Multiscale materials are assembled from different types of nanomaterials, which themselves have unusual properties. By combining and integrating them into higher-order hierarchies, smart matter with unique functionalities and surprising applications in many different fields can be obtained. A consortium of eight partners from academia and research, led by the J. Heyrovský Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, has received financial support from the Programme Johannes Amos Comenius of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports in the amount of CZK 480 million for research with this focus. Specifically, it was the Excellent Research Call aimed at supporting research with the potential for excellent results applicable in practice.
The development of advanced materials with the required parameters and their integration into functional structures while maintaining their maximum utility value is the common denominator of modern materials research. Current directions in materials science draw inspiration from nature, where beyond naturally occurring elements and compounds, nature enables so-called material genetics, i.e. the targeted folding and &quot;cross-breeding&quot; of material components in 3D space.
Scientists are combining zero-dimensional (quantum dots), one-dimensional (e.g. nanotubes), and two-dimensional (e.g. graphene) materials in the lab to give them new and unusual properties. The challenge is to develop advanced, so-called multiscale materials with a wide range of applications, e.g. in electrical engineering, medicine, or environmental technologies.
Eight partners cooperate in the AMULET (Advanced MUltiscaLe materials for key Enabling Technologies) project. The coordinator is the <a href="https://www.jh-inst.cas.cz/">J. Heyrovsky Institute of Physical Chemistry of the CAS</a>. Other members of the consortium involve the Institute of <a href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/companies/62">Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the CAS</a> (PI: <a href="https://cigler.group.uochb.cz/cs">Dr. Petr Cígler</a>), the Faculty of Science of Jan Evangelista Purkyně University in Ústí nad Labem, the Institute of Photonics and Electronics of the CAS, the Institute of Physics of the CAS, the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics and the Faculty of Science of Charles University, the Nuclear Physics Institute of the CAS and the <a href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/companies/11">University of Chemistry and Technology in Prague</a>.
Linking the above institutions aims to promote the widest possible use of the anticipated newly developed unique materials. Experts will investigate how multiscale materials interact with the biological environment, whether they can be used for electrochemical or optical sensors, in electro-photochemical catalysis for the removal of pollutants from air and water, and last but not least, they will test new nano/micro-devices that can be used for energy conversion, production, and storage.
The AMULET project succeeded in the competition of 66 projects submitted to the Excellent Research call in the Programme Johannes Amos Comenius. This call is aimed at supporting research with the potential for excellent results applicable in practice. In total, 26 projects were supported for a total value of CZK 12.2 billion. The money is earmarked for excellent research teams, which will help Czech scientific institutions deepen their relations with foreign partners and strengthen the Czech Republic&#39;s competitiveness in the long run.

Material genetics will be pursued by the AMULET project, which succeeded in the Excellent Research Call

The city of Brno was the centre of structural biology and electron microscopy from 10 to 13 June 2024, CEITEC Masaryk University hosted the international meeting of the iNEXT-Discovery consortium together with a symposium reflecting the latest advances in cryo-electron microscopy. The podium was filled with leading scientists and experts and Brno once again confirmed its leading position in the field of microscopy.
<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/CEITEC_Brno_confirms_its_position_as_a_leader_in_electron_microscopy_with_the_i_NEXT_Discovery_conference_296dd0d694.jpg" alt="CEITEC: Brno confirms its position as a leader in electron microscopy with the iNEXT-Discovery conference."/>
The iNEXT-Discovery consortium brings together 22 European top-notch laboratories from 14 European countries providing access to infrastructure for NMR spectroscopy, cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) and X-ray diffraction for the purpose of using them to study the structures and functions of biomolecules. CEITEC Masaryk University is a member of the iNEXT-Discovery consortium and is contributing its NMR and cryo-EM laboratories and method development to building a community of users who use these technologies to study, for example, the function of viruses or cellular processes related to the transcription of genetic information. The Horizon-2020-funded iNEXT-Discovery project has already supported the research of over 1,000 primarily junior scientists in more than 400 different projects, the results of which have been reported in more than 200 publications, building on the success of iNEXT and continues to introduce and develop new technologies that make structural biology research more efficient and faster. Remote access and the development of new technologies such as artificial intelligence have accelerated the development of joint projects and specialised laboratories, the results of which show that every euro spent has been well invested. For example, the conference featured presentations on a new way to potentially block the infectivity of SARS-CoV-2 virus, the development of a new method to streamline structural studies using X-ray diffraction, a platform for automated sample preparation and control for cryo-EM, and current opportunities for NMR studies inside cells.
<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/CEITEC_Brno_confirms_its_position_as_a_leader_in_electron_microscopy_with_the_i_NEXT_Discovery_conference_1_44acb674fa.jpeg" alt="CEITEC: Brno confirms its position as a leader in electron microscopy with the iNEXT-Discovery conference."/>
&quot;The conference is dedicated to Prof. Vladimír Sklenář, one of the most renowned scientists in the field of structural biology, who has passed away this year and who contributed significantly to the development of structural biology in the Czech Republic, especially in the field of nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy,&quot; says <a href="https://www.ceitec.eu/jiri-novacek-ph-d/u26736?page=publication">Jiří Nováček</a>, Head of the cryo-EM core facility at CEITEC Masaryk University. &quot;The conference is a great opportunity for a face-to-face meeting of the European community, which can share the latest findings in their respective fields and, thanks to this openness and collaboration, advance scientific knowledge together,&quot; he adds.
<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/CEITEC_Brno_confirms_its_position_as_a_leader_in_electron_microscopy_with_the_i_NEXT_Discovery_conference_2_136fc82ed5.jpeg" alt="CEITEC: Brno confirms its position as a leader in electron microscopy with the iNEXT-Discovery conference."/>
The focus of the conference resonates with the city of Brno, which is known as a centre of electron microscopy. &quot;We are very proud to welcome such a prestigious international conference to Brno. Electron microscopy is an area in which Brno excels, and we are convinced that iNEXT-Discovery has brought new impulses and opportunities for the further development of this field,&quot; said Brno Mayor Markéta Vaňková, who took over the patronage of the event.
<h5><a href="https://inext-symposium-cryo-em.ceitec.cz/?_gl=1*1qf4ad5*_ga*MTA1NDAxMDQ0Ny4xNzEzMzYxNzM4*_ga_L74QG6CYBE*MTcxODYxNTMzNC42LjAuMTcxODYxNTMzNC4wLjAuMA..">Conference website</a></h5>
<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/CEITEC_Brno_confirms_its_position_as_a_leader_in_electron_microscopy_with_the_i_NEXT_Discovery_conference_3_fe2fa99248.jpeg" alt="CEITEC: Brno confirms its position as a leader in electron microscopy with the iNEXT-Discovery conference."/> <img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/CEITEC_Brno_confirms_its_position_as_a_leader_in_electron_microscopy_with_the_i_NEXT_Discovery_conference_4_a5fb99e3ad.jpeg" alt="CEITEC: Brno confirms its position as a leader in electron microscopy with the iNEXT-Discovery conference."/> <img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/CEITEC_Brno_confirms_its_position_as_a_leader_in_electron_microscopy_with_the_i_NEXT_Discovery_conference_5_e287763199.jpeg" alt="CEITEC: Brno confirms its position as a leader in electron microscopy with the iNEXT-Discovery conference."/> <img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/CEITEC_Brno_confirms_its_position_as_a_leader_in_electron_microscopy_with_the_i_NEXT_Discovery_conference_6_54e74aba21.jpeg" alt="CEITEC: Brno confirms its position as a leader in electron microscopy with the iNEXT-Discovery conference."/>

Brno confirms its position as a leader in electron microscopy with the iNEXT-Discovery conference

<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cdn.muni.cz/news-url?linkId=ru177rNPs5Vzp8HhaZSeLaoBtl%2fJ8kUiBnDXV7AZ9YqPj2SFExNGZGMN%2bofqJnGfrDwLMA%3d%3d&amp;userId=zkacc8Uyr3faM3iVD%2fISNKAwweaYXN4E%2bSX69mQzHxdOjEI2aoscgJ670Q%2f3VtgRHZ8XiwsoKrSRloDz7rLUqCPMw%2b4%3d">Pavel Kadeřávek</a> has been the new head of the Josef Dadok&nbsp;National NMR Centre since 1 July. We interviewed Pavel three months into his new role to find out if he has found his feet in his new position, and what first steps he has already taken.<h5>Pavel, what led you to work in the shared NMR lab at CEITEC MUNI?</h5>I started working with NMR at the beginning of my undergraduate studies and I have to say that I was fascinated by this method in a way. In NMR, it is possible to manipulate the spin system in a rather sophisticated way, which not only has a certain charm, but also allows the design of a plethora of experiments and their optimisation for individual applications. This methodological development has always been close to my heart, and I am also interested in the technical side of NMR, all of which is offered by working in a shared NMR lab.<h5>Could you elaborate on what research topics the NMR lab currently covers?</h5>The NMR lab at CEITEC covers a wide range of research topics. In general, they include the development of new NMR methods as well as applications in chemistry, biochemistry or materials science and are based on measurements in both liquid and solid phases. Most of the measurements performed in our laboratory are aimed at studying the structure, dynamics and interactions of biomolecules measured in solution. However, we are also able to do specialized measurements directly in cells, a method that was introduced and is mostly developed by <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ceitec.eu/non-coding-genome/rg109">Lukáš Trantírek's group</a> at CEITEC.<h5>When you took over the role of head of the shared laboratory before the holidays, I remember you saying that one of your tasks would be to develop collaboration with scientific groups. Are you succeeding in moving in that direction?</h5>It is true that I consider collaboration with scientific groups to be important and mutually beneficial, but I think it is too early to assess how well we are doing. Moreover, we have been very busy lately with technical problems and repairs of our equipment. Nevertheless, we are trying not to give up on this goal and to collaborate with other research teams – for example in the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ceitec.eu/advances-in-magnetic-resonance/a4783">Advances in Magnetic Resonance workshop</a>, which we are co-organizing with colleagues from CEITEC BUT from Peter Neugebauer's group on 17 and 18 October.<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/CEITEC_The_first_three_months_of_Pavel_Kaderavek_leading_the_NMR_laboratory_1_fabf1c3e21.jpg" alt="CEITEC: The first three months of Pavel Kadeřávek leading the NMR laboratory." srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_CEITEC_The_first_three_months_of_Pavel_Kaderavek_leading_the_NMR_laboratory_1_fabf1c3e21.jpg 234w," sizes="100vw" width="2736" height="1824"><h5>What benefits do you think a shared lab brings to the scientific community and external partners?</h5>Shared labs like ours provide researchers from different institutions with access to highly specialised instruments and methods that might otherwise be costly and technically challenging to operate. This enables even smaller research teams to carry out cutting-edge projects. At the same time, we offer expert advice and research collaboration, leading to a deepening of knowledge and the creation of new scientific contacts. For our external partners, whether from academia or industry, access to NMR spectroscopy is a valuable tool to address their research questions.<h5>How are you involved in the education of students and young scientists?</h5>Our NMR lab is open to students and young scientists interested in advanced magnetic resonance methods. We regularly organize workshops and professional courses that allow to gain theoretical knowledge and practical experience in NMR. At the same time, we try to create a space for scientific collaboration so that students can work on real research projects under the guidance of experienced experts.<h5>What are your future plans for the development of the NMR laboratory at CEITEC?</h5>One of our main goals is to further develop NMR spectroscopy techniques, such as introducing new techniques in the use of electron polarization to amplify NMR signals.&nbsp; We also want to strengthen our position within the international scientific community by getting involved in other projects and organising professional workshops and seminars. A forthcoming action in this direction will be the organization of a winter school under the COST Action (CA21160. For our students, the theoretical part of this will be available in the course <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://is.muni.cz/auth/predmet/sci/jaro2025/NCBR003">NMR data for structural bioinformatics</a> (NCBR003) at the beginning of the spring semester. I would also like to expand our collaboration with other scientific institutions and industrial partners to apply our knowledge and equipment to various scientific and industrial challenges.

The first three months of Pavel Kadeřávek leading the NMR laboratory

To honor the memory of <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.cz/articles?search=Vladim%C3%ADr+Sklen%C3%A1%C5%99">Prof. Vladimír Sklenář</a>, an internationally renowned scientist and an important organizer of scientific activities in the Czech Republic, CEITEC Masaryk University is introducing the Vladimír Sklenář Scholarship.The scholarship is intended for students of doctoral studies at universities in the Czech and Slovak Republics working in the field of NMR spectroscopy, and can be used to cover the costs related to their studies.The intention is to strengthen and improve the quality of studies, as well as personal and career development.<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/MUNI_CEITEC_Vladimir_Sklenar_Scholarship_f1b59aec0f.jpg" alt="MUNI/CEITEC: Vladimír Sklenář Scholarship" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_MUNI_CEITEC_Vladimir_Sklenar_Scholarship_f1b59aec0f.jpg 110w," sizes="100vw" width="738" height="1044">The scholarship in the amount of CZK 100,000, which may be taxable according to the practice of the institution and/or the tax regulations of the beneficiary's&nbsp;country, is sponsored by <a rel="noopener" target="_blank">Měřící technika Morava</a>. The scholarship will be awarded to one person per year.The deadline for applications for the 2025 scholarship has been set for 28&nbsp;February&nbsp;2025. &nbsp;

Vladimír Sklenář Scholarship

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Since its establishment in 2011, CEITEC has quickly developed into a cutting-edge infrastructure for research which performs highly alongside the best institutes in Europe. Among the main priorities of CEITEC are the promotion of a motivating and dynamic international scientific environment, the provision of state-of-the-art research infrastructure, and the policy of open communication and equal opportunities.

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The Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences (IOCB Prague) is a leading scientific institution in the Czech Republic, recognized internationally. Its primary mission is basic research in the fields of chemical biology and medicinal chemistry, organic and material oriented chemistry, chemistry of natural compounds, biochemistry and molecular biology, physical chemistry, theoretical chemistry, and analytical chemistry. 

Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences

Masarykova univerzita je vysokou školou s demokratickými tradicemi, prosazovanými již od jejího založení v roce 1919. Řadu let je nejžádanější vysokou školou v Česku. V současnosti sestává z devíti fakult s více než 200 katedrami, ústavy a klinikami. Je také významným sociálním a kulturním aktérem v jihomoravském regionu.

Vladimír Sklenář Scholarship

The first three months of Pavel Kadeřávek leading the NMR laboratory

Brno confirms its position as a leader in electron microscopy with the iNEXT-Discovery conference

Material genetics will be pursued by the AMULET project, which succeeded in the Excellent Research Call

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