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1. Mar. 2024
Getting funding tends to be the Achilles heel of most research projects – especially those that link different research areas. However, it is often interdisciplinarity that brings surprising and innovative results. Jaroslav Koča, one of the founders of the CEITEC consortium, was aware of this and was instrumental in setting up an internal scholarship fund for CEITEC PhD students to support their projects on the borderland between material and life sciences. What can successful applicants get from the Jaroslav Koča Bridge Fund and what innovations has the fund prepared for this year's call, which is already open until 31 May?
The fund, which bears the name of Jaroslav Koča, provides successful applicants from the CEITEC consortium with a monthly stipend of CZK 10,000 for their joint project. This amount was previously due in full to the researcher who applied for funding for the project. However, researchers now have also the option of submitting a project jointly, in which case the amount is divided equally between the two parties involved. The lump sum for consumables of CZK 50 000 per year is maintained. As in previous calls, awardees also have the option of requesting an additional extension, explaining why their project should be funded for one more year.
So that you don't have to search for details on how you can apply for money from the fund, we've asked a successful applicant from last year's call. Peter Pajtinka, from Robert Vácha's research group at CEITEC MUNI, embarked on a project with Michal Urbánek, head of the CEITEC Nano lab at CEITEC VUT in the Brno Technology Park, to study proteins and their interactions with cell membranes.
Why is it good to know how proteins "touch" cell membranes? What was the focus of your project?
Cell membranes, which are portrayed in textbooks as static, planar structures, are in fact very dynamic and constantly changing shape. Some proteins are sensitive to the type of curvature of membranes, and these proteins play a key role in the organization and regulation of many cellular processes such as membrane transport and cell signalling. The absence or poor function of these proteins has been linked, for example, to various neurodegenerative diseases. My research focuses on unravelling the mechanisms by which a specific type of peptide, the amphiphilic helix, responds to membrane curvature. Understanding these mechanisms not only advances our fundamental understanding of cell biology, but also has potential implications for the development of novel therapeutic strategies against neurodegenerative disorders.
Was it clear from the beginning that you would need to involve a colleague from the materials science field in your project, or did you come to this decision during the course of your research?
At the beginning of the research, we had simulation results that showed that some peptides prefer negative curvature of the cell membrane. Unfortunately, experimental validation is not easy and our attempts to collaborate with international colleagues failed in the absence of preliminary experimental data. But then coincidence played a role, because at that time the head of our research group met Michal Urbánek and found out that at CEITEC BUT, they could produce exactly the type of surface we needed to experimentally test our results. And the idea of cooperation was born.
Why did you choose the Jaroslav Koča Bridge Fund for funding?
When Michal and I started talking about a joint project and looking for resources, we came across this internal funding opportunity on our website, where all the necessary information was available.
What did the funding application entail? Did you and Michal have to coordinate when you submitted the application?
The application process itself was very simple. All I had to do beforehand was to put together a proposal for a scientific project, including an assessment of potential risks, and describe the potential application. I then downloaded a form from the fund's website, which I filled in and debugged the information together with Michal. I then had the final version of our proposal signed by my supervisor, i.e. Robert Vácha, and then by the project partner, i.e. Michal, and sent a scan of the document to the fund coordinator's e-mail.
What all did you finance with the help of the fund?
Our project was relatively material-light, but instrument-intensive. Fortunately, the CEITEC Nano core facility is well equipped, but the fee for its use could not be covered by the fund, so we had to deal directly with the facility, which was helpful. The money from the Jaroslav Koča Bridge Fund was used to finance a workshop where I learned how to use the CEITEC Nano devices for analysing our samples, as well as some of the tools such as laboratory slides. Fortunately, we had already purchased the lipids that were necessary for the research as part of our laboratory's regular stock. I was happy to have Tomáš Šamořil, who was involved in the project on site, help me with everything in the core facility at CEITEC BUT.
What has the project brought you in terms of personal development? Did you have to deal with anything unpleasant?
I'm basically a theoretical chemist who sits mainly in front of a computer and does various simulations, so encountering the lab world and moving around in clean rooms was a new experience for me. I found that not everything works the way one imagines based on theory. I was also struck by how some things take time – for example, unavailability of lab materials or long lead times, you just don't come across that in simulations.
The Jaroslav Koča Bridge Fund not only supports research linking the material and life sciences, but also creates an environment for the personal and interdisciplinary development of young scientists. With the current call open until 31 May 2024, it offers PhD students a unique opportunity to receive funding and get involved in projects that can push the boundaries of science and bring innovation to different fields. The Jaroslav Koča Bridge Fund thus continues to play its role in pushing CEITEC to higher standards of creating an interdisciplinary environment for excellence in research.
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