June 2026 in Science at MED MUNI
Here is an overview of the most interesting achievements in science and research at our faculty leading up to the summer break.
Stjepan Uldrijan's project received an excellent final evaluation from the Czech Science Foundation
A project focused on researching new treatment options for melanoma, carried out by Stjepan Uldrijan’s research group at the Department of Biology, was rated “excellent” by the Czech Science Foundation (GA ČR) in its final evaluation.
The project "New Molecular Mechanisms of Dynamic Control of the ERK Pathway in Melanoma as Potential Therapeutic Targets" aims to understand the mechanisms underlying the growth of malignant melanoma, one of the most aggressive types of skin cancer. The research focuses on the ERK signalling pathway, the disruption of which is critical to the development of this disease. Although current treatments target this pathway, patients often develop resistance, limiting its long-term efficacy and increasing the need for new therapeutic approaches.
The research offers an innovative perspective on melanoma treatment—based on the finding that not only suppression but also excessive activation of the ERK pathway can be detrimental to tumor cells. The research team is therefore focusing on the so-called “MAPK optimum” and on newly discovered interactions between the ERK pathway and other cellular mechanisms. The goal is to better understand the regulation of these processes and to verify their potential for developing new therapeutic strategies that could contribute to more effective melanoma treatment in the future.
The final evaluation of the project reflects exceptional results that meet high standards of scientific work, a significant contribution to expanding current knowledge, and an impact on the future direction of research in molecular biology and medicine.
