FAKULTNI NEMOCNICE U SV ANNY V BRNE

Their core work

St. Anne's University Hospital in Brno is a major Czech clinical and research hospital with a strong focus on translational biomedical research — bridging laboratory science and patient care. Through its International Clinical Research Center (ICRC), the hospital conducts research in stroke treatment, regenerative medicine, cell and gene therapy, and environmental health sciences. It also plays an active role in EU-wide efforts to close the research and innovation gap between Western and Central/Eastern European institutions, contributing to health policy reform and institutional capacity building.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In the early period (2015–2018), FNUSA-ICRC focused heavily on clinical neuroscience — stroke recovery, brain imaging, stem cell therapies — alongside foundational work in human biomonitoring and environmental health. From 2019 onward, there is a clear pivot toward two directions: first, health research policy and closing the EU innovation gap (Alliance4Life, A4L_ACTIONS); second, nanomedicine and drug delivery systems (SINERGIA, PEPSA-MATE, MecHA-Nano). The coordination of MecHA-Nano in 2023 signals a deliberate move into mechanobiology and bio-nano interactions as a future research identity.

FNUSA-ICRC is transitioning from a clinical neuroscience contributor toward an independent research leader in nanomedicine and cell-nanoparticle interactions, while maintaining its role as a Central European health policy voice.

How they like to work

FNUSA-ICRC overwhelmingly operates as a consortium partner (17 of 20 projects), with only one coordination role — the recent MecHA-Nano project. They work across very large consortia (304 unique partners, 37 countries), which suggests they are valued as a reliable contributing partner rather than a project driver. Their breadth of partnerships and geographic diversity indicate an organization well-networked across Europe, open to joining diverse teams, and experienced in navigating multi-national project management.

With 304 unique consortium partners across 37 countries, FNUSA-ICRC has one of the most geographically diverse networks possible in H2020. Their partnerships span Western Europe, Scandinavia, and the Mediterranean, with particular strength in health and life science research networks.

What sets them apart

FNUSA-ICRC occupies a rare dual position: it is both a clinically active university hospital and a policy-engaged institution working to close the East-West research divide in Europe. This means they can offer partners both hands-on clinical research infrastructure in Central Europe and deep experience navigating the structural challenges of EU-13 research systems. For consortium builders, they bring Czech clinical trial capacity, patient access, and a track record of smooth participation across 20 H2020 projects — a low-risk, high-reliability partner.

Highlights from their portfolio

• MecHA-Nano
  Their only coordinated project (2023–2026), signaling a strategic push into mechanobiology and cell-nanoparticle research as an independent research leader.
• HBM4EU
  Europe's flagship human biomonitoring initiative with massive consortium — demonstrates FNUSA's environmental health credentials at continental scale.
• CETOCOEN Excellence
  Two successive phases (2017–2018 and 2020–2027) with their largest single funding (EUR 996,250), representing a long-term institutional investment in environmental health science capacity.