Brain Week took place from 11-17 March 2024, with nine cities across the country participating this year. For the first time, Brno also participated, thanks to the contribution of the Faculty of Medicine of Masaryk University and the Brno University Hospital. It is a festival of the latest discoveries and trends in brain research and neuroscience, which is part of Brain Awareness Week (BAW) - a global campaign to raise public awareness of the achievements and benefits of brain research. The tradition of Brain Week in the Czech Republic was initiated and founded by Czech neuroscientist Professor Josef Syka.
The Brain Week festival is organised by the Czech Academy of Sciences and the Czech Society for Neuroscience with the aim of reaching out to the general public. In Brno, for the first time, lectures were held in cooperation with the Faculty of Medicine of Masaryk University, organized by the Neurosurgery Clinic of the Faculty of Medicine and the Faculty of Medicine of the Medical University of Brno. Professor MUDr. Martin Smrčka, Ph.D., MBA presented the latest findings in the field of brain aneurysms and vascular malformations of the brain, Associate Professor MUDr. Pavel Fadrus, Ph.D. introduced the audience to the latest trends in the treatment of brain metastases at the Neurooncology Centre in Brno. The use of modern imaging methods and special techniques, which are very important in preoperative planning of neurosurgical operations, was presented by Doc. MUDr. Miloš Keřkovský, Ph.D. from the Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Brno University Hospital. Pre-operative examination and preparation of patients for resection procedures in cancer diseases while conscious (so-called awake resection) from the perspective of a speech therapist was presented by Ph.Dr., Mgr. Milena Košt'álová, Ph.D., and from the perspective of a psychologist Mgr. Kateřina Procházková.The block of lectures on this topic was concluded by Marek Sova, MD, who dealt with this issue from the perspective of a neurosurgeon and introduced the audience to the latest findings as well as his experience with operations on more than 140 patients. Very interesting was also an interactive seminar on the topic What it is like when the brain "doesn't work", which was prepared by doctors from the Neurological Clinic of the University Hospital Brno - MUDr. Iva Šrotová, Ph.D, MUDr. Hana Pikulová (outpatient specialist from the Neurological Clinic of the University Hospital Brno) and MUDr. Magdaléna Hladíková. MUDr. Václav Vybíhal, Ph.D. from the Neurosurgery Clinic introduced the audience to modern techniques and procedures in brain surgery and presented the latest trends. The Department of Communication and External Relations of the Faculty of Medicine also participated in the preparation of the event. There was great interest in the lectures, attended by members of the public and students of the Faculty of Medicine. Practically all of them were fully booked and the audience was very active in discussing all the topics.
Every year, over sixty students come to Brno hospitals for exchange internships under the auspices of the IFMSA student organisation. They take home not only valuable work experience.
