Eva Sykova

Institute of Experimental Medicine

The Institute of Experimental Medicine ASCR is the leading institution in the Czech Republic for biomedical research. Prof. Eva Sykova is the Director of the Institute and the Chairman of the Dept. of Neuroscience, where current research focuses on regenerative medicine, tissue engineering, the development of biopolymers and nanomaterials, the application of adult and embryonic stem cells in novel cell-based therapies for the treatment of human nervous system pathologies, the use of MRI for the non-invasive in vivo study of the migration, differentiation, and fate of implanted cells, diffusion in the extracellular space, extrasynaptic “volume” transmission, and the role of glia in signal transmission, behaviour and regeneration. The research aims are the improvement of therapy for nervous system diseases and injury and the regeneration of damaged nervous tissue.

Training and transfer of knowledge environment
The Ph.D. program at the Institute of Experimental Medicine ASCR is established within the framework of the „Ph.D. Study in Biomedicine“ program, which represents a collaborative educational agreement between Charles University and the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic. Students enrolled in the program undertake an extensive range of scientific training in addition to their thesis research.  In addition to the students‘ scientific training, the Ph.D. program also provides a series of courses designed to improve the complementary skills of the doctoral students. Students benefit from the participation of the Institute in a number of FP6 pan-European projects, not only in terms of the opportunities for cutting edge collaborative research but also because of the opportunities to participate in workshops, training courses and schools organized within the framework of these FP6 projects. Comprising several leading institutes of the Academy of Sciences, and clinical departments, the Center represents an invaluable resource for students and facilitates their interaction with leading Czech and international experts in a variety of disciplines.

Eva Sykova         Director     Project supervision, stem cells, biomaterials
Pavla Jendelova     Head of Lab    Stem cells, injury models
Ivan Vorisek         Post-doc      Magnetic resonance imaging
Nataliya Kozubenko     Post-doc      Stem cells
Petr Lesny         M.D.        Biopolymers, nanofibers

Publications
•    Urdzikova L, Jendelova P, Glogarova K, Burian M, Hajek M, Sykova E. (2006) Transplantation of bone marrow stem cells as well as mobilization by granulocyte-colony stimulating factor promotes recovery after spinal cord injury in rats. J Neurotrauma. 23:1379-91.
•    Sykova E, Homola A, Mazanec R, Lachmann H, Konradova SL, Kobylka P, Padr P, Neuwirth J, Komrska V, Vavra V, Stulik J, Bojar M. (2006) Autologous Bone Marrow Transplantation in Patients With Subacute and Chronic Spinal Cord Injury. Cell Transplantation 15: 675-687.
•    Syková E, Jendelová P, Urdzíková L, Lesny P, Hejčl A. (2006) Bone marrow stem cells and polymer hydrogels – two strategies for spinal cord injury repair. Cell Mol Neurobiol. 26: 1113-29.