Newsletter and Internal information 7/2021
20 Jul 2021, 9:34  |  Čeština

RECETOX News 7/2021

The great success of the EIRENE research infrastructure

At the beginning of July, the European Strategy Forum for Research Infrastructures (ESFRI) published a list of eleven research infrastructures, that will become a part of the European Research Infrastructures Roadmap. The roadmap defines research infrastructures of pan-European relevance focusing on the long-term needs of the European research community. The EIRENE research infrastructure, the preparation of which is coordinated by RECETOX, is the first ESFRI infrastructure coordinated from the Czech Republic. The aim of the EIRENE infrastructure is to support comprehensive research of the relationships between human health and the environment, way of life, diet, physical exercise, economic pressures and psychosocial problems.

EIRENE has over fifty partners from fifteen European Union countries, and the United Kingdom and the United States. We keep you updated about EIRENE’s development.

You can find more HERE

First students to graduate the Environment and Health Master’s program

The Environment and Health Master’s program celebrated its very first graduates who successfully completed their studies on June 21, 2021. The students Petr Čermák, Marek Súkeník and Michal Kolář successfully passed the state final exam and defended their diploma theses.

Congratulations!

17th RECETOX Summer School

We are glad that we were able this year to host for the seventeenth time RECETOX Summer School on Toxic Substances, which, like last year, took place exclusively online.

227 participants from 46 countries and shared their experiences in the field of environmental and social epidemiology. Among the summer school lecturers were world experts, such as Sir Michael Marmot from the University of London, Bibek Paudel from Stanford University, Irina Zastenskaya from WHO, Ake Bergman from Stockholm University, Sofia Norager from the European Commission, and many others.

We are already looking forward to next year’s summer school!

RECETOX Research Infrastructure evaluation

In mid-July, the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic informed the coordinators of national research infrastructures, including the RECETOX research infrastructure, about the results of the regular international evaluation of research infrastructures. The evaluation, which is organized periodically, is the basis for further funding of research infrastructures. The RECETOX RI evaluation turned out great and RECETOX received the best possible rating.

Capacity building activities in Europe

Despite the bans on travel, experience sharing with non-EU countries continues online. The Stockholm Convention Regional Centre at RECETOX currently runs three large capacity building projects in Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina and in Ukraine. In June 2021, we organized 2 trainings on legal infrastructure and built knowledge regarding the monitoring of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) for over 120 experts and national administration representatives in Bosnia and Herzegovina and two trainings for more than 100 industrial holders of polychlorinated biphenyls and enforcement officers in Moldova.

In addition, the Regional Centre representatives also lectured at summer schools in Ukraine and at RECETOX and were able to reach more than 400 participants explaining new EU policies and approaches in upgrading EU risk assessment tools to support the Chemical Strategy for Sustainability.

 

Prof. Jaroslav Koča passed away

Professor Jaroslav Koča, a prominent structural biologist, chairman of the Grant Agency of the Czech Republic, and founder of CEITEC who significantly contributed to the development of science in Brno has died aged 65.

Celebrating Prof. Holoubek’s 70th birthday

On April 11, Professor Ivan Holoubek, one of the founders of RECETOX, celebrated his 70th birthday. To commemorate his birthday RECETOX bought a bench in his name at the castle park in Český Krumlov, to which prof. Holoubek has a special bond.

The symbolic ceremony took place on June 22, 2021.

RECETOX student accomplishments

During June, various student awards were announced and among the winners were many RECETOX students.
We congratulate all students on their success and wish them many more in the future.

RECETOX presents outcomes of the third phase of the Global Monitoring Plan

An expert meeting was held online on 24 and 25 June 2021 to review five regional reports summarizing changes in levels and trends of the Stockholm Convention listed chemicals (persistent organic pollutants) observed in the last five years. Data and IT experts from RECETOX presented the collected datasets from all corners of the Earth and newly developed features of the electronic portal of the Global Monitoring Plan (pops-gmp.org). Both data and new charts, figures and comparative tables will be also assisting experts in the preparation of the POPs global report that is due in the end of 2021 for the work of the effectiveness evaluation committee.

In addition, there will be also a side event on POPs monitoring organized by the SCRC Czech Republic with partners during the online segment of the upcoming Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention on 28 July 2021 in the evening (CEST). If you wish to participate, contact us.

Internal information

Join the SPRINT study

The SPRINT study is currently recruiting adult participants, ideally couples from one household who live at least 2 km away from agricultural areas. We are especially interested in people who prefer a healthy "organic" diet. What can you gain by participating?

  • data on pesticides in your body or in your environment
  • information on the possible effects of the pesticides on human health
  • advice on preventing exposure to pesticides

Details at: www.recetox.muni.cz/sprint

To join the study, please send an email to sprint@recetox.muni.cz.

 

Time for Relaxing

Summertime brings our vacations and a time for relaxing. Why should we prioritize this and how relax on holiday can help you perform better at work? The answers are in this article.

Some of us will choose to stay at home for our days off. How to get the most of it is written HERE.

Elevator in D29 will be replaced

During the months of August and September, it will be necessary to replace the elevator in pavilion D29, which will be out of service. To ensure the necessary transport, we are working on an alternative solution using an elevator in one of the neighbouring pavilions. We will inform you about the details in time.

Upcoming calls

  • GACR – LA grants

    Czech Science Foundation is in the role of a partner organization - currently project proposals can be submitted in cooperation with the German agency DFG, the Austrian agency FWF and the Swiss agency SNSF.

    • deadline for cooperation with DFG, SNSF, FWF – 1. 10. 2021   
       

Planned Calls

  • TA ČR (Technology Agency of the Czech Republic) – TREND – September 2021, Subprogram 1

  • GACR – LA grants - Czech Science Foundation is in the role of a partner organization. In autumn 2021 a call will be announced in cooperation with the Polish agency NCN and the Slovenian agency ARRS.

Submitted proposals

AZV (CZECH HEALTH RESEARCH COUNCIL) – Subprogram 1

  • prof. Jiří Damborský - New individualized therapeutic strategies for SCN1A-associated epilepsies (in cooperation with Faculty of Medicine)

  • Jiří Kohoutek in cooperation with dr. Jana Navrátilová - Perfluorinated and polyfluorinated substances, their detection and impact on human reproduction

  • doc. Bořilová Linhartová - Molecular markers for risk stratification and precise secondary prevention of complications in patients with inhalation injury

  • PharmDr. Zdeněk Spáčil - Presymptomatic biomarkers of Alzheimer disease

  • PharmDr. Zdeněk Spáčil - Novel biomarkers for non-invasive in vitro diagnostics in clinical embryology (in cooperation with Faculty of Medicine)

TA ČR (Technology Agency of the Czech Republic) – Environment for Life

  • Jan Kuta - Development and implementation of the national monitoring network for mercury monitoring in the ambient air using passive sampling method

Successful Projects

TA ČR (Technology Agency of the Czech Republic) – GAMA 2 MU internal call

  • Martin Marek - Engineering and characterization of luciferases with improved bioluminescent properties

Excellent evaluation of GACR projects

  • prof. Petr Klán - Photorelease of CO and H2S as the Gaseous Signaling Molecules for Biological and Medicinal Applications (2018-2020)

  • prof. Vladimír Šindelář - Chiral bambusurils (2018-2020)

Selected publications

T5:

Sobotka, J., Lammel, G., Slobodník, J., Schink, A., Prokeš, R., & Vrana, B., Dynamic passive sampling of hydrophobic organic compounds in surface seawater along the South Atlantic Ocean east-to-west transect and across the Black Sea. (2021) Marine Pollution Bulletin, doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112375

Ahrendt, C., DeCoite, M., Pulgar, J., Pozo, K., Galbán-Malagón, C., & Hinojosa, I. A., A decade later, reviewing floating marine debris in Northern Chilean Patagonia. (2021) Marine Pollution Bulletin, doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112372

Smutna, M., Vecerkova, J., Priebojova, J., Pipal, M., Krauss, M., & Hilscherova, K., Variability in retinoid-like activity of extracellular compound mixtures produced by wide spectra of phytoplankton species and contributing metabolites. (2021) Journal of Hazardous Materials, doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.125412

 

T10:

Gorecki, L., Misiachna, A., Damborsky, J., Dolezal, R., Korabecny, J., Cejkova, L., … Soukup, O., Structure-activity relationships of dually-acting acetylcholinesterase inhibitors derived from tacrine on N-methyl-d-Aspartate receptors. (2021) European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, doi.org/10.1016/j.ejmech.2021.113434

Vanryckeghem, F., Huysman, S., Smedes, F., Van Langenhove, H., Vanhaecke, L., & Demeestere, K., A Simple Teabag Equilibrium Passive Sampler using hydrophilic divinylbenzene sorbent for contaminants of emerging concern in the marine environment. (2021) Science of The Total Environment, doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.146055

Xu, Y., Tian, C., Nizzetto, L., & Zhang, G., Role of low-latitude forests in modulating forest filter effect on a continental scale: Long-term simulation on PCB-153 in Chinese forests. (2021) Science of The Total Environment, doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.146285

 

Q1:

Hansen, J. D., Loftin, K. A., Laughrey, Z., & Adamovsky, O., Neither microcystin, nor nodularin, nor cylindrospermopsin directly interact with human toll-like receptors. (2021) Chemosphere, doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.129623

Bošković, N., Bílková, Z., Šudoma, M., Bielská, L., Škulcová, L., Ribitsch, D., … Hofman, J., Conazole fungicides epoxiconazole and tebuconazole in biochar amended soils: Degradation and bioaccumulation in earthworms. (2021) Chemosphere, doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.129700

Bartosova, M., Borilova Linhartova, P., Musilova, K., Broukal, Z., Kukletova, M., Kukla, L., & Izakovicova Holla, L., Association of the CD14 ‐260C/T polymorphism with plaque‐induced gingivitis depends on the presence of Porphyromonas gingivalis. (2021) International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry,  doi.org/10.1111/ipd.12847

Kubickova, B., Schenk, J. A., Ramm, F., Markuškienė, K., Reetz, J., Dremsek, P., … Ulrich, R. G., A broadly cross-reactive monoclonal antibody against hepatitis E virus capsid antigen. (2021) Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, doi.org/10.1007/s00253-021-11342-7

RECETOX in Media

RECETOX Events

Minamata Online Series

Interested in mercury?

The Secretariat of the Minamata Convention on Mercury organizes season 2 of the Minamata Online to support government officials, scientists, NGOs and other stakeholders of the international mercury community. There are sessions on the latest advances in mercury science, but also other sessions oriented towards the implementation of the Convention as well as calendar of preparatory meetings for the 4th session of the Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention on Mercury held in two parts, online and in person.

Check the Minamata Online Season 2 calendar and save the dates for your participation. Registration to the first session of the Season 2 communicating mercury science entitled: Global change and biogeochemical mercury cycling organized on 22 July is now open.

Registration is HERE

The calendar of Season 2 is  HERE

Save the date

Recruitment of new employees

We are looking for new colleagues

Currently, we have these open vacancies:

We would be grateful for sharing them as well, or if you already know about a great candidate for one or a few of the positions, feel free to recommend them to us by sending their CV to rcx-hr@recetox.muni.cz

Newcomers at RECETOX

We welcome new colleagues to the center and wish them a lot of work success!

Faraneh Haddadi

Researcher and PhD student
Research group of Stanislav Mazurenko, Artificial Intelligence in Protein Engineering

 

Paula da Silva Tourinho

Postdoc
Research group of Jakub Hofman, Soil Environmental Chemistry and Toxicology

 

Ottavio Bedocchi

Researcher and Ph.D. student
Research group of Petr Klán, Organic Photochemistry

Marek Pastierik

IT specialist
Research Infrastructure, Information Systems

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Masaryk University

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