Basic Project Identification Data
Project Title: | New Technologies for Translational Research in Pharmaceutical Sciences /NETPHARM |
About the project
The NETPHARM project – New Technologies for Translational Research in Pharmaceutical Sciences connects five leading research institutions (Charles University, UCT Prague, CEITEC MU, IOCB CAS CZ, IMC CAS CZ) into a unique network of excellence. Its aim is to strengthen translational research in the development of advanced pharmaceuticals, (nano)formulations, and targeted drug delivery systems. The project builds on multidisciplinary approaches in modern pharmacy, biomedicine, bioinformatics, and artificial intelligence, using the latest technologies and models to transfer knowledge from the laboratory to clinical practice. The research focuses primarily on vulnerable patient groups, such as pregnant women, the elderly, obese patients, patients with metabolic disorders, or impaired barrier function. NETPHARM creates a strong foundation for cutting-edge science with high application potential, the development of international cooperation, and the emergence of innovations in the field of drugs and diagnostics. The research project, with a budget of nearly 0.5 billion CZK, is coordinated by Charles University, Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové.
Participating research centres
Charles University is the largest and most productive research institution in the Czech Republic and one of the oldest universities in Europe. Research activities account for approximately one-third of its revenues, and academics and researchers make up more than half of the university's employees. According to official RVVI evaluations, UK has long been at the forefront of science and research in the Czech Republic. In the NETPHARM project, it acts as the leader and guarantor of the quality of scientific work through its two leading faculties in Hradec Králové – the Faculty of Pharmacy and the Faculty of Medicine. It supports interdisciplinary cooperation, internationalization, and excellence in research across its departments.
Faculty of Pharmacy, Charles University in Hradec Králové (FoP CU)
The Faculty of Pharmacy, Charles University in Hradec Králové is a leading research institution that has long been at the forefront of pharmacy and pharmacology in the Czech Republic. FoP CU's scientific teams are leaders in publication performance and their results regularly appear in the most prestigious journals. The faculty is also the most cited research institution in the Czech Republic in the field of pharmacy. In the NETPHARM project, it plays a key role as the main coordinator and contributes its extensive expertise in drug development, advanced infrastructure, and experience with excellent research projects. Together with the Faculty of Medicine of Charles University in Hradec Králové, it is building a unique Research and education center MEPHARED II, which connects pharmacy, biomedicine, and clinical practice.
Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Hradec Králové (FoM CU)
The Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Hradec Králové is a renowned educational and research institution with a long tradition in educating doctors and healthcare professionals. In the NETPHARM project, it focuses on the areas of clinical research, geriatrics, and pharmacotherapy, with a strong emphasis on transferring scientific knowledge into practice. FoM CU actively develops interdisciplinary links and the internationalization of research, thereby contributing significantly to innovation in biomedicine and pharmaceutical sciences. It is also a partner in the MEPHARED II investment project, which aims to create a modern campus linking teaching, research, and healthcare applications.
University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague (UCT)
The University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague is a leading institution focused on basic and applied research in chemistry, biochemistry, chemical engineering, and food science. It places great emphasis on cooperation with industry and the active transfer of scientific knowledge into practice. UCT is a founding member of The PARC consortium, which connects academic and industrial pharmaceutical research. For the NETPHARM project, UCT contributes its extensive experience and fully equipped laboratories for research in the field of drug delivery systems and formulation processes, which is key to the development of new medicinal products.
Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences (IOCB CAS CZ)
The Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences is a leading research institution specializing in basic research at the intersection of chemistry and biology, with a strong focus on translating research findings into applications, particularly in medicinal chemistry. In the NETPHARM project, IOCB is actively involved in the development of new bioconjugation methods on biomolecules and living cells, as well as in the research of ligands of human proteins key to gene transcription control. Thanks to its expertise in organic synthesis and structural biology, IOCB is an indispensable partner for innovative research in the NETPHARM project.
Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences (IMC CAS CZ)
The Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences is a leading scientific institution in the field of polymer research in the Czech Republic. It has many years of experience in applying research results in practice. In the NETPHARM project, IMC contributes its knowledge in the field of supramolecular polymer systems that respond to external stimuli and are designed for biomedical use, particularly in the diagnosis and treatment of inflammatory diseases. The institute's research covers a wide range of activities – from the synthesis of specific polymers to detailed analysis of their molecular structure, which enables the targeted development and optimization of materials with the required properties. The institute contributes to the project with both its professional know-how and extensive research facilities.
CEITEC Masaryk University (CEITEC MU)
The Central European Institute of Technology CEITEC MU is a cutting-edge research center focused primarily on basic research in the field of life sciences. The center also provides access to research infrastructures (core facilities), some of which offer unique services not only within the Czech Republic but also on a European scale. In the NETPHARM project, CEITEC MU contributes its unique capabilities in cryo-electron microscopy and tomography, which will enable detailed study of how therapeutic nanoparticles enter cells and penetrate biological membranes. This expertise is key to a deeper understanding of the mechanisms of action of new drugs.
Mission and objectives of the project
The mission of the NETPHARM project is to build an integrated research network connecting excellent teams of basic and applied research across universities and the Czech Academy of Sciences. The project aims to:
- develop new drugs, (nano)formulations, and targeted delivery systems with high therapeutic potential,
- apply cutting-edge technologies, including lipid and polymer nanoparticles, nanotechnologies, and biotechnologies,
- utilizing advanced experimental models and data tools including bioinformatics and AI,
- targeting research at specific groups of patients with insufficient therapeutic response,
- producing cutting-edge publications and patents,
- developing cooperation with industrial partners and participating in international research networks,
- supporting talented scientists including junior and foreign researchers,
- strengthening research infrastructure and professional management of scientific activities.
Objectives:
- the aim of the NETPHARM project is to create an integrated network of cooperating research and development centres of excellence, which are engaged in the translational development of advanced therapies and drug delivery systems,
- improving the competitiveness of research and development centres on an international scale,
- supporting the development of R&D centre research teams,
- modernization of research infrastructure – new modern equipment enabling cutting-edge research,
- close international cooperation with foreign research organizations, creating conditions for obtaining international grants. Participation in European research projects, such as Horizon Europe and others,
- publishing results in high-impact international journals.
NETPHARM is divided into five subject-specific Work Packages (WP1–WP5) that need a lot of interdisciplinary work and connecting different areas of science to get done. The project's key activities boost the international competitiveness of Czech pharmaceutical research, with a focus on long-term benefits for society.
International cooperation and research potential
The NETPHARM project opens up opportunities for establishing new international research partnerships in the field of pharmaceutical and biomedical sciences. It brings together excellent research teams from five prestigious institutions in the Czech Republic, combining expertise in drug synthesis and analysis, (nano)formulation development, preclinical and clinical evaluation, bioinformatics, and artificial intelligence. Thanks to its complexity, modern research infrastructure, and strong focus on transferring knowledge into clinical practice, NETPHARM is an ideal partner for collaboration on the development of new therapies, diagnostic methods, and technologies with high application potential.
Potential areas of cooperation:
- Development of internationalization – strengthening the international dimension and intensive scientific cooperation for research in the field of advanced drug development, (nano)formulations, and targeted drug delivery systems in the fields of modern pharmacy, pharmacology, chemistry, biomedicine, bioinformatics, nanotechnology, biotechnology, clinical pharmacy, or artificial intelligence, and dissemination of knowledge abroad,
- joint participation of selected members of the parties' research teams in international programs, such as the EU Framework Program for Research and Innovation – Horizon Europe,
- involvement in the preparation of scientific publications in cooperation with experts from abroad,
- exchange of scientific information, organization of seminars, colloquia, and symposia,
- incoming and outgoing mobility of researchers,
- other activities on which the partners agree to cooperate.
Uniqueness and strategic management of the project
NETPHARM is a truly exceptional project in the Czech research environment thanks to its scope, level of interdisciplinarity, and strategic focus on translational research with a real impact on patients. It is the only project of its kind that brings together universities and institutes of the Czech Academy of Sciences on such a large scale with the aim of developing advanced therapies and systems for the targeted delivery of drugs to specific patient groups. The uniqueness of the project is also reinforced by the active involvement of the International Scientific Advisory Board (ISAB), composed of leading global experts, which contributes to professional guidance, evaluation of outputs, and support for internationalization. NETPHARM thus represents a research ecosystem with high potential for scientific excellence, technology transfer, and global collaboration.
Project Board
The Project Board is the key governing body of the NETPHARM project. Its role is to provide strategic leadership, oversee the implementation of activities, and ensure all project objectives are met. This board is responsible for the successful implementation of the project in accordance with the signed Partnership Agreement, both at an expert and administrative level. It ensures the fulfilment of project outcomes through monitoring indicators, coordinates collaboration among partners, and addresses key decisions that influence the project's direction. The Project Board consists of representatives from all main project partners.
List of Project Board Members
Prof. PharmDr. Petr Pávek, PhD.
Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové, Charles University
Prof. MUDr. Stanislav Mičuda, PhD.
Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Králové, Charles University
Prof. Ing. František Štěpánek, PhD.
University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague
RNDr. Radim Nencka, PhD.
Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences
Prof. Mgr. Martin Hrubý, PhD., DSc.
Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences
Assoc. Prof. Mgr. Pavel Plevka, PhD.
CEITEC Masaryk University
International Scientific Advisory Board (ISAB)
The International Scientific Advisory Board (ISAB) is an independent advisory body that oversees the strategy and evaluates the activities of the project's expert team. Its primary task is to ensure the quality of expert project activities and to provide recommendations on meeting project objectives, the quality of results and outputs, knowledge transfer, and the utilisation of applied potential across all included disciplines.
The composition of the ISAB covers a wide range of expertise relevant to the project's research objectives. The board is mainly composed of prominent foreign experts in research and development, working at prestigious scientific and research institutions abroad.
List of ISAB Members
Prof. Maria da Conceição Montenegro, the chair of ISAB
ORCID 0000-0002-1523-5043, University of Porto, Portugal
Prof. Michael Lämmerhofer, the vice-chair of ISAB
ORCID 0000-0002-1318-0974, University of Tübingen, Germany
Prof. Kevin A. Schug
ORCID 0000-0003-4817-9508, University of Texas at Arlington, USA
Prof. Julio Flavio Fiore
ORCID 0000-0002-0019-8673, McGill University, Canada
Petr Jansa Ph.D.
ORCID 0000-0002-7001-1966, Thelium Therapeutics in San Carlos, USA
Prof. Henry Kopeček
ORCID 0000-0002-4451-6944, University of Utah, USA
Prof. Igor Lacík
ORCID 0000-0001-6037-3747, Polymer Institute of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
Prof. Søren Bak
ORCID 0000-0003-4100-115X, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
Prof. Francisco A. Macías
ORCID 0000-0001-8862-2864, Universidad de Cádiz, Spain
Social contribution
NETPHARM addresses key challenges in contemporary medicine and pharmacy – individualisation of treatment, improvement of drug efficacy, minimisation of side effects, and introduction of new therapeutic approaches for vulnerable patient groups such as the elderly, children, or patients with oncological disease. By combining advanced technologies such as nanomedicine, advanced pharmacokinetics, artificial intelligence, and personalized pharmacotherapy, the project significantly contributes to the development of the precise medicine of the future.
The project New Technologies for Translational Research in Pharmaceutical Sciences /NETPHARM,
project ID CZ.02.01.01/00/22_008/0004607, is co-funded by the European Union.
