out using the latest methods in the field, some of which have not been used in the Czech Republic to this quality before. In addition to the results of the research, the possibilities of further preservation and presentation of the Emaus paintings were also discussed. Renowned experts in the field of restoration and conservation, both from the Czech Republic and abroad, spoke at the colloquium. In addition to the members of the project, among them were PhDr. Kateřina Kubínová, Ph.D. from the Institute of Art History of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Mgr. et Mgr. Jan Dienstbier, Ph.D. et Ph.D. from the Faculty of Arts of Charles University, doc. MgA. Adam Pokorný, Ph.D. from the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague, German conservationist Dr. phil. Dörthe Jakobs from Leitung Fachgebiet Restaurierung (a.D.), Landesamt für Denkmalpflege Baden-Württemberg, or Italian restorer Alberto Felici from Soprintendenza Archeologia, Belle Arti e Paesaggio per la città metropolitana di Firenze e le province di Pistoia e Prato.

The colloquium was attended by nearly a hundred participants from ten countries, both students and professionals, employees of a number of institutions in the field of restoration, conservation and related disciplines.

Two German universities, namely the Technische Hochschule Köln and the Staatliche Akademie der Bildenden Künste Stuttgart, together with the Czech Faculty of Restoration at the 51�Թ��, are participating in the project. The project is entitled “Concept of preventive conservation, securing and preservation of the cycle of wall paintings in the cloister of the Emmaus Monastery in Prague”, which indicates its direction.
The project is funded by the German State Foundation Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt (German Federal Foundation for the Environment). Although the foundation is primarily dedicated to funding scientific projects in the field of the environment, it also funds research with this focus in the field of cultural heritage.
The mural paintings under study are located in Prague, in the ambyte of the Na Slovanech Monastery, and date from the reign of Emperor Charles IV, from the 1460s to the 1470s. The paintings are unique in that they are a very large cycle of 26 paintings, but originally 33. There is a minimum of similar realisations in Central Europe today. Moreover, the paintings are of high artistic quality, which is related to the fact that at the time of their creation Prague was the cultural centre of the Holy Roman Empire.

Among the most significant factors of damage to the paintings are the bombing in 1945 and the resulting fall of some of the paintings as well as leakage into the building. Subsequent restoration, carried out from the 1950s onwards, saved the paintings on the one hand, but on the other hand brought about a number of irreversible interventions and material inputs that seem inappropriate from today's perspective. It is these that the future restoration will have to deal with.

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Invitation to the Introductory Workshop of the MENTORING PROGRAMME for doctoral students and young scientists

Ing. Jana Křemenáková — Thu, 30 Oct 2025 13:17:29 +0000

Invitation to the Introductory Workshop of the MENTORING PROGRAMME for doctoral students and young scientists Ing. Jana Křem… Thu, 10/30/2025 - 14:17

The 5th Year of the Mentoring Programme is getting started. We invite you for the introductory workshop which will take place on November 11, 2025, from 1 PM to 4 PM in the rectorate building (meeting room, 4th floor).

Come and meet the mentors, listen to the experiences of mentees from previous years, and find out what mentoring can offer you. The workshop will be led by Mgr. Kateřina Cidlinská, Ph.D.

Registration: Introductory Workshop of the Mentoring Programme | EDU UPCE

More information about Mentoring Programme: Mentoring | Univerzita Pardubice

We are looking forward to seeing there!

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FF UPCE Participates in International Project on the Year 1846 in Poland

Ing. Jan Pražák — Wed, 13 Aug 2025 10:08:41 +0000

FF UPCE Participates in International Project on the Year 1846 in Poland Ing. Jan Pražák Wed, 08/13/2025 - 12:08

The Faculty of Arts of the 51�Թ�� is a key partner in a major international project, “Central Europe in the History – The Year 1846 in Poland in the Light of the European Press,” funded by the International Visegrad Fund. On the Czech side, the project is academically led by professor Miroslav Šedivý from the Institute of Historical Sciences at FF UPCE, a leading expert on international relations and the history of diplomacy in the early 19th century.

The year 1846 is among the dramatic chapters of Polish history. The Kraków Uprising, the Galician slaughter, and the annexation of the Republic of Cracow to Austria were events that resonated strongly across Europe. Contemporary newspapers saw them as a reminder of the unresolved “Polish question,” a reflection of deep social problems, and a violation of the 1815 Congress of Vienna treaty, which formed the basis of the European political order.

The project aims to show how these events were perceived and interpreted by the press across Europe – ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠from Austria and France, through Prussia and Russia, to Great Britain and Spain. Its goal is to uncover the connections between reactions to the Polish events, the domestic political issues of individual countries, and their impact on international relations.

International Team and Unique Approach

The project involves 16 researchers from 8 countries, who analyze period press from 22 European states and regions. This scope is unprecedented in historical research on the 19th century. The outcome will be a volume of comparative studies mapping European political and media responses to the year 1846 in Poland. There is currently no existing study on this topic,⁠⁠⁠⁠ or indeed on any similar subject, on the scale envisioned by the project.

Strengthening Awareness of Central Europe

The project seeks to contribute to a better understanding that the countries of Central Europe have always been an integral part of European history and have actively shaped the international political, social, and cultural environment. It reminds us that even without their own statehood, they played an important role in the “great power game” and that their story deserves greater visibility in European historiography.

The results will be presented in a book published in Polish and English, as well as in contributions at a planned academic conference at the University of Łódź, with project participants serving as speakers.

In the autumn and winter of 2026/2027, six promotional events will be held in London, Brussels, Prague, Bratislava, Kraków, and Poznań.

Project: Central Europe in the History – The Year 1846 in Poland in the Light of the European Press.
Period: 2025–⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠2026

Text: Jan Pražák, FF UPCE

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Debris Laboratory

Mgr. Pavla Svítková — Mon, 16 Jun 2025 07:34:39 +0000

Debris Laboratory Mgr. Pavla Svítková Mon, 06/16/2025 - 09:34

They produce two-ton concrete columns. In the lab, they test what the columns can withstand, repair their damaged parts, and test them again. With their help, experts from the Jan Perner Faculty of Transport Engineering are discovering how to improve, reinforce, or repair structures to make them more durable, even in earthquakes.

It was on Monday, 6 February 2023. At 4:45 in the morning, Turkey was waking up to a new day – just another ordinary day. Suddenly, the morning quiet was interrupted by an earthquake, and not a weak one at that... It lasted about 70 seconds, with the tremors reaching as high as 8 on the Richter scale, which is amongst the highest values. The aftershocks lasted for another six hours with a magnitude of up to 6.7. Hundreds of thousands of residents were trapped in destroyed buildings. It is not unusual for an earthquake to strike where the earth's plates meet, but it was the first of this magnitude in over 80 years.

Some building structures in Pardubice experience similar stresses as in the earthquake. However, the locals do not notice it because these experiments are under control. They are conducted in a unique Centre for Education and Research in Transport laboratory, where Ladislav Řoutil and his Turkish colleague Özgür Yurdakul work. It has been 10 years since they met at the university. Their relationship, initially mentoring, started with Özgür's PhD thesis and gradually turned into a collegial one. This formed the basis of a research team that includes several other colleagues today.

Laboratory behind a massive door

The research team's laboratory is located in the technological complex in Doubravice. From the entrance, we head to the back of the complex and look for a sizeable grey door. It is behind them that the experiments take place. On the way to the lab, we pass massive concrete columns on the left. These are currently tested structural elements designed by local experts and manufactured by a specialist company. The pair of scientists have dedicated their research to the collapse of building structures. That is why they take care to subject the parts of buildings or transport infrastructure under study to different types of loading. They look for their weak points and ways to strengthen them. In this way, they improve the mechanical response of reinforced concrete structures and listed buildings.

"Here, we investigate how a reinforced concrete structure behaves in response to normal and extreme loads caused by various influences. We try to trace where damage occurs in structures, when and where cracks form, and how they propagate through the material. At the same time, we need to describe the factors behind that. We follow the process from both an experimental and computational point of view, using advanced numerical models," begins Ladislav Řoutil, who starts the tour of the laboratory and explains what they want to achieve with their research. "Our research helps to design reliable building structures that meet the requirements for safety, economy, and long-term sustainability," he adds. They also strive to consume as few raw materials as possible.

Experiment as the research basis

Concerning testing, the researchers use custom-made parts of concrete structures. "These actual ones are made of reinforced concrete, weigh two tonnes, and are quite difficult to handle. We also use a crane for this, so we must have crane tests," explains Özgür Yurdakul as we stand in the high-ceiling laboratory. It looks more like a construction site, with a reinforced concrete column waiting to be tested. A little further on, another one has already passed a similar experiment. It is visibly damaged. In some places, the concrete is hollowed out; in others, cracks reveal steel reinforcement or wires sticking out. These wires are crucial for testing. They are part of the strain gauges installed in the blocks when poured and give scientists the data they need. "Strain gauges are used as sensors to measure mechanical stress indirectly. We've carefully planned their deployment. They must not be damaged during the concrete pouring process and must remain in place," says Özgür, adding that until recently, the parts of the structures to be tested were made by the researchers themselves. However, the need for the parts continuously increased until the team could not provide everything themselves, so they hired a partner company to manufacture them.

The structures so designed can finally be tested by the researchers. One test lasts about five days, including preparation and clean-up. Partial loading takes place throughout the day. "Even though we carry out a load test, we must prevent total destruction. That would also damage the experimental equipment, which we don't want. If necessary, the test must be stopped in time, which is closely supervised by Özgür together with his team colleague, Reader Bohumil Culek, who analyses the data here on the screen," notes Řoutil. However, damage to the tested structure is bound to occur. It is then repaired, together with the cracks, by the experts, and the whole structure is retested.

Testing (not only) Turkish structures

Scientists use a unique process to strengthen or rehabilitate concrete structures by applying carbon slats to selected areas. "This procedure is proving to be very effective for the additional reinforcement of various building structures. We are currently testing whether our procedures are also applicable in areas with a risk of earthquakes," adds Özgür. Not only in Turkey, reinforced concrete buildings have various structural deficiencies. "They're, for example, the result of inappropriate technical design or poor material quality, such as using low-strength concrete," he explains. Problems are also caused by improper design and inadequate inspection mechanisms, he says, and the use of steel reinforcement in building structures. "The surface finish of the reinforcement is typically ribbed, which improves the cohesion between the reinforcement and the concrete. But in Turkish structures, the reinforcement is often smooth, negatively affecting this cohesion," adds Řoutil on the composition of reinforced concrete.

Therefore, they are developing procedures to ensure that further earthquakes in Turkey will not cause as much damage. Yet, the scientists do not import the Turkish parts of the buildings as souvenirs from Turkey to Pardubice. They use custom-made parts of the structures with the same composition as Turkish masonry for testing. Occasionally, the supplier of the constructions wants to make sure that there is no mistake in the composition as, to his surprise, it is very different from the Czech standards. The only thing the researchers bring back from Turkey is data directly from the field. Özgür went to a damaged area in Turkey after the last earthquake. Such scenarios serve as a laboratory for civil engineers, so he and his Turkish colleagues have collected important data from damaged structures that are opening up new horizons for the group and pushing testing ever further.

More research to come

For these purposes, Pardubice scientists are also planning research on using shape memory alloys. They have recently started developing and testing systems for damping vibrations of structures using specially developed non-Newtonian fluids. They and their foreign partners have already received a prestigious European grant for this research. Thanks to their membership in international committees, they are involved, for example, in incorporating research results into standards for designing structures across Europe. Özgür Yurdakul is very active in this respect. Not only does he serve on The International Federation for Structural Concrete (FIB), but he also fosters research with his enthusiasm and drive.

Doc. Ing. Ladislav Řoutil, Ph.D., has worked at the Jan Perner Faculty of Transport Engineering since 2012. He deals with structures and transport buildings, mechanics and statics of building structures, and modelling of their damage. In the past, he was awarded the "Outstanding Dissertation in Concrete" in the competition of the Czech Concrete Society. He publishes articles in professional journals and is involved in several research projects, and last year, he was appointed a Czech representative to Europe's Rail Scientific Committee.

Ing. Özgür Yurdakul, Ph.D., comes from Ankara, Turkey. He studied civil engineering and has worked on the topic since his dissertation. He has been researching and living in Pardubice for about ten years. Immediately after his arrival, he became part of Řoutil's research team. He brings interesting international contacts to the team. For example, he worked as a postdoc in Naples, Italy. He is a member of the prestigious International Federation for Structural Concrete (FIB).

STORY BY Zuzana Paulusová : PHOTO BY Adrián Zeiner

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The final gathering of the fourth year of the mentoring programme and informal networking

Ing. Jana Křemenáková — Mon, 09 Jun 2025 11:35:38 +0000

The final gathering of the fourth year of the mentoring programme and informal networking Ing. Jana Křem… Mon, 06/09/2025 - 13:35

Dear colleagues,

The mentoring programme team cordially invites you to the final gathering of the fourth year of the mentoring programme, which will take the form of an informal relaxed networking picnic — possibly with a touch of sports.

This event is intended for doctoral students and academic/research staff who wish to connect, share experiences, and enjoy a pleasant afternoon together.

Date: Thursday, June 19, 2025, 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Location: Outdoor sports area below KTS (In case of bad weather: Room 01009, VO Titan Building)

What’s in store:

A welcoming and friendly atmosphere
Refreshments and light snacks
Casual sports (pétanque, beach volleyball – or just cheer from the sidelines)
A chance to meet new people and build both professional and personal connections

Register here to let us know you’re coming!

Join us to close the semester with good vibes and new connections.

We look forward to seeing you there!

In case of any question, feel free to contact jana.kremenakova@upce.cz.

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Cancer Detection Method from the 51�Թ�� Receives US Patent

Mgr. Pavla Svítková — Fri, 11 Apr 2025 07:16:22 +0000

Cancer Detection Method from the 51�Թ�� Receives US Patent Mgr. Pavla Svítková Fri, 04/11/2025 - 09:16

A Czech method for detecting pancreatic and two other types of cancer has received a patent in the United States of America. The method of scientists from the 51�Թ��, which can diagnose the disease from blood alone, is currently being clinically tested by Lipidica. Collaborating with 14 hospitals across the Czech Republic, the company calls for volunteers predisposed to the disease to help with the testing and gain information about their health.

Thanks to the US patent, this research has gained significant legal protection in one of the world's most important markets. Besides the United States, the unique method has patent protection in other countries, including European Union member states, Japan and Singapore. However, the granting of the US patent was not at all easy. The entire process, from application to grant, took almost five years. The text of the document itself is 75 pages long, describing the principles of the method for early detection of pancreatic cancer by analysing lipids in blood plasma. The patent also covers the diagnosis of kidney and breast cancer.

“I am thrilled that we have obtained the US patent, which opens up great opportunities for us in the future. If the clinical validation has good results within two years, we can expand our non-invasive test for pancreatic cancer outside the Czech Republic and Europe,” says Prof. Michal Holčapek from the Faculty of Chemical Technology, the 51�Թ��.

Lipidica is a spin-off company based in Pardubice, backed by FONS JK Group a.s. and the 51�Թ��. “The patent secures our intellectual property and increases our credibility with strategic partners, investors and regulatory authorities. Its acquisition confirms our solution’s originality and practical applicability and represents a key step towards its transfer into clinical practice and commercial use. We are currently focusing on conducting a clinical function study of the method, in which we are trying to reach as many participants as possible. If you want to help us, visit www.lipidica.cz for more information,” explains Karolína Kašparová, Lipidica’s Business Director.

“Obtaining the US patent significantly advances the potential use of screening tests. I believe the clinical study will confirm the validity of the method. Our University’s research could lead to the availability of a screening test for this insidious type of cancer from blood alone,” adds Prof. Libor Čapek, Rector of the 51�Թ��.

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Mentoring Programme: Invitation to a networking event for doctoral students and young scientists

Ing. Jana Křemenáková — Tue, 28 Jan 2025 08:45:00 +0000

Mentoring Programme: Invitation to a networking event for doctoral students and young scientists Ing. Jana Křem… Tue, 01/28/2025 - 09:45

The mentoring programme team cordially invites you to an informal networking event for docotoral students and young scientitsts

PUB QUIZ

When: January 29, 2025, at 6:00 PM
Where: Student Club Áčko

Registration Form *

Come and test your knowledge, have fun, and network with colleagues from various fields.

We look forward to your participation!

Registration is individual, teams will be formed on-site. The first three teams will receive attractive prizes. Quiez will be held in English.

If you have any questions feel free to contact the mentoring programme coordinator
Ing. Jana Křemenáková I jana.kremenakova@upce.cz

* This event is organized as part of the mentoring programme and is intended for doctoral
students, postdoctoral researchers, and early-career academic and research staff.

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Michal Holčapek Winning the Czech Brains Award

Mgr. Pavla Svítková — Mon, 02 Dec 2024 09:17:37 +0000

Michal Holčapek Winning the Czech Brains Award Mgr. Pavla Svítková Mon, 12/02/2024 - 10:17

Michal Holčapek, a researcher in Analytical Chemistry of the Faculty of Chemical Technology of the 51�Թ�� has won the Czech Brains Jury’s Extraordinary Award for 2024. With the Czech Brain Award (Česká hlava) being the most prestigious research award in the Czech Republic, Michal Holčapek won the award for his research into lipids and discovery of a method that can diagnose the pancreatic cancer from blood analysis only.

The 2024 award ceremony was broadcast live by the Czech Television.

The Czech Brains Award is the most prestigious award available to researchers in the Czech Republic. The award has been been presented in several categories since 2002. Since 2007 the Czech Brains Initiative has organized a similar award for secondary-school students called Little Czech Brain (Česká hlavička). Last year, Ing. Barbora Kamenická, Ph.D., a graduate from the 51�Թ��, received the award in the Doctorandus category for technical sciences.

Professor Michal Holčapek has been researching lipid analysis for a long time with special focus on the detection of some cancer types. Pancreatic cancer is one of the most aggressive tumours with 80% of the cases being diagnosed too late for the therapy to be effective and thus a 5-year survival rate of less than 10%. For more than 20 years, Professor Holčapek’s team has focused on lipidomic analysis using mass spectroscopy combined with liquid or supercritical fluid chromatography, which enabled them to develop a number of validated analytical methods for detailed description of lipids in biological samples. Thanks to their research, it was possible to develop new screening methods to improve early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.

The method is based on lipidomic analysis of blood, which determines the concentrations of more than 150 lipids. Thanks to the data from patients with pancreatic cancer and healthy individuals, a statistical model is created that can determine whether the patient suffers from the cancer with a certainty of 95%. The blood test has a number of advantages: it only requires a blood sample and it is reliable to detect even early stages of cancer and thus diagnose the cancer even before the onset of the first symptoms. In addition, similar concentrations of lipids have been observed in other cancer types, showing potential of a universal test for more types of cancer.

Lipidica, a.s., a spin-off company founded by the 51�Թ�� and FONS JK Group, a.s. is conducting the clinical trials in cooperation with Masaryk Oncological Institute in Brno, Olomouc University Hospital and another 13 hospitals across the Czech Republic. If the method is proved to be accurate and reliable in clinical testing, it can become a basis for national screening programme for those with high risk of pancreatic cancer, which would be unprecedented worldwide. In the long run, the team hopes to cover other types of cancer and implement a simple blood test into clinical practice, which would increase the chances of patients’ survival.

Other laureates of the Czech Brains Award in 2024

Czech Brains National government award

Prof. Tomáš Jungwirth, Ph.D., Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences

INVENTION Award

Mgr. Jan Dobeš, Ph.D., Charles University, Faculty of Science

INDUSTRIE Award

Bene Meat Technologies a.s.

Doctorandus Award for technical sciences

Ing. David Vojna, Ph.D., Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences

Doctorandus Award for natural sciences

RNDr. Jakub Podgorný, Ph.D., Astronomical Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences

LOREM Award

prof. PharmDr. Petr Pávek, Ph.D., Charles University, Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové

Award of the Minister of the Environment

doc. Mgr. Lukáš Trakal, Ph.D., Czech University of Life Sciences, Faculty of Environment

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Mentoring Programme: Overcoming PhD Challenges

Ing. Jana Křemenáková — Wed, 20 Nov 2024 10:16:05 +0000

Mentoring Programme: Overcoming PhD Challenges Ing. Jana Křem… Wed, 11/20/2024 - 11:16

Dear Colleagues,

We cordially invite you to the workshop "Overcoming PhD Challenges", organized as a part of the mentoring programme of the 51�Թ��.

Date: Wednesday, December 11, 2024
Time: 9:30 AM – 11:00 AM
Venue: Rectorate Building, Meeting Room, 4th Floor

The workshop delivered by the Czech Association of Doctoral Researchers (ČAD)

Don’t miss this opportunity to empower your PhD journey!

Registration Form: Overcoming PhD Challanges

The workshop will be held in English. Participants of the mentoring programme have the option of priority registration.

We look forward to you!

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Clinical trial begins in Czech Republic to test groundbreaking pancreatic cancer detection method

Mgr. Pavla Svítková — Thu, 14 Nov 2024 09:58:46 +0000

Clinical trial begins in Czech Republic to test groundbreaking pancreatic cancer detection method Mgr. Pavla Svítková Thu, 11/14/2024 - 10:58

The pioneering research of Prof. Michal Holčapek and his team at the 51�Թ�� is now being tested on patients in a clinical setting.

A clinical trial has begun in the Czech Republic to assess the effectiveness of an early detection test for pancreatic cancer. This trial will evaluate the sensitivity of a novel blood test designed to detect precancerous changes. If successful, this lipidomics-based test could revolutionise pancreatic cancer screening, offering a major advance in early diagnosis.

The trial is a collaborative effort between Lipidica – a company jointly owned by the 51�Թ�� and FONS JK Group – and specialists in gastroenterology and oncology. Lipidica will perform sample analyses for the clinical study. Key partners include the University Hospital Olomouc and the Masaryk Memorial Cancer Institute, with a total of 15 centres nationwide expected to participate.

This methodology, which allows for early diagnosis, was developed by Prof. Michal Holčapek, a prominent analytical chemist and world-renowned expert in lipids at the 51�Թ��’s Faculty of Chemical Technology. Holčapek, a recipient of the prestigious European ERC Advanced grant, and his team achieved this breakthrough by analysing lipids in standard blood samples and applying advanced multivariate statistical analysis. "The lipidomics test is non-invasive and could pave the way for a structured screening programme,” explains Prof. Holčapek. "It may enable earlier detection of pancreatic cancer, where treatment success rates are higher and patient survival outcomes improve."

This innovative method has been published in Nature Communications, one of the world’s leading scientific journals, and is protected by two patents held by the 51�Թ��.

Experts from the Czech Gastroenterological Society (CGS) report that approximately 2 400 people are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer each year in the Czech Republic, and nearly 2 200 die from the disease within the same period. By 2030, experts project that pancreatic cancer will become the second leading cause of cancer deaths. "Pancreatic cancer is among the most aggressive forms of cancer – it develops asymptomatically over more than a decade but remains undetected until it is too advanced for effective treatment," says Prof. Ondřej Urban, M.D., Ph.D., Head of the Second Internal Gastroenterology and Geriatric Clinic at University Hospital Olomouc. "By the time symptoms appear, it is often too late for curative treatment, with surgery remaining the only potential cure, but only about 20% of patients qualify. The rest receive palliative care focused on extending life with as much quality as possible." For those with advanced pancreatic cancer, the average survival rate is about 1.5 years. However, patients diagnosed at an early stage can live up to six times longer. "We know that lipid profiles vary significantly in patients with pancreatic cancer," Prof. Urban adds. "This study aims to determine if the lipidomics test can detect these early lipid changes in high-risk individuals who feel healthy but may already have underlying disease."

According to doc. MUDr. Jan Trna, Ph.D., Chief Physician of the Gastroenterology Department at the Masaryk Memorial Cancer Institute, the successful validation of the new lipidomics test would represent a major breakthrough in pancreatic cancer treatment. "Currently, our options for identifying individuals at risk for pancreatic cancer are limited. Due to financial, capacity, and medical constraints, specialised preventive testing cannot be offered to everyone. However, blood sampling presents a different approach. For decades, we have sought methods to detect the disease early – which is absolutely critical for this particular cancer," says MUDr. Trna. The Pancreatic Cancer Early Detection Programme now enables the identification of precancerous changes or early-stage cancer. Under this programme, gastroenterologists collaborate closely with clinical geneticists and radiologists who conduct specialised tests such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Currently, the screening programme is available only to individuals with a lifetime risk of pancreatic cancer exceeding 5%. "In the newly established centres of highly specialised care for digestive endoscopy, including our department, at-risk individuals undergo regular pancreatic examinations using MRI and endoscopic ultrasonography," explains doc. MUDr. Ilja Tachecí, Ph.D., Chair of the CGS and Head of the Second Internal Gastroenterology Clinic at the Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Hradec Králové. Individuals considered at risk include those with a hereditary form of chronic pancreatitis, those with two or more direct relatives diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and carriers of specific genetic mutations – such as mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, which are also associated with breast and ovarian cancer.

"People at risk visit us for annual check-ups. As part of this study, we collect blood samples with their informed consent, which are then processed into plasma and sent to the Lipidica laboratory," explains Prof. Urban. The study thus analyses blood from both healthy high-risk individuals and patients with small, operable tumours. "Current diagnostic methods are highly effective but also costly and uncomfortable for patients. A test based on a simple blood draw would be a tremendous benefit for clinical practice. Our LDPC lipidomics test relies on a patent-protected methodology developed at the 51�Թ��, integrating insights from analytical chemistry, biostatistics, and other scientific disciplines," adds Ing. Karolína Kašparová, Director of Lipidica, which is also an accredited medical laboratory.

Lipidica, a.s., a joint venture between the 51�Թ�� and FONS JK Group a.s., has been recognised with the Neuron Prize for its exceptional bridging of science and business.

The study began this year and is expected to conclude in 2027, involving over 400 participants. If the test's specificity and sensitivity are confirmed, experts note it may still take time before the test becomes a standard part of clinical care and before it is determined whether health insurers will cover it or if individuals will need to pay out of pocket. The manufacturer has indicated, however, that the price should not exceed a few thousand Czech korunas.

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