A large research infrastructure is a unique research facility of high knowledge and technology intensity. These are experimental instruments in the sense of laboratory equipment; sources of knowledge such as archives and collections; and/or information and communication technologies necessary to realize demanding research, development and innovations. A large research infrastructure is a unique facility with both national impact and international overlap. A large research infrastructure is thus “large” due to its unique expertise. At the same time, it must fulfill the criteria of the “open access” to its capacities. 

CEITEC MU representative for research infrastructure is prof. RNDr. Vladimír Sklenář, DrSc.​

European network of research infrastructure

CEITEC is actively involved in several infrastructures that are part of the ESFRI Roadmap and thus form an important basis for many scientific disciplines:

INSTRUCT-ERIC

• European infrastructure for integrative structural biology

Euro-BioImaging 

• European infrastructure for biomedical imaging

ELIXIR 

• European infrastructure for bioinformatics

EATRIS 

• European infrastructure for translational medicine

ESFRI – European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures

ESFRI is a strategic tool for developing Europe's research integration and strengthening its international cooperation. ESFRI's mission is to promote a coherent and strategic approach to policy-making on research infrastructures in Europe and to facilitate multilateral initiatives that will lead to better use and development of research infrastructures at European and international level. ESFRI was created in 2002 at the request of the European Council. ESFRI has developed and published five Roadmaps on Research Infrastructures, the first version in 2006 and its latest update from 2018.

National Research Infrastructures Networks

Czech Infrastructure for Integrative Structural Biology (CIISB)

• Principal Investigator, Infrastructure Coordinator:  prof. RNDr. Vladimír Sklenář, DrSc.
• Project partners: Institute of Biotechnology CAS, v. v. i. (BIOCEV)
• Acronym: CIISB
• Project type: Coordinated
• Implementation period: 1. 1. 2020 – 31. 12. 2022 (previous period 1. 1. 2016 – 31. 12. 2019)
• Budget:  179 339 000 CZK ‬(previous period 153 095 000 CZK)
• Infrastructure website: www.ciisb.org

Project description: 

The Czech Infrastructure for Integrative Structural Biology (CIISB) is a distributed infrastructure of the core facilities and central laboratories of CEITEC (Central European Institute of Technology, Brno) and BIOCEV (Biotechnology and Biomedicine Centre, Vestec) providing expertise and access to technologies used for integrative approaches to structural analysis of biologically important cellular components and macromolecules - proteins, nucleic acids, and their complexes. CIISB, equipped with cutting-edge technologies, offer access to the equipment and expertise in the following fields: high-field NMR spectroscopy; high throughput crystallization of biological macromolecules; X-ray diffraction techniques; Bio-SAXS measurements; AFM imaging; characterization of proteins, nucleic acids and complexes by biophysical methods including microcalorimetry, dynamic light scattering, and surface plasmon resonance; high-end cryo-electron microscopy and tomography allowing studies of cellular structures, organelles, and biomacromolecular complexes by 3D imaging; protein expression in eukaryotic cells; high-end mass spectrometry characterization of biomacromolecules; determination of protein post-translational modifications; MS-based peptide mapping/sequencing; high throughput sequencing and proteomic services. CIISB infrastructure aims to provide a high quality open access services in provision of methods and techniques on a level of national and trans-national importance. CIISB is a fully-fledged hub of the ESFRI distributed infrastructure INSTRUCT-ERIC.

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National research infrastructure for biological and medical imaging (Czech-BioImaging)

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• Principal Investigator: Ing. Michal Mikl, Ph.D.
• Infrastructure Coordinator: prof. RNDr. Pavel Hozák, DrSc.
• Project partners: Ústav molekulární genetiky AV ČR, v.v.i. (coordinator), Biologické centrum AV ČR, v.v.i., Fyziologický ústav AV ČR, v.v.i., Univerzita Karlova v Praze, Univerzita Palackého v Olomouci, Ústav experimentální botaniky AV ČR, v.v.i., Ústav přístrojové techniky AV ČR, v.v.i., CEITEC VUT
• Acronym: Czech-BioImaging, CZBI
• Project type: Partner
• Implementation period: 1. 1. 2020 – 31. 12. 2022 (previous period 1. 1. 2016 – 31. 12. 2019)
• Budget: 260 992 000 CZK ‬(previous period 194 214 000 CZK)
• Infrastructure website: www.czech-bioimaging.cz

Project description: 

The national research infrastructure for biological and medical imaging is built as a distributed infrastructure of leading imaging facilities in the Czech Republic. The infrastructure assure open access to a wide range of imaging technologies and expertise to all scientists in the Czech Republic. The national imaging infrastructure is closely interlinked with the Czech Republic participation in the ESFRI large pan-European research infrastructure Euro-BioImaging. The backbone of the national infrastructure create two Euro-BioImaging nodes (“Advanced Light and Electron Microscopy Multi Modal Multi Sited Node” composed of the Institute of Molecular Genetics Academy of Sciences, the Charles University, BIOCEV , the Institute of Physiology of the Academy of Sciences and “Advanced Light Microscopy and Medical Imaging Multi Modal Multi Sited Node” composed of the Masaryk University Brno, CEITEC and the Institute of Scientific Instruments of the Academy of Sciences). These institutions are complemented by the imaging facilities of the Biology Centre of the Academy of Sciences and Palacky University which possess unique imaging technologies and expertise in the context of the Czech Republic. The national imaging infrastructure provide Czech scientists with a permanent access to the cutting edge imaging technologies, which are not available in their own institutions. The infrastructure support mutual cooperation of the scientists and sharing of best practices and knowledge, which contributes to the higher competitiveness of the Czech research. Special training programmes help in increasing the qualification of scientists in biological and medical imaging, whose knowledge is a key pre-requisite for any research activity in biomedical sciences.

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Czech National Infrastructure for Biological Data (ELIXIR-CZ)

• Principal Investigator: prof. RNDr. Jaroslav Koča, DrSc.
• Infrastructure Coordinator: doc. RNDr. Jiří Vondrášek, CSc.
• Project partners: Ústav organické chemie a biochemie AV ČR, v.v.i. (coordinator), CESNET zájmové sdružení právnických osob, Univerzita Karlova v Praze, Univerzita Palackého v Olomouci, Mikrobiologický ústav AV ČR, v.v.i., Biotechnologický ústav AV ČR, v.v.i., Ústav molekulární genetiky AV ČR, v.v.i., Biologické centrum AV ČR, v.v.i., Fakultní nemocnice u sv.Anny v Brně, Vysoká škola chemicko-technologická v Praze, Jihočeská univerzita v Českých Budějovicích
• Acronym: ELIXIR-CZ
• Project type: Partner
• Implementation period: 1. 1. 2020 – 31. 12. 2022 (previous period 1. 1. 2016 – 31. 12. 2019)
• Budget: 171 019 000 CZK ‬(previous period 118 042 000 CZK)
• Infrastructure website: www.elixir-czech.cz

Project description: 

ELIXIR-CZ is coordinated by the Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry CAS, v. v. i. Currently provides the operation of 9 specialized databases and 15 analytical tools for biological data analysis. The aim of ELIXIR-CZ is to create a research infrastructure for storing and secure data manipulation ensuring their accessibility and obtaining key information efficiently through advanced analyses. Membership of the pan-European ELIXIR consortium brings additional value for the Czech Republic, including the expansion of the services offered and their level, international cooperation and the expansion of the user base. 

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National Center for Medical Genomics (NCMG)

• Principal Investigator: MVDr. Boris Tichý, Ph.D.
• Infrastructure Coordinator: prof. Ing. Stanislav Kmoch, CSc.
• Project partners: Univerzita Karlova v Praze (coordinator), Fakultní nemocnice Plzeň, Fakultní nemocnice v Motole, Univerzita Palackého v Olomouci, Všeobecná fakultní nemocnice v Praze
• Acronym: NCMG
• Project type: Partner
• Implementation period: 1. 1. 2020 – 31. 12. 2022 (previous period 1. 1. 2016 – 31. 12. 2019)
• Budget: 95 723 000 CZK ‬(previous period 60 480 000 CZK)
• Infrastructure website: www.ncmg.cz

Project description: 

NCMG is coordinated by Charles University in Prague. It is a concept of research infrastructure designed to ensure the operation of the most modern sequencing platforms and follow-up technological equipment for human genome analysis and to enable the qualified use of these technologies in biomedical research and translational medicine in the Czech Republic. NCMG pooled capacities are currently equipped with most modern instruments and provide basic instrumental, methodological and experimental expertise, which is needed for genomic sequencing, transcription analysis, epigenome analysis, cytogenomics analysis and genomic genotype. NCMG also has adequate computing and data capacities and provides bioinformatical statistical support for number of projects aimed at the study of rare and complex diseases and cancers.

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Czech National Node to the European Infrastructure for Translational Medicine (EATRIS-CZ)

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• Principal Investigator: prof. RNDr. Šárka Pospíšilová, Ph.D.
• Infrastructure Coordinator: doc. MUDr. Marián Hajdúch, Ph.D.
• Project partners: Univerzita Palackého v Olomouci (coordinator), Vysoká škola chemicko-technologická v Praze, Ústav organické chemie a biochemie AV ČR, v.v.i., Univerzita Karlova v Praze, Ústav makromolekulární chemie AV ČR, v.v.i., Ústav jaderné fyziky AV ČR, v.v.i., Mikrobiologický ústav AV ČR, v.v.i., Ústav experimentální medicíny AV ČR, v.v.i.
• Acronym: EATRIS-CZ
• Project type: Partner
• Implementation period: 1. 1. 2020 – 31. 12. 2022 (previous period 1. 1. 2016 – 31. 12. 2019)
• Budget:  60 797 000 CZK ‬(previous period 83 410 000 CZK)
• Infrastructure website: www.eatris.cz

Project description: 

EATRIS-CZ is coordinated by Palacky University in Olomouc. It is the national hub of the European Infrastructure for Translational Medicine (EATRIS), which includes more than 80 research organizations from across Europe. EATRIS-CZ provides excellent research infrastructure and expertise throughout the translation allotment chain. Through 5 interconnected platforms, it enables to achieve in the development of drugs and diagnostics up to the levels of "first administration in humans" or clinical verification (proof-of-concept). EATRIS-CZ offers multidisciplinary developments, including key technologies, services, patient cohorts and interactions with key opinion holders.

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​CzechNanoLab (previously CEITEC Nano)

• CEITEC MU was part of CEITEC Nano infrastructure between 2016–2019 and does not financially participate in CzechNanoLab
• Principal Investigator: prof. RNDr. Josef Humlíček, CSc.
• Infrastructure Coordinator: Ing. Michal Urbánek, Ph.D.
• Project partners: CEITEC VUT (coordinator)
• Acronym: CEITEC Nano
• Project type: Partner
• Implementation period: 1. 1. 2020 – 31. 12. 2022 (previous period 1. 1. 2016 – 31. 12. 2019)
• Budget: previous period 103 266 000 CZK
• Infrastructure website: nano.ceitec.cz, www.czechnanolab.cz

Project description:

CEITEC Nano provides comprehensive equipment, knowledge and methods for research and development in nanotechnology and advanced materials. CEITEC Nano technology for operation, characterization, structural analysis and X-ray tomography / LIBS nanomaterials allow to carry out complete preparation of nanostructures and nanodevices, including their characterization up to subnanometr level in a perfectly clean environment.

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