Basic information: The project aims to evaluate the genetic diversity of the unexplored but critically endangered fish, the weather loach. Regular removal of muddy sediments in habitats accompanies the species´ rescue transfers despite a lack of knowledge of its biology and population sizes. We will establish procedures for effective population size estimates and to minimize the number of individuals not caught before technological intervention in the habitat. We develop a reproducible methodological procedure for evaluating individuals´ genetic diversity, origin and ploidy and pilot-test it at 30 localities across Czech watersheds. Practical application of the methodology will prevent unwanted mixing of reproductively and by-origin incompatible populations and different-ploidy individuals during transfers.

Registration No: SS07010366

Project Duration: 1. 4. 2024 – 31. 12. 2026

Principal investigator: RNDr. Lukáš Choleva, Ph.D.   Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics CAS, v. v. i.

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Basic information:

The project aims to develop a standardized, safe and efficient method for curing dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD) - the most frequent cause of visual impairment that currently lacks treatment. The work will bring promising retina pigment epithelial (RPE) cell research to a clinical trial using patient-derived stem cell therapy. The Specific aims are focused at: 1) isolation, cultivation and optimization of human RPE cells, primary hRPEs and induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived RPEs; 2) preparation of nanofibrous scaffold; 3) transplantation of hRPE-covered scaffolds in the subretinal space; 4) non-invasive (OCT, mfERG) and end-stage cell and tissue characterization (IHC, tEM); 5) establishment of good manufacturing practice (GMP) protocols and clinical-grade cell banking.

Registration No: TO01000107

Project Duration: 1. 1. 2021 – 30. 4. 2024

Principal investigator: prof. MVDr. Jan Motlík, DrSc.   Ústav živočišné fyziologie a genetiky AV ČR, v. v. i.

Other solver: MUDr. Miroslav Veith      Fakultní nemocnice Královské Vinohrady

Other solver: Professor Goran Petrovski, MD, Ph.D., Dr. habil.   University of Oslo, Center for Eye Research

Other solver: Ing. Hana Studenovská, Ph.D.      Ústav makromolekulární chemie AV ČR, v. v. i.

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Achieved results:

In the project, following works were published:

• Richard Nagymihaly, Yaroslav Nemesh, Taras Ardan, Jan Motlik, Jon Roger Eidet, Morten C. Moe, Linda Hildegard Bergersen, Lyubomyr Lytvynchuk, Goran Petrovski, The retinal pigment epithelium: at the forefront of the blood-retinal barrier in physiology and disease, Chapter No. 4 in Tissue Barriers in Disease, Injury and Regeneration, ISBN: 978-0-12-818561

• Lucie Tichotova, Hana Studenovska, Goran Petrovski, Stepan Popelka, Yaroslav Nemesh, Miroslava Sedlackova, Saskia Drutovic, Sonali Rohiwal, Pavla Jendelova, Slaven Erceg, Anna Brymova, Ana Artero-Castro, Lyubomyr Lytvynchuk, Zbynek Stranak, Zdenka Ellederova, Jan Motlık and Taras Ardan, Advantages of nanofibrous membranes for culturing of primary RPE cells compared to commercial scaffolds, in: Acta Ophthalmologica 2021

• Sonali Suresh Rohiwal, Zdenka Ellederová, Taras Ardan and Jiri Klima, Advancement in Nanostructure-Based Tissue-Engineered Biomaterials for Retinal Degenerative Diseases, in: Biomedicines 2021, 9, 1005

Zpráva o spolupráci na společných experimentech v Liběchově.