MedChemBio Cluster

The main field in which the work of MedChemBio Cluster is directed is the area of biologically active substances, i.e. substances that find application in human and veterinary medicine as a medicament

Cluster MedChemBio will become a key player in cooperation between academic institutes, small and medium-sized companies (as well as large firms), suppliers, investors, professional and manufacturing enterprises in development, testing and production of medicaments. Thereby it will help to development of medicinal and biological chemistry in the Czech Republic. Cluster will enable all participants to assess the existing intellectual property.

Cluster will act in the Czech Republic and internationally in the long term as a structure of research and entrepreneurship support in the field of biologically active substances.

The main objectives can be summarized as follows:

• consultancy for Czech scientific workplaces in the field of technology transfer
• the creation of spin-off companies
• assess of intellectual property
• organization of substances testing
• transfer between laboratories and pilot plants
• certification and legislation
• investment in is the area of biologically active substances
• development of the region
• contacts with foreign commercial partners

The cluster strategy supports the whole the sector, which doesn´t have a common platform for contacts and cooperation in the Czech Republic.

Cluster is trying to build a structure that provides continuous support to cluster members but also to new subjects, and generally allow the development of new scientific and technical areas in the region. Cluster MedChemBio wants to support chemistry and biomedicine sector as well as bring together all stakeholders with an interest in this area.

Cluster now associates leading academic institutions (Palacky University in Olomouc, Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry in Prague and Institute of Chemical Technology Prague), major professional societies (Czech Chemical and Czech Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology) and a number of primarily small and medium-sized companies engaged in the fields of medicinal and biological chemistry. Cluster is also open to the accession of other members, including large pharmaceutical concerns.

MedChemBio helps start-up companies in the field with the successful development of their projects.Within the cluster workplaces are being prepared for testing the efficiency and safety of newly discovered substances, but also biomarkers and diagnostics. Thanks to the concentration of both the equipment and human potential, it is possible to carry on more research than in isolated laboratories.

An important part of the work will be exchange of information and promotion of the field in the Czech Republic. Specific research is already been prepared in the field of anti-substances and substances for the treatment of infectious diseases.

Various society meets in cluster MedChemBio. Members of cluster are remarkable academic institutes with a long tradition and the world's behalf, such as the Palacký University Olomouc, Prague Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry and Institute of Chemical Technology Prague, but also small and recently established companies, focused on research and development in the field of medical sciences. Combining scientific workplaces with specialized small companies in one place in the has proved in the world and we are glad that such clusters arise even in the Czech Republic.

Casual and close links between the academic world, application development and industry allows rapid application of academic results into practiceWe are the proud on the history of scientific achievements of researches in both Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry and Palacky University in Olomouc which has led to discoveries of new medicaments against AIDS and cancer.

Time has progressed and calls for new approaches. Close connection between several types of institutions, the experience of people from different disciplines, from science to the production and marketing are necessary. Olomouc cluster is an example of these new approaches of how to use our rich potential.One of the fathers of the idea of establishing a cluster Doc. MUDr. Marián Hajdúch, Ph.D. from the Faculty of Medicine of Palacky University in Olomouc argues that cluster MedChemBio is the logical result of long-term research and cooperation of many institutions and companies around the Palacký University and Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry AC CR. Excellent results in this area does not come up suddenly, but follow-up expertise of many different teams and existing intellectual property that can be subsequently transferred into practice and be commercialized.