The Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion has established a cooperation with Finnish researchers. They will focus on natural killer cells.
25.04.2023 / 16:11 | Aktualizováno: 25.04.2023 / 16:14
The Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion (UHKT) and The Finnish Red Cross Blood Service (FRCBS) will jointly investigate the possibilities of treating blood cancers using "killer cells". Specific types of white blood cells can find a cancer cell and destroy it. The aim of the international collaboration is to use this ability in treatment. The connection with the Finnish partners has been established thanks to the support of the Czech Embassy in Finland.
"International consortia are always a prestigious thing. I am very pleased that there has been a mutual consensus. Signing of the memorandum of cooperation on research, development and innovation is a valuable opportunity to discuss issues around the same table and share different perspectives and experiences," said Petr Cetkovský, Director of the UHKT.
The excellent Prague institute, which is both a hospital and a research facility, also focuses on patients who cannot be cured by bone marrow transplantation. A cell therapy is another treatment option for these patients.
“So-called Natural Killer cells are a natural component of the immune system. They are a part of the white blood cells that circulate in the blood and can find and kill cancer cells in a blood on their own, without a need for further signals. They are a part of the innate immune system, and it is for this specific ability that they are called Natural Killers. Our research is focused on helping people who have failed all other current treatment options and are enrolled in studies in which they receive cell-based treatments. We are exploring an advanced cell therapy, a method that is already being used to treat patients, and at the same time, its further potential is being intensively researched worldwide,” says immunologist Jan Frič, head of the Department of Modern Immunotherapy Research at UHKT.
The cooperation with Finnish partners opens up the possibility of intensive sharing of knowledge in the field of immunotherapy as well as the exchange and use of unique data. The Czech Embassy was able to facilitate this collaboration by facilitating connections between these two national leading institutions.
"Supporting the cooperation between Czechia and Finland in the field of research is a priority for us. Therefore, we are very pleased that we have managed to find a suitable partner institution for UHTK, namely the Finnish Red Cross Blood Service, which also focuses on research in the field of modern immunotherapy," commented the Czech Ambassador in Finland Adam Vojtěch.
In the future, the Czech-Finnish research cooperation could be extended to other topics in the field of research and innovation. According to Andrea Daňková, the secretary at ÚHKT, it is also possible to consider the involvement of other EU countries: "Research is a high priority for our Institute not only at the national level, but also at the European one. In the next decade, we will focus intensively on the development of an international cooperation network," she commented on the activities of UHKT.
Source: Press release of the Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion