Science and Research

Since the re-establishment of Palacký University in 1946, many scientists working at the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry have become globally recognized for their research activities and results. Among those were Professor František Šantavý, a pioneer in phytochemistry of alkaloids from plants of the genus Colchium and research into the structure of cannabidiol and their derivatives; Professor Václav Vejdovský who introduced a new method for reconstructing the lower tear duct with oral mucosa; Professor Pavel Lukl, a leading Czech cardiologist and ex-President of the European Society of Cardiology; Professor Boleslav Wiedermann, known worldwide for his research into blood diseases, in particular monoclonal gammopathies; and Professor Václav Rapant, an author of important publications on surgery of the oesophagus and stomach.

At the present time, research and scientific activities at the Faculty stand on three pillars. These are the BIOMEDREG project (Institute of Molecular and Translational Medicine), preclinical research (other research teams in the Theoretical Institutions) and clinical research. These components are not isolated but they are interconnected and cooperate with each other. One of the key advantages is that the Faculty is located in the vicinity of the University Hospital Olomouc, allowing the two institutions to share employees, departments, projects and technology. Many teams also closely cooperate with departments of the Faculty of Science and prominent biomedical research centres both in the Czech Republic and abroad. Much attention is paid to developing research skills in students, both undergraduate and postgraduate. Twenty-five accredited doctoral programmes of study make the best use of the infrastructure of the new faculty building (annex).

The Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry is currently the principal investigator of nearly 60 major national grant projects and a co-investigator of another 20 projects. Each year, at least 100 high-quality articles with authors from the Faculty are published in prestigious journals having the so-called impact factor that are listed in the Journal Citation Report (JCR); another 150 articles are published in peer-reviewed journals.

1. Disease development and progression

• Cancers
• Cardiovascular diseases
• Infectious diseases
• Metabolic and endocrine diseases
• Neurological and mental disorders
• Musculoskeletal disorders
• Inflammatory and immunological diseases

2. Novel diagnostic and therapeutic methods

• Innovative surgical procedures including transplantation
• Gene and cell therapy; tissue replacement
• Biological drugs including vaccines
• In vitro diagnosis
• Small-molecule drugs
• Drug delivery systems
• Development of new medical devices and equipment

3. Epidemiology and prevention of the most serious diseases

• Cancers
• Cardiovascular diseases
• Infectious diseases
• Metabolic and endocrine diseases
• Neurological and mental disorders and addictions
• Musculoskeletal disorders
• Inflammatory and immunological diseases

An important event in the scientific life of the Faculty was the 2011 inclusion of Biomedical Papers, a journal of the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacký University Olomouc, in the Thomson Reuters global database of journals with impact factors. With an impact factor of 1.200 (2014 JCR Science Edition), it currently ranks 11th among 40 scientific journals with impact factors published in the Czech Republic.

Members of the Scientific Board are distinguished representatives in fields in which the Faculty carries out teaching and creative activities. At least one third of the members of the Scientific Board are from outside the Academic community of Palacký University Olomouc. The members are appointed and dismissed, upon approval from the Academic Senate of the Faculty, by the Dean who is the Chair of the Scientific Board. There are at least 21 members; the quorum is 3/5.   

The Scientific Board of the Faculty:

• discusses the draft of the strategic plan of the Faculty, elaborated in compliance with the strategic plan of the University
• approves the drafts of the degree programmes that are to be offered by the Faculty,
• proposes plans to the Rector to submit requests for accreditations of degree programmes offered by the faculty,
• plays its role in the procedures for the appointment of professors and for conferring habilitation
• expresses its view on matters presented to it by the Dean.

The Scientific Board has its meetings at least once every three months. The meetings are not open to the public, the only exception being the habilitation lecture and the defense of the habilitation thesis and a lecture given by the applicant to be nominated as a professor.

The meetings are to be held on Thursdays in October, December, February, April and June in the new Faculty building (Hněvotínská 3, Olomouc). 

• 5 October 2017
• 7 December 2017
• 1 February 2018
• 5 April 2018
• 7 June 2018

Rules of Procedure of the Scientific Board (in Czech)