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31. Oct. 2025
Interdisciplinarity lies at the heart of CEITEC – combining different perspectives, tools, and methodologies is proving to be the way to uncovering truly innovative ideas. Recognizing this, Jaroslav Koča, one of the founders of the CEITEC consortium, played a key role in establishing a dedicated internal scholarship fund to foster collaboration between the material and life sciences. This way, the Jaroslav Koča Bridge Fund supports PhD candidates who are not afraid to connect fields and explore new frontiers. This year, the fund supports two projects submitted by CEITEC Brno University of Technology students: one advancing non-invasive neuromodulation and another developing simple, low-cost biosensors for environmental health monitoring.
The Jaroslav Koča Bridge Fund provides successful applicants from among the students at the CEITEC consortium with a monthly stipend of CZK 10,000, with a lump sum for consumables of CZK 50,000 per year. Proposed projects must focus on interdisciplinary research that bridges two research programmes – one in material sciences and one in life sciences – and involve PhD candidates working in both laboratories. The stipend is awarded for one year, but the PhD candidate may reapply in the next call if necessary.
Beyond funding, the Bridge Fund helps researchers develop essential skills such as grant writing, time management, presentation, and networking, preparing them for successful scientific careers.
Deep Brain Stimulation Without Surgery
David Rose from the Bioelectronic Materials and Devices research group at CEITEC BUT explores one of neuroscience’s most exciting frontiers – non-invasive brain stimulation. Such stimulation is used therapeutically to modulate the brain’s activity by applying small electrical signals through the skin without the need for surgery, and as a tool to study the functions of the brain.
David’s project focuses on a promising modern version of this technique called temporal interference stimulation. This works by applying two slightly offset high-frequency electrical signals, which oscillate thousands of times a second. When the two signals overlap in the brain, they create an “interference pattern” at a much lower frequency, which can be tuned to stimulate specific neurons.
This method could make it possible to stimulate deep brain regions without surgery, a goal scientists have pursued for decades. If successful, it could lead to new, non-invasive therapies for neurological diseases such as Parkinson’s disease, offering safer and more accessible treatment options. David’s work not only investigates how this technique functions but also seeks to refine it for clinical use.
Turning Smartphones into BPA Detectors
Hatef Bokaei is working on a simple, low-cost biosensor to detect Bisphenol A (BPA) – a common environmental toxin used in the manufacturing of various plastics – directly from human urine samples. His concept takes inspiration from the familiar glucose meter, adapting it for environmental health monitoring.
By combining a gentle chemical treatment with an enzyme-based signal, the sensor can turn a regular glucose meter or even a smartphone-connected device into a personal BPA detector. The aim is to make complex chemical testing more accessible, affordable, and user-friendly, empowering people to monitor their own exposure to environmental toxins.
Within this project, Hatef collaborates with his colleague Arezoo Saadati, a former holder of the Jaroslav Koča Bridge Fund scholarship. Her expertise in electrochemistry and enzyme inhibition bring valuable experience and creativity to this collaboration.
Projects like these exemplify the spirit of the Jaroslav Koča Bridge Fund – fostering innovative, interdisciplinary research that bridges disciplines, laboratories, and ideas to create meaningful scientific impact.
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