Physicians and health care professionals focusing on precision medicine at University Hospital Brno are involved in or contribute to a number of research projects in the of precision medicine. In recent years, these projects have also enabled significant developments, and the University Hospital Brno and its relevant departments are currently the leaders in the field of precision medicine in the Czech Republic. Below are examples of grant projects in the fields of precision oncology and rare diseases conducted at University Hospital Brno. These include only projects specifically related to precision medicine, which represents the highest level of treatment personalization of treatment; cohort or stratification biomarker studies are not listed.
Examples of the projects
GENESIS (Genomic Alterations Platform for Next Clinical Studies) – national platform of outputs and results of recommendations from molecular tumor boards (Internal Hematology and Oncology Department and Department of Pathology, University Hospital Brno and Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University).
GENESIS is a clinical and molecular registry coordinated by the national infrastructure CZECRIN, which collects the results of consultations from molecular tumor boards (MTB), shares individual results, and tries to harmonize the outputs and procedures at national level. It is a multicentric collaboration in the field of molecular tumor boards across the Czech Republic. The ultimate goal is to monitor indication criteria for MTB in oncology patients in the Czech Republic, harmonize methodological approaches, interpretation, indication of appropriate targeted therapy, and improve the outcomes of personalized oncology treatment.
Work packages (WPs) of the project GENESIS:
WP1: Molecular-genetic profiling, source/raw data, standardization of outputs (PI: Prof. Slaby)
WP2: Clinical data, genomic-driven recommendations and their standardization, reporting, sharing of outputs (learning curve) (PI: dr. Grell)
WP3: E-platform for data collection, data analysis (PI: dr. Svobodnik)
WP4: Ethical and legal issues of personalized data collection (PIs: Koscik, M.D.; Halouzka)
WP5: Outcome-based pharmacoeconomic analyses (PI: Říhová, M.D.)
WP6: Dissemination of outputs, collaboration with key stakeholders (PI: Assoc. Prof. Demlová)
Rapid Whole Genome Sequencing (rWGS) in neonates and pediatric patients in the ICU – Project BabyFox (Pediatric Department, University Hospital Brno and Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, CEITEC).
Whole genome sequencing, including the interpretation of sequencing data with targeted phenotype-driven analysis in a matter of days - the time from sample collection to release of the preliminary data report is less than 7 days (ideally 5 days).
Compared to genetic indication, rWGS is expected to have an immediate impact on patient treatment in addition to diagnosis.
Two centers – University Hospital Brno and University Hospital Motol
It is planned to include the enrollment of 30 probands (plus their parents) from each center.
We will perform a total of 60 rWGS on probands, with at least 50 in trio setting.
Grant projects
Precision oncology
AZV (Czech Health Research Council) grant NU20-03-00240 (2020-2023) Whole exome sequencing, low-coverage genome sequencing, and transcriptome sequencing for the purposes of precision oncology in pediatric patients with high-risk and relapsed solid tumors (Department of Pediatric Oncology, University Hospital Brno, CEITEC, Masaryk University).
AZV (Czech Health Research Council) grant NV19-03-00562 (2019-2023) Utilization of global methylation profiles and comprehensive analysis of fusion genes for therapeutic planning in pediatric oncology (Department of Pediatric Oncology, University Hospital Brno, CEITEC, Masaryk University).
IGA CZ grant 16-33209A (2016-2019) Next-generation sequencing and expression profiling as a diagnostic basis for proposing individualized treatment plans for children with solid tumors (Department of Pediatric Oncology, University Hospital Brno, CEITEC, Masaryk University).
IGA CZ grant 16-34083A (2016-2019) Receptor tyrosine kinases and related signaling pathways as potential targets for the treatment of refractory solid tumors in childhood (Department of Pediatric Oncology, University Hospital Brno, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University).
Personalized Treatment in Pediatric Oncology: Towards "Liquid Dynamic Medicine" and "N-of-1 Clinical Trials", MUNI/A/1625/2023, 01.01.2024 - 31.12.2024, Department of Pediatric Oncology, University Hospital Brno, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University.
AZV (Czech Health Research Council): Advanced Molecular Analyses for Comprehensive Diagnosis and Monitoring of Patients with Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma: Utilization of Gene Expression Profiling, Liquid Biopsies, and Third-Generation Sequencing (CEITEC Brno, Internal Hematology and Oncology Department and Department of Pathology, University Hospital Brno); NU22-08-00227.
AZV (Czech Health Research Council) grant NU23-03-00401: Advanced Genomic Characterization of Secondary Myeloid Malignancies: Implications for Diagnosis and Prognosis (Internal Hematology and Oncology Department and Department of Pathology, University Hospital Brno)
ALL TARGET: A precision medicine randomized trial for patients with relapsed or refractory T-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia based on a functional approach (European ATTRACT program, European Working Group for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia EWALL), 2024-2029 (Internal Hematology and Oncology Department and Department of Pathology, University Hospital Brno).
TA CZ: Personalized Medicine – Diagnostics and Therapy; TN01000013, 2019-2022.
Rare diseases
4/2020 SUp Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital Brno, reference number 31-270420/EK, project number 23/20 Use of modern genomic methods to identify genetic causes of rare diseases in the pediatric population.
12/2022 SUp Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital Brno, reference number 12-071222/EK, project number 198/22 Use of whole exome/whole genome sequencing to identify genetic causes of rare diseases in pediatric patients without a diagnosis.
AZV (Czech Health Research Council) grant NU20-07-00145 The Role of Pathogenic Genetic Variants Detected by Exome Sequencing in the Etiology of Pediatric Neurodevelopmental Disorders.