Prof. RNDr. Blanka Říhová, DrSc.
Project of Prof. RNDr. Blanka Říhová, DrSc. from the Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences brought hopeful results in the field of tumour cells and cytostatic agents. The current advancement in chemotherapy is mainly aimed at the development of new types of cytostatic agents with lower toxicity which inhibit the creation of resistance. The resistance to particular cytostatic agent and multidrug resistance (MDR) is a frequent reason for the failure of chemotherapy. The project team brought new findings proving that the systems for medicaments transfer based on HPMA copolymer conjugates carrying cytostatic agents and P-gp inhibitors are capable to effectively overcome gained and natural multidrug resistance. The results were published in series of scientific journals in the Czech Republic and abroad.
Mgr. Sylvie Graf, Ph.D. and doc. PhDr. Martina Hřebíčková, Dr., DSc.
Project which was carried out by Mgr. Sylvie Graf, Ph.D. and doc. PhDr. Martina Hřebíčková, Dr., DSc. from the Institute of Psychology of the Czech Academy of Sciences focused on the possible approaches to prejudice reduction. The scientists concentrated on relationships between participants from neighbouring nations in Central Europe. Based on the unique data from Central Europe, the two scientists have proven that negative experience has a relatively higher impact on increasing prejudice than positive experience on decreasing it. However, the positive experience occurs more frequently which then ultimately balances and reduces the higher impact of negativity on the prejudice. Outcomes of this project are presented in the monography “Czechs and their neighbours. Intergroup attitudes and contact in Central Europe.” and article in “European Journal of Social Psychology”.
On Monday 17 June 2019, the top representatives of GACR, FWF (Austria), NCN (Poland), ARRS (Slovenia) signed the ‘’CEUS – Central European Science Partnership” Lead Agency Agreement: Memorandum of Understanding on the unilateral administration and mutual recognition of evaluation procedures”. This new collaboration will enable scientists from the Czech Republic, Austria, Poland and Slovenia to carry out scientific projects with new foreign partners based on the Lead Agency evaluation, which belongs to the most preferred forms of cooperation among foreign agencies supporting basic research in reducing administrative burdens. As part of the CEUS Initiative to support basic research in the Central European Region, researchers will now be able to submit bilateral and trilateral LA based project proposals.
GACR currently plans to announce the first call within this new initiative next year. At the end of June this year, The Research, Development and Innovation Council approved a new material enabling the agency to launch multilateral projects based on the Lead Agency principle. At this point, the material will be submitted to the Czech government for approval.
