Bio
Michal Šmída leads the Functional Genomics research group at CEITEC Masaryk University, focusing on the development of new therapeutic strategies for personalized cancer treatment, particularly chronic lymphocytic leukaemia and acute myeloid leukaemia. His team identifies weak points in cancer cells that hold potential for further clinical research and employs a range of molecular and cell biology techniques – such as CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing. They also develop genetically modified immune cells equipped which an artificial receptor that reprograms them to target and destroy cancer cells, and further refine these cells to increase their effectiveness.
The group also conducts large-scale screening of approved drugs on patient-derived cells to test their potential for new indications. This approach enables the rapid identification of alternative treatment options for otherwise resistant patients.
Michal Šmída gained experience at Otto von Guericke University in Magdeburg and at the CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine in Vienna.