A multidisciplinary team of scientists from laboratories at the Department of Biology and the Department of Histology and Embryology at Masaryk University, CEITEC MU, and the University of Oslo has described a new mechanism by which cilia influence cell fate.
The laboratory led by Michaela Bosáková has long focused on research of cilia. These tiny cellular projections play a key role in the development of the human body, and their proper function is essential for maintaining health.
In their latest publication, the recent Biomedical Sciences PhD graduate Alexandru Nită and his colleagues proposed a mechanism by which impaired cilia function can lead to various diseases. In a study published in the prestigious Journal of Cell Biology, the authors demonstrate that the cell receptor FGFR2 utilises cilia for its signalling function. Mutations of this receptor occur in several diseases, including cancers and developmental syndromes. The research revealed that the mutated FGFR2 localises incorrectly outside the cilium, resulting in incorrect signalling. This discovery could contribute to the development of targeted treatments for certain ciliopathies.
A neurologist at the First Department of Neurology of the Faculty of Medicine at Masaryk University and the University Hospital in Brno, and head of a research group at CEITEC MU, will be the first Czech to lead this prestigious European professional society from 2028 to 2030.
On July 15, 2026, the Czech Ministry of Health presented the first National Strategy for Clinical Trials of Human Medicinal Products in the Czech Republic 2035, which establishes a long-term framework for the development of clinical research, the improvement of conditions for conducting clinical trials, and the expansion of patient access to innovative treatments. The national research infrastructure CZECRIN also contributed to the preparation of the document.
