Research Infrastructures are decisive for Europe’s capacity to deliver scientific breakthroughs and innovations. The scope of ELIXIR CZ’s activities is of international importance, and goes far beyond the national research environment. Thus, the infrastructure is closely aligned with the intergovernmental organization, the European Research Infrastructure for Life Science Data (ELIXIR), operating under the umbrella of the European Bioinformatics Institute of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL-EBI).
ELIXIR CZ is led by the Head of Infrastructure who is responsible for the successful implementation of the scientific program, jointly with the ELIXIR CZ Board, the main decision-making authority. The executive body of the consortium is called the Head of Nodes Committee, in which all partner institutions are represented by their delegates. ELIXIR CZ also benefits from the support of a supervisory body, the ELIXIR CZ Scientific Advisory Board, composed of independent renowned scientists who contribute to the achievement of ELIXIR CZ’s objectives and long-term visions.
ELIXIR CZ Board
- Chair: Assoc. Prof. Petr Baldrian, Institute of Microbiology of the CAS
- Vice-chair: Prof. Luděk Matyska, Masaryk University, CEITEC and CERIT–SC
- Vice-chair: Dr. Lucie Houdová, University of West Bohemia
- Ing. Helmut Sverenyák, CESNET
- Dr. Jakub Galgonek, Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the CAS
- Ing. Milos Musil Ph.D., International Clinical Research Center of the St. Anne’s University Hospital Brno
- Mgr. Věra Franková, Charles University
- Dr. Jiří Macas, Biology Centre of the CAS
- Prof. Miroslav Oborník, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice
- Assoc. Prof. Bohdan Schneider, Institute of Biotechnology of the CAS
- Dr. Michal Kolář, Institute of Molecular Genetics of the CAS
- Ing. Michal Strejček, Ph.D., University of Chemistry and Technology Prague
- Prof. Pavel Tvrdík, Faculty of Information Technology of the Czech Technical University in Prague
- Dr. Jana Vrbková, Palacký University Olomouc
Heads of Nodes Committee
- Head of ELIXIR CZ: Prof. Jiří Vondrášek, Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the CAS
- Deputy Head: Assoc. Prof. Karel Berka, Palacký University Olomouc
- Assoc. Prof. David Bednář, International Clinical Research Center of the St. Anne’s University Hospital Brno
- Dr. Jiří Černý, Institute of Biotechnology of the CAS
- Mgr. Miroslav Ruda, CESNET
- Ing. Miloš Fetter, University of West Bohemia
- Ing. Tomáš Košňar, CESNET
- Dr. Petr Novák, Biology Centre of the CAS
- Dr. Marian Novotný, Charles University
- Dr. Jan Pačes, Institute of Molecular Genetics of the CAS
- Assoc. Prof. Robert Pergl, Faculty of Information Technology of the Czech Technical University in Prague
- Prof. Vojtěch Spiwok, University of Chemistry and Technology Prague
- Assoc. Prof. Radka Svobodová, Masaryk University, CEITEC and CERIT–SC
- Assoc. Prof. Robert Vácha, Masaryk University, CEITEC and CERIT–SC
- Ing. Jiří Vohradský, Institute of Microbiology of the CAS
- Dr. Rudolf Vohnout, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice
ELIXIR CZ Scientific Advisory Board
- Chair: Prof. Carole Anne Goble, University of Manchester
- Dr. Vladimír Beneš, European Molecular Biology Laboratory
- Prof. Thomas Rattei, University of Vienna
- Prof. Dr. Torsten Schwede, University of Basel
- Dr. Zsuzsanna Dosztányi, Eötvös Loránd University
- Dr. Vítor Alexandre Pires Martins dos Santos, Wageningen University
- Dr. Kamil Tamiola, Peptone Ltd
Professor Carole Goble – chair of ELIXIR CZ Scientifi Advisory Board
A Professor of Computer Science at the University of Manchester, she has profoundly influenced computational biology and genomics, particularly in the areas of FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) data principles, scientific workflows, and reproducible research. Her leadership in pioneering tools such as Taverna and myExperiment has been central to enhancing computational frameworks for life sciences.
As the UK coordinator and joint head of ELIXIR-UK, Professor Goble manages several high-impact genomic and data-driven projects and has been instrumental in pan-European initiatives that strengthen bioinformatics and open science. She also co-directs the FAIRDOM initiative, advocating for data sharing across biological and environmental research fields. Her dedication to advancing eScience and fostering collaborative, FAIR-compliant data infrastructures makes her one of Europe’s foremost leaders in bioinformatics and computational biology, and her expertise is a tremendous asset to ELIXIR CZ’s scientific mission
Dr. Vladimir Benes – member of ELIXIR CZ Scientific Advisory Board
As the Head of the Genomics Core Facility (GeneCore) at EMBL, Dr. Benes oversees one of Europe’s leading centers for advanced genomics services, which supports an extensive range of sequencing technologies and bioinformatics solutions. With his background in high-throughput genomics and data-driven research, he has been instrumental in democratizing access to genomics tools and supporting projects across Europe. His vast experience in managing complex sequencing projects and advancing genomic methodologies will be a valuable asset for ELIXIR CZ, enhancing our genomics capabilities and fostering collaborations with top-tier research infrastructure.
Dr. Benes is also deeply committed to training the next generation of genomics researchers, fostering collaboration across Europe by making top-tier sequencing and bioinformatics accessible to diverse research groups. His experience in managing large-scale genomic data and developing efficient workflows brings invaluable expertise to ELIXIR CZ, enhancing our mission to integrate cutting-edge bioinformatics infrastructure within the European research landscape.
Professor Thomas Rattei – member of the ELIXIR CZ Scientific Advisory Board
A distinguished expert in computational biology at the University of Vienna, Professor Rattei leads the Division of Computational Systems Biology (CUBE) at the Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science. His work is pivotal in developing advanced computational resources and infrastructures for large-scale bioinformatics, particularly for genome and systems biology. His group has established several essential resources, including EffectiveDB, a database supporting microbial trait prediction, which serves the global research community with data and analysis tools for microbial interactions, metagenomics, and symbiosis studies.
As the upcoming Head of Node for ELIXIR Austria, Professor Rattei is deeply involved in ELIXIR’s mission to build robust bioinformatics infrastructures that support cross-border life sciences research. His leadership in both national and international bioinformatics consortia and his focus on high-performance computational solutions position him as a key figure in advancing ELIXIR’s goals. His expertise will be invaluable to ELIXIR CZ as we work together to strengthen bioinformatics capabilities and foster data-driven innovation in life sciences.
Professor Torsten Schwede – member of ELIXIR CZ Scientific Advisory Board
As a renowned structural bioinformatician at the Biozentrum, University of Basel and leader of the Computational Structural Biology Group at SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Professor Schwede has played a pivotal role in advancing protein modeling and bioinformatics. His contributions include leading the development of SWISS-MODEL, a vital ELIXIR Core Data Resource, and various tools for computational structural biology such as ModelArchive and OpenStructure.
Additionally, Professor Schwede has been instrumental in organizing CASP (Critical Assessment of protein Structure Prediction), a community experiment that pushed the field to new heights and ultimately inspired the development of groundbreaking AI tools like AlphaFold. His deep expertise in protein modeling, commitment to FAIR data principles, and leadership in the global bioinformatics community will significantly strengthen ELIXIR CZ’s initiatives in structural biology.
Dr. Zsuzsanna Dosztányi – member of the ELIXIR CZ Scientific Advisory Board
Dr. Zsuzsanna Dosztányi is a leading scientist in the field of intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs), serving as a senior research fellow at the Department of Biochemistry, Eötvös Loránd University in Budapest, Hungary. She leads the Dosztányi Group, focusing on the structural and functional properties of IDPs and their roles in various diseases. Her research combines computational and theoretical approaches to model the thermodynamic basis of protein disorder, identify functional sites within disordered regions, and explore the specific roles of protein disorder in cancer.
Dr. Dosztányi has developed several influential computational tools for predicting protein disorder, and ANCHOR for identifying binding regions in disordered proteins. These tools are widely used in the scientific community, underscoring her significant contributions to bioinformatics and structural biology. Her work has been instrumental in advancing our understanding of protein dynamics and interactions, particularly concerning IDPs. In addition to her research, Dr. Dosztányi is actively involved in ELIXIR Hungary, contributing to the development of bioinformatics infrastructure and promoting data sharing and collaboration within the European life sciences community. Her expertise in protein disorder and her commitment to enhancing bioinformatics resources make her a valuable asset to collaborative.
Vítor A.P. Martins dos Santos – member of the ELIXIR CZ Scientific Advisory Board
Professor Dr. Ir. Vitor A.P. Martins dos Santos is currently Professor of Biomanufacturing and Digital Twins at the Wageningen University, The Netherlands, having previously founded and held the Chair for Systems and Synthetic Biology. He was the Director of the Wageningen Centre for Systems Biology and former President of the Dutch Society of Biotechnology. He has run and coordinated numerous national and European multidisciplinary projects on the understanding and exploitation of cellular behaviour for biomedical and industrial biotechnology applications. He has supervised many PhD students, published widely and he is inventor in numerous patents. He has advised academia and industry extensively, having been regularly involved in science research policy and consulting. He has participated and promoted initiatives at the interface of science and art, as well as on responsible research and innovation (RRI) and safe-and-sustainable-by-design. A major thrust of his research is the (computer-assisted) re-programming of cellular behaviour for industrial and biomedicine applications, with focus on digital twining and decision support systems. He is also founder of two SME in the areas of personalised medicine and decision support systems. As the head of the Dutch node for the ESFRI infrastructure IBISBA (Industrial Biotechnology Innovation and Synthetic Biology Accelerator), and by running two ELIXIR communities, Professor Martins dos Santos plays a crucial role in advancing international collaborative research. His contributions to computational and synthetic biology have significantly shaped the field, making him a key asset in fostering innovation and collaboration within the European scientific and industrial communities.
Dr. Kamil Tamiola – member of the ELIXIR CZ Scientific Advisory Board
Dr. Kamil Tamiola is the founder and CEO of Peptone, a pioneering company focused on protein engineering and biophysics, leveraging advanced computational methods and artificial intelligence to design and optimize protein therapeutics. His expertise lies in the intersection of structural biophysics, molecular dynamics, and data-driven approaches to understand and manipulate protein behavior. With a strong background in protein dynamics and biopharmaceutical applications, Dr. Tamiola has made significant contributions to integrating computational modeling with experimental workflows.
At Peptone, Dr. Tamiola leads projects that push the boundaries of traditional protein design, creating innovative solutions that are highly relevant to the pharmaceutical and biotech sectors. His work embodies a unique blend of academic research and practical industry impact, showcasing his ability to translate complex scientific concepts into tangible advancements in drug development. This blend of academic rigor and industrial acumen positions him as a strategic figure in driving collaborations and advancements within the European bioinformatics and biotechnology landscapes.
