1. The Faculty of Medicine of the UK has a state-of-the-art angiograph for research in the experimental laboratory

The joint experimental laboratory represents an organic connection of three renowned workplaces and top international contacts in the field of clinical and translational medicine. “Our laboratory combines postgraduate education, medical research and the development of new technologies,” explains the head of the Physiological Institute of the 1st Faculty of Medicine, UK, prof. Ottomar Kittnar.

The laboratory deals with a wide range of topics and methods. “For example, we focus on interventional arrhythmology, interventional cardiology, cardiovascular surgery, intensive care medicine, and now also on pharmacology,” clarifies doc. Mikuláš Mlček from the Institute of Physiology, 1st Faculty of Medicine, UK. In addition, international superspecialization interactive workshops are organized in the laboratory.

For the vast majority of the laboratory’s projects, angiography is absolutely key – it is used for navigation during interventions (e.g. insertion of catheters, heart supports), but also when evaluating their effect. The acquisition of a state-of-the-art angiograph is thus a logical step to increase the top level of the laboratory.

“This is a strategic investment that will support teaching, science, research and innovation. That’s why I’m very glad that the 1st Faculty of Medicine took this step, and I’m convinced that the deposit will be returned to us,” says the dean of the 1st Faculty of Medicine, UK, prof. Martin Vokurka.

Among the essential features of the device are excellent image quality facilitating the identification of small structures and the navigation of newly developed devices, especially implantable ones, unlimited flexibility of movement around the room allowing the performance of very diverse types of procedures (catheterization, mini-intervention, surgery, hybrid) as well as orientational CT imaging without the need for transport to another device, typically used in artificial lung ventilation research.

“Thanks to the knowledge, technologies and international contacts that we acquire, the laboratory offers a very high added value and thus significantly supports the development and competitiveness of our biomedical research and development,” emphasizes Head II. internal clinics – clinics of cardiology and angiology 1.LF UK and VFN prof. Ales Linhart.

In the field of science, research projects of top domestic and foreign experts are solved in the laboratory. This is, for example, cooperation with Maastricht University, Lund University, University of Pavia or University of Sao Paulo.

The largest implemented projects are a series of studies of mechanical support in heart failure, a study of therapeutic hypothermia in post-resuscitation care, and a study of optimization of ventilation in severe lung damage such as ARDS.

“We are also newly dedicated to the CarDia project, which focuses on the mechanisms of heart failure development in conditions of diabetes and metabolic syndrome, and the IntegraCare project, which focuses on the automated real-time assessment of the development of health status in intensive and pre-hospital care,” says prof. Petr Neužil from II. internal clinics – cardiology and angiology clinics of the 1st Faculty of Medicine of the UK and VFN and the head of the Cardiology Department of the Homolce Hospital. The IntegraCare project was submitted to an intersectoral cooperation competition.

In the field of development, the laboratory mainly cooperates with foreign start-up companies focused on the development of unique technologies, as well as with the largest manufacturers of medical technology, both domestic (BTL, Linet) and international (e.g. Abbott, Medtronic, Edwards, Johnson & Johnson). Key projects are collaboration on the development of catheters for ablation of atrial fibrillation, preclinical testing of wireless pacemakers and development of new patented vascular prostheses for low flow rates.