FNUSA-ICRC becomes a joint workplace of FNUSA and LF MU

On Friday, 28 January 2022, in the presence of the Minister of Health of the Czech Republic, Prof. MUDr. Vlastimil Válek, CSc., MBA, EBIR, the Rector of Masaryk University, Prof. MUDr. Martin Bareš, Ph.D., the Director of St. Anne’s University Hospital in Brno, Ing. Vlastimil Vajdák, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine of MU prof. Ing. MUDr. Martin Repko, Ph.D. and the Director of the International Clinical Research Centre of the St. Anne’s University Hospital in Brno (FNUSA-ICRC), Prof. MUDr. Irena Rektorová, Ph.D., signed the Agreement on the establishment of a joint workplace called the International Clinical Research Centre.

It is the result of more than a year of negotiations between the representatives of St. Anne’s University Hospital in Brno and the Faculty of Medicine of Masaryk University. “This close connection will guarantee the achievement of better quality results and enable the concentration of biomedical research in Brno. For example, in the area of grants, it will be possible to jointly pursue large strategic projects and thus further promote the prestige of Brno as a leading Czech centre of science and research,” said Martin Bareš, Rector of MU.

The joint workplace will be within the St. Anne’s University Hospital in Brno and the Faculty of Medicine of Masaryk University at the level of an institute. “I have always declared that cooperation with Masaryk University is one of my priorities. The establishment of the joint workplace is a logical outcome of the connection between FNUSA and MU. It will be a relatively independent entity, including the internal structure and financing – all this will be managed by the head,” said Vlastimil Vajdák. The current director of FNUSA-ICRC, Prof. Irena Rektorová, M.D., Ph.D., will become the head of the FNUSA-ICRC.

The contract has also been approved by the Ministry of Health of the Czech Republic and will now be submitted to the Academic Senate of Faculty of Medicine and then to Academic Senate of Masaryk University. “I consider the establishment of another joint workplace of MU Faculty of Medicine and FNUSA to be a great step towards the optimization of scientific and research cooperation between both institutions and towards ensuring personnel stabilization of the existing joint staff. The joint institute will also be newly dedicated to teaching activities of young scientists,” said Martin Repko, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine of MU.

Creating a strategic plan and managing the joint ICRC institute will be the tasks of the head of the centre, Prof. Irena Rektorová, M.D., Ph.D. “I like new challenges, this will be one of the most challenging. My priorities will be excellence in research, transparency and financial sustainability of the ICRC. I believe that the joint workplace will contribute significantly to building a strong scientific platform in Brno,” added Prof. Rektorová.

Prof. Rektorová is an internationally renowned and respected neuroscientist, researcher and member of the committees of many European and international societies and scientific panels, with specialties in movement disorders, cognitive neurology, non-invasive brain stimulation and structural and functional imaging. She is also currently working as a research group leader at the Central European Institute of Technology CEITEC of Masaryk University and as a neurologist and head of the Centre for Abnormal Movements and Parkinsonism at the First Neurological Clinic of St. Anne’s University Hospital in Brno and the Faculty of Medicine of Masaryk University.

The signing of the contract was also attended by the Minister of Health of the Czech Republic Vlastimil Válek. “I very much appreciate that this unique project combines research in cooperation between medical and educational institutions, which will not only lead to quality results, but also involve experts from both fields and, last but not least, save the Ministry of Health funds. I wish my colleagues every success in their work,” Minister Válek thanked the participants.

Dean of LF MU Martin Repko, Director of FNUSA-ICRC Irena Rektorová, Director of FNUSA Vlastimil Vajdák

Rector of MU Martin Bareš, Minister of Health of the Czech Republic Vlastimil Válek, Director of FNUSA Vlastimil Vajdák, Director of FNUSA-ICRC Irena Rektorová