CEITEC Masaryk University:
Scientific Board Meeting
3 April 2025
CEITEC News
▪ Changes in CEITEC management:
▪ Roman Badík, Deputy Director for Administration,
Secretary
▪ New Core Facility leaders:
▪ Pavel Kadeřávek, Head of CF Josef Dadok
National NMR Centre
▪ Petr Mokroš, Head of CF Plant Sciences
▪ Group Leader selection procedure (2024):
▪ One candidate in negotiation phase
Changes in management
Cytokinins regulate
spatially specific ethylene
production to control root
growth in Arabidopsis
Yamoune A, Zdarska M, Depaepe T,
Rudolfova A, Skalak J, Berendzen KW,
Mira-Rodado V, Fitz M, Pekarova B,
Mala KLN, Tarr P, Spackova E,
Tomovicova L, Parizkova B, Franczyk A,
Kovacova I, Dolgikh V, Zemlyanskaya
E, Pernisova M, Novak O, Meyerowitz
E, Harter K, Van Der Straeten D,
Hejatko J. (2024). Plant Commun.
In-section Click-iT
detection and superresolution
CLEM analysis
of nucleolar ultrastructure
and replication in plants
Franek, M.; Koptašíková, L.; Mikšátko,
J.; Liebl, D.; Macíčková, E.; Pospíšil, J.;
Esner, M.; Dvořáčková, M.; Fajkus, J.
Nat Commun 15, 2445 (2024)
In-cell NMR suggests that
DNA i-motif levels are
strongly depleted in living
human cells
Víšková P, Ištvánková E, Ryneš J,
Džatko Š, Loja T, Živković ML, Rigo R,
El-Khoury R, Serrano-Chacón I, Damha
MJ, González C, Mergny JL, FoldynováTrantírková
S, Trantírek L. Nat
Commun. 2024 Mar 5;15 (1): 1992.
Stromal cells engineered to
express T cell factors induce
robust CLL cell proliferation in
vitro and in PDX cotransplantations
allowing the
identification of RAF inhibitors
as anti-proliferative drugs
Hoferkova E, Seda V, Kadakova S, Verner
J, Loja T, Matulova K, Skuhrova Francova
H, Ondrouskova E, Filip D, Blavet N,
Boudny M, Mladonicka Pavlasova G,
Vecera J, Ondrisova L, Pavelkova P,
Hlavac K, Kostalova L, Michaelou A,
Pospisilova S, Dorazilova J, Chochola V,
Jaros J, Doubek M, Jarosova M, Hampl A,
Vojtova L, Kren L, Mayer J, Mraz M.
(2024). Leukemia.
Sequence and structural
determinants of RNAPII
CTD phase-separation
and phosphorylation by
CDK7
Linhartova K, Falginella FL, Matl M,
Sebesta M, Vácha R, Stefl R.
Nature Communications 2024
Phospholipids are
imported into mitochondria
by VDAC, a dimeric beta
barrel scramblase
Jahn, H.; Bartoš, L.; Dearden, G.I.;
Dittman, J.S.; Holthuis, J.C.M.;
Vácha, R.; Menon, A.K. Nature
Communications 2023, 14
▪ R. Vácha: ERC Proof of Concept Fighting Resistant Bacteria with
Antimicrobial Peptides
▪ P. Těšina: EMBO Installation Grant Mechanistic studies of human
co-translational quality control
▪ W. S. Morton: MSCA PF RNA Polymerase II at the Intersection of
Transcription and Disease: An In-depth Examination of its C-Terminal
Domain
▪ Š. Pospíšilová: DIGITAL EUROPE Genome of Europe + MEYS Cofinancing
Genome of Europe
Selected international grants
▪ M. Mráz: GAČR EXPRO Non-coding RNAs in microenvironmental
interactions of B cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia
▪ Š. Pospíšilová: OP JAK Inter-sectoral cooperation: Applicability
of Comprehensive Genomic Testing - towards better diagnostics
▪ L. Nováková (RG I. Rektorová): OP JAK Social sciences and
humanities A lifetime with language: the nature and ontogeny of
linguistic communication
▪ M. Mikl: OP JAK Social sciences and humanities Mediated
society MEDIS:ON
Selected national grants
Selected awards
▪ Elected Member – Learned
Society of the Czech Republic:
Štěpánka Vaňáčová, Robert
Vácha
▪ National Science Foundation
Award (GACR): Dalibor Blažek
▪ Award of South Moravian Region:
Karel Říha
▪ Brno PhD Talent: Thomas Peter
Fellmeth, Péter Kacz, Lucie
Nepovímová
Photo: primatorka.brno.cz
BioPharma Hub
▪ 4 research groups focused on hematooncology
research and 2 Core Facilities
will move to BioPharma Hub
▪ Expected relocation: Q4/2026
Strategic Goals and
Activities 2025
1. Hire a new group leader
▪ Complete the 2024 selection process (depends on the results of grant
applications and negotiations) and define the next steps for 2025
2. Introduce a new retirement policy
▪ Retirement policy (career system amendment)
3. Excel in scientific evaluations
▪ "MEP" Evaluation 2025 (M17+)
▪ CEITEC ISAB assessments of junior group leaders' performance
▪ International peer-review assessment of Large Research Infrastructures (MEYS)
Strategic Goals 2025 (1/3)
4. Enhance the quality of supervision, leadership practices, and
the overal PhD study experience
▪ Implementation of Action plan by the PhD Studies Working Group
▪ Leadership Interviews ugrade for 2025 (publication strategy, grant strategy,
and education strategy topics)
5. Enhance operational efficiency through digitalization,
improved information accessibility, and process analysis
▪ CEITEC Employee PORTAL upgrade
▪ Digitalization of processes (PowerBI, o365)
Strategic Goals 2025 (2/3)
Strategic Goals 2025 (3/3)
6. Optimize the use of available space
▪ Prepare for the relocation to BioPharma Hub and E35
▪ Space utilization review, space utilization principles, payment for allocated
spaces
7. Reach financial sustainability
▪ Endowment Fund in collaboration with MUNI
▪ Generation of new revenues
▪ TT strategy supporting promising teams at CEITEC
Budget Plan 2025
2024 Financial results
Plan
▪ Negative financial result
▪ Usage of financial reserve (nearly
50 mil. CZK)
Reality
▪ Positive financial result
▪ Profit before taxation 12,2 mil. CZK
▪ Funds increase by 10,2 mil. CZK
▪ Reasons:
▪ Extra payment from MEYS
▪ Energy prices
▪ Costs optimization
▪ Exchange rate profit
▪ 21 % of institutional funding
(non-investment)
2025 Budget revenues plan
▪ 923 mil. CZK overall budget plan
(4,6 % increase)
▪ Institutional revenue increase
▲ allocation from MUNI (201 mil.
CZK gross revenue)
▲ CEITEC contribution to MU
budget (57 mil. CZK)
▪ Expected increased revenues from
grants funding
Gross
institutional
funding
26%
International
grants
17%
National grants
23%
Other (financial
gifts, penalties)
0%
Commercial
income
3%
National
Recovery Plan
(NPO)
9%
"Research
Infrastructure"
Projects
12%
Funds (social
fund, etc.)
0% Operational
Program
VVV/JAK
10%
2025 Revenues plan structure (non-investment)
2025 Budget spending plan
▪ RG institutional funding to remain the
same as in 2024 (flat rate of 2,9 mil.
CZK)
▪ Institutional costs to remain on the
same level as in 2024
▪ Continuing cost optimization
▪ Financial reserves forecasted not to
be used
▪ Creating financial reserves for:
▪ New RGs
▪ BPH relocation
Contribution to
the centralised
funds of MU
7%
Building
expenditure
10%
Administration
9%
Other indirect
expenditure
3%Research
groups -
institutional
funding
10%
Research
groups - grant
funding
45%
Core facilities
and services
16%
2025 Spending plan (non-investment)
Silver Medal for Radovan
Fiala
Proposal to Award the
Silver Medal of Masaryk
University
Assoc. Prof. Radovan Fiala, CSc.
▪ Key contributor to the development of
CEITEC's NMR core facility into a
top-tier European research facility
▪ Played a central role in major
international projects and positioning
MU in structural biology
▪ Significant and lasting contributions to
research infrastructure, international
cooperation, and scientific excellence
Organisation Changes
Discontinuation of two
research groups
▪ Based on CEITEC retirement
policy and in line with the career
system, two research groups will
be discontinued in 2026:
▪ Mary O‘Connell Research Group
of Molecular Medicine Research
Centre
▪ Ivan Rektor Research Group of
Brain and Mind Research Centre
Discussion
1. Policy for discontinuation of research groups when their heads
reach retirement age
2. Strengthening leadership culture and engagement at CEITEC
Pavel Plevka
pavel.plevka@ceitec.muni.cz