Puneet Varma (Editor)

International Clinical Research Center

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Industry
  
Life sciences

Website
  
www.fnusa-icrc.org

Headquarters
  
Brno, Czech Republic

International Clinical Research Center

Native name
  
Mezinárodní centrum klinického výzkumu

Owner
  
St. Anne's University Hospital Brno

International Clinical Research Center of St. Anne's University Hospital Brno (FNUSA-ICRC) is a new generation science and research center. It focuses on finding new methods, technologies and medicaments for prevention, diagnostics and treatment of cardiovascular and neurological diseases, particularly heart failure, coronary heart disease, hypertension, cardiac arrhythmias, obesity, structural heart diseases, sleep apnea, stroke, and dementia.

Contents

The center located in Brno, Czech Republic, is based on the collaboration with a number of foreign (such as Mayo Clinic, University College London, University of Minnesota etc.) and Czech (such as Masaryk University, Brno University of Technology, Academy of Sciences etc.) academic institutions and industrial companies. At present, the number of employees is more than 400, including approximately 350 specialists working in 17 international research teams.

History

May 2013 - New FNUSA-ICRC Chair Gorazd B. Stokin, M.D., MSc., Ph.D. This Slovenian native won the recruitment tender based on the recommendation of an independent international Search Committee.
January 2013 - Start of the second phase of construction of new buildings
October 2012 - Ceremonial start of the first clinical research activities in the new premises of FNUSA-ICRC (buildings B1 and C1)
July 2011 - Decision on the co-financing of the project from OP R&D for Innovations (2,365 bil. CZK)
June 2010 - Start of the construction of the new ICRC buildings
2010 - Establishment of the research and support teams, preparation of internal documentation, organizational mechanisms, and co-operation with further academic and industrial partners from the Czech Republic and abroad
November 2009 - Submission of the application for co-financing from the Structural Funds of the EU, from the Operational Program "Research and Development for Innovations" (OP R&D for Innovations)
2006 - Inclusion of FNUSA-ICRC among the priority projects contributing to the development of a knowledge society in the Czech Republic and pledge the financial and non-financial expressed by the Czech Government
2002–4 - Idea of "ICRC" concept – main authors: doc. MUDr. Tomáš Kára, Ph.D. (St. Anne’s University Hospital Brno), Virend K. Somers, M.D., Ph.D. (Mayo Clinic)

Research

Clinical research aims primarily at development of new technologies, methods, processes and pharmaceuticals enabling effective prevention, early diagnostics and individualized treatment in two main directions: cardiovascular medicine and neurology:

CARDIOVASCULAR PROGRAMS

  • Cardio I - Cardiovascular and transplant surgery, heart failure treatment and transplant programs: the development of novel stem cell technologies for improving myocardial regeneration, the development of novel therapeutic strategies for reduction in the left ventricular mass and attenuation of allograft vasculopathy following cardiac transplantation
  • Cardio II - Interventional cardiology and acute coronary syndromes: the development of new coronary stents and new artificial vessels
  • Cardio III - Cardiac and central nervous system electrophysiology and pacing: the development of advanced electrophysiology technologies for the treatment of heart disease, stroke, epilepsy, and other central nervous system disorders
  • Cardio IV - Cardiovascular and metabolic disorders - identification of novel risk factors: the development of novel technologies for advanced assessment of cardiac and brain electrophysiology
  • Cardio V - Non-invasive cardiovascular imaging: the development of new strategies in the assessment of myocardial perfusion through the comparison of MRI and PET results, new contrast agents and new syringe pumps for the administration of contrast agents at defined rates
  • Cardio VI - Development of novel methods and interventions to reduce risk factors and cardiovascular diseases in the general population
  • Cardio VII - Tissue engineering in cardiovascular research: the development of novel artificial biological valves and other tissues

    • NEUROLOGICAL PROGRAMS

  • Neuro I - Cerebrovascular diseases: the development of new methods of stroke evaluation and management
  • Neuro II - Neuroepidemiology (with pilot projects of dementia): the establishment of large multi-center databases related to the epidemiology of neurological diseases
  • Neuro III - Development of advanced neuroimaging: the experimental imaging of the central nervous system and its application in diagnosis and treatment
  • Neuro IV - Multiple sclerosis: the creation of a research center focused on developing new therapeutic possibilities for multiple sclerosis

    • Integrated MULTIDISCIPLINARY PLATFORMS for experimental medicine and biotechnology

  • AC - Animal Center: the development of advanced diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for cardiovascular and neurological diseases on animal models
  • CBCE - Center of Biomolecular and Cellular Engineering: the implementation of strategies based on the definition of biologically important targets, rational design and synthesis of chemical compounds, and well-established testing systems to manipulate these processes in living cells with a high degree of control
  • ICCTRM - Integrated Center of Cellular Therapy and Regenerative Medicine: the development of endothelial, smooth muscle, and cardiomyocyte cells from induced and adult stem cells, molecular monitoring of cell engraftment, functional testing in animal models, and clinical studies
  • BME - Center of Biomedical Engineering: the development of methods and technologies for new heart and brain disease intervention, mobile and flexible laboratories intended for electrophysiology, biomedical software and systems for image guidance and analysis, fast data transfer and data storage technology
  • CMI - Center of Molecular Imaging: the development of new protocols for positron emission tomography imaging and new radiopharmaceuticals for the cardio- and neuro- research
  • CPU - Clinical Pharmacology Unit: the implementation of a wide variety of early-stage (I, I/II, II) clinical trials of new pharmaceuticals and medical devices mainly in the fields of neurology and cardiology

    • Clinical Care

    FNUSA-ICRC endeavours to create a harmonious environment, in which the patient-healthcare provider relationship is based on individualized approach, mutual trust and respect, following ethical and moral principles and values. At the same time, the most up-to-date methods of treatment are opening up thanks to international co-operation.

    Education

    FNUSA-ICRC offers to physicians, scientists, students and healthcare staff participation on several educational projects such as Young Talent Incubator or ICRC Academy of Clinical Research including short and long-term study visits at prestigious foreign institutions, seminars, workshops, lectures.

    Collaboration with Industry

    Close co-operation with industry players (nowadays around 30 companies) including, in particular, pharmaceutical companies, contractual research organizations and manufacturers of medical technologies speeds up the transfer of research results into practice.

    Financing

    FNUSA-ICRC with a total budget of around 4.5 billion CZK for the period 2011-2015 is financed from the Structural Funds of the European Union through Operational Program Research and Development for Innovation (priority axe 1 – European Centers of Excellence), the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports and the South Moravian Region.

    References

    International Clinical Research Center Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA