Discoveries from IOCB Prague now have a greater chance of being put into practice starting today, and patients with previously untreatable diseases have stronger hopes of receiving effective therapy. A unique translational center connecting science with its commercial applications – Pharmtheon – is now operational, marking a significant development in Czech science.
State-of-the-art laboratories have found their home at Harfa in Prague, where preclinical research will be conducted to bring promising molecules closer to the development of important medications.
&quot;If the discoveries of modern science are to serve society with practical results, centers like Pharmtheon are essential. In Prague, where we have access to a range of excellent scientific results at the intersection of chemistry and biology, such an institution has been regrettably missing. I am very pleased that the idea of Pharmtheon has been brought to fruition. It is actually our duty to build upon the previous successes of the institute in the field of medicinal applications,&quot; commented Jan Konvalinka, Director of IOCB Prague.
<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/UOCHB_IOCB_Tech_has_opened_Pharmtheon_a_high_tech_center_for_new_medicines_in_Prague_1c3bb0afad.jpg" alt="IOCB Prague: IOCB Tech has opened Pharmtheon, a high-tech center for new medicines in Prague."/>
The transfer of technologies into practice has long been supported by the Czech government, which has identified this area as one of its priorities in its program statement. The first project to be developed at the center is the development of substances that reduce the frequency of mutations in cancer cells. These mutations are the cause of resistance to some drugs used in the chemotherapy of cancer patients. This area is highly relevant and is currently somewhat overlooked.
&quot;The development of new drugs is particularly challenging in the environment of academic institutions, where basic research is the priority. This may not align with efforts to promote the transfer of inventions into practice. Therefore, I consider the creation of a suitable environment that combines expert knowledge, financial resources, and technical equipment to be crucial. That is also the main reason why Pharmtheon was established,&quot; explained Martin Fusek, the initiator of the center&#39;s establishment.
<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/UOCHB_Zuzana_Havlinova_IOCB_Tech_has_opened_Pharmtheon_a_high_tech_center_for_new_medicines_in_Prague_1_bbf7f3875c.jpg" alt="IOCB Prague/Zuzana Havlínová: IOCB Tech has opened Pharmtheon, a high-tech center for new medicines in Prague."/>
The creation of new drugs first requires an understanding of the mechanism of disease development and then attempts to influence these mechanisms with administered drugs. If substances that can positively influence certain pathological processes at the cellular level are found, these substances need to be optimized in terms of effectiveness, side effects, duration of action, and many other properties in preclinical research. This process is called translational research. Now, thanks to Pharmtheon offering professional support to translational research and enabling more efficient collaboration among all involved parties, even better results can be expected.
Pharmtheon Center is part of the IOCB Tech family, a subsidiary of the Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences in Prague.
<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/UOCHB_Zuzana_Havlinova_IOCB_Tech_has_opened_Pharmtheon_a_high_tech_center_for_new_medicines_in_Prague_2_12a52335fa.jpg" alt="IOCB Prague/Zuzana Havlínová: IOCB Tech has opened Pharmtheon, a high-tech center for new medicines in Prague."/>
<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/UOCHB_Zuzana_Havlinova_IOCB_Tech_has_opened_Pharmtheon_a_high_tech_center_for_new_medicines_in_Prague_3_fcc5943dfc.jpg" alt="IOCB Prague/Zuzana Havlínová: IOCB Tech has opened Pharmtheon, a high-tech center for new medicines in Prague."/>
<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/UOCHB_Zuzana_Havlinova_IOCB_Tech_has_opened_Pharmtheon_a_high_tech_center_for_new_medicines_in_Prague_4_abbd708aea.jpg" alt="IOCB Prague/Zuzana Havlínová: IOCB Tech has opened Pharmtheon, a high-tech center for new medicines in Prague."/>

IOCB Tech has opened Pharmtheon, a high-tech center for new medicines in Prague

From individual cells and small tissue samples to fruit flies: if you want to research biological material, you often need very special equipment. The <a href="https://www.tuwien.at/en/koop/amt/projects/lifescope-3d">&quot;LifeScope3D&quot; platform</a> has now been set up at TU Wien to provide optimal instrumentation for studying 3D multicellular structures, such as organoids and spheroids. A whole range of specialized equipment is now available at the Getreidemarkt campus, which enables characterization on various scales- starting from entire objects down to single cell or molecule analysis. However, the platform is not only interesting for biological samples, but also for other similar-sized structures, such as those produced by a high-resolution 3D printer.
Molecular biologist, Mina Petrovic, PhD, is the project manager of the new platform. LifeScope3D is the result of a collaboration between Prof. Aleksandr Ovsianikov (Institute of Materials Science and Technology), Prof. Philipp Thurner (Institute of Lightweight Structures and Structural Biomechanics) and Prof. Gerhard Schütz (Institute of Applied Physics). However, the platform will also be accessible to all other research groups - both within and outside TU Wien. LifeScope3D is intended to create a hub that promotes multidisciplinary collaborations in the field of cellular assemblies and tissue engineering. This was made possible by funding from the Austrian Research Promotion Agency FFG.
<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/TU_Wien_TU_Wien_launches_a_research_platform_for_3_D_testing_of_bio_samples_The_biosorter_in_the_new_lab_at_TU_W_Ien_d7b4ebaa9e.jpg" alt="TU Wien: The biosorter in the new lab at TU Wien."/>
<h4>Different measuring devices</h4>
&quot;We can not only image biological structures, but also fully analyze them in three dimensions,&quot; explains Mina Petrovic. &quot;This is of great importance for many applications in biology.&quot; For example, a special microscope on the new research platform can be used to illuminate the samples with so-called &quot;lattice light sheets&quot;. Instead of a beam of light that scans the sample point by point, an extremely thin, two-dimensional light sheet is generated that penetrates the sample layer by layer. Each time, only dyes located within this thin light sheet are detected and a three-dimensional image with high contrast can then be put together on the computer.
However, optical methods are not the only way to examine samples - mechanical experiments also play an important role. The sample can be subjected to a precisely defined mechanical load. While the sample is compressed, the sample deformation is measured. Valuable findings can be derived from this, as such experiments mimic the pressures that cells have to endure in different parts of the body.
A bio-sorter is also used in the new research platform: &quot;Biological samples are rarely uniform, but often come in a mixture of different sizes, showing different features”, explains Mina Petrovic. &quot;In the bio-sorter, a mixture of, for example, multicellular spheroid structures is guided past a laser beam where each individual structure can be precisely analyzed and categorized at a very high speed.&quot;
<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/TU_Wien_TU_Wien_launches_a_research_platform_for_3_D_testing_of_bio_samples_Computer_controlled_experiments_with_the_lattice_light_sheet_e11c405df2.jpg" alt="TU Wien: Computer controlled experiments with the lattice light sheet."/>
<h4>Accessible for everybody</h4>
Numerous research groups from different faculties at TU Wien are conducting research on biological samples - LifeScope3D will open up new analysis methods for all of them. However, the aim is also to collaborate with research teams outside of TU Wien: &quot;In principle, LifeScope3D is open to all groups with suitable research projects,&quot; says Mina Petrovic. &quot;Anyone who wants to use our equipment can get in touch with us and arrange suitable timeslots; we will then also provide advice and help with the correct execution of the experiments.&quot;
The research is not necessarily limited to biological materials. &quot;The devices are ideally suited for biological analyses, but who knows - we may also receive exciting research requests from other disciplines that we might not even be thinking about today,&quot; says Mina Petrovic.
<blockquote>
<h4>Contact</h4>
Mina Petrovic, PhD
LifeScope3D
TU Wien
+43 1 58801 30892
mina.petrovic@tuwien.ac.at
</blockquote>

TU Wien launches a research platform for 3D testing of bio-samples

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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. 

Ústav organické chemie a biochemie AV ČR

The TU Wien is Austria's largest research and educational institution in the field of technology and natural sciences. More than 4,000 scientists are researching "technology for people" in five main research areas at eight faculties. The content of the studies offered is derived from the excellent research. More than 26,000 students in 62 degree programmes benefit from this. As a driver of innovation, TU Wien strengthens the business location, facilitates cooperation and contributes to the prosperity of society.

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