2nd Annual International NETPHARM Conference

2nd Annual International NETPHARM Conference: From Cutting-Edge Equipment to Excellent Results at the Midpoint of the Project

On 15–16 April 2026, the second annual international conference of the project “New Technologies for Translational Research in Pharmaceutical Sciences” (NETPHARM) took place in Kudowa-Zdrój, Poland. The meeting, attended by more than 100 researchers, confirmed that after two years of implementation the project is successfully fulfilling its ambitious goals in linking basic research with clinical practice.

Mgr. Martina Kopecká Jurčeková: Prof. Petr Pávek

Scientific excellence and international outreach

The scientific programme of the conference focused on progress in five key research objectives (RO1–RO5), with the leaders of individual sections presenting achieved milestones, scientific results, and team synergies over the past year. Prof. Kateřina Vávrová presented on pharmaceutical and analytical chemistry (RO1), while progress in pharmacology and toxicology (RO2) was summarized by Prof. František Štaud. Prof. Martin Hrubý presented results in the field of novel drug delivery systems and formulations (RO3), and Assoc. Prof. Daniela Fialová (RO4) introduced research in geriatric clinical pharmacy focused on systematic literature reviews, algorithms for individualized pharmacotherapy, and pilot deprescribing interventions. Evaluation of activities in advanced in vitro and in silico approaches in drug development (RO5) was presented by Assoc. Prof. Tomáš Smutný. Among the keynote speakers were, for example, Prof. Martin Hrubý with a lecture on stimuli-responsive polymers for biomedical applications, and Prof. František Švec, who addressed the use of monoliths in supercritical fluid chromatography for the separation of large biologically active molecules.

Mgr. Martina Kopecká Jurčeková: Prof. František Švec

A key contribution was the participation of members of the International Scientific Advisory Board (ISAB), led by Prof. Maria da Conceição from the University of Porto. As part of invited lectures, these distinguished experts presented the latest global trends: Prof. Kevin A. Schug (University of Texas at Arlington) focused on the characterization of advanced drug formulations, Prof. Igor Lacík (Slovak Academy of Sciences) discussed the use of polymers in diabetes treatment, Prof. Søren Bak (University of Copenhagen) presented plant natural products as next-generation biopesticides, and Prof. Michael Lämmerhofer (University of Tübingen) analyzed the importance of metabolomics and lipidomics in biomedical research.

Mgr. Martina Kopecká Jurčeková: Prof. Kevin A. Schug

Key results: 110 publications and investment in infrastructure

The NETPHARM project, funded by the Jan Amos Komenský Operational Programme (OP JAK), achieved significant milestones by early 2026:

• Interdisciplinary expert team: More than 200 researchers, both experienced and early-career scientists, have been involved in research activities within the project.
• Publications: 110 scientific publications have been produced, the majority of which fall into the Q1 category.
• Dissemination and outreach: The number of contributions at international conferences (195) already exceeds the original plan by 38%.
• Infrastructure: 16 state-of-the-art instruments have been acquired for research laboratories, with a total value of CZK 37.5 million, including an X-ray diffractometer, confocal microscopy, and a computational server.
• Audit: An on-site inspection by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports was successfully completed, confirming the efficient use of grant funds.

Strategic recommendations for the future

The conference was followed on 17 April by the 3rd meeting of the ISAB, held in the historic premises of the Carolinum in Prague. The ISAB appreciated the dynamic collaboration among institutions such as Charles University (Faculty of Pharmacy and Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Králové), the University of Chemistry and Technology in Prague, institutes of the Czech Academy of Sciences (IOCB Prague and IMC), and Masaryk University/CEITEC. For the remaining half of the project, experts recommended an even stronger focus on international mobility of project teams, strengthening synergies among individual teams, accelerating the patent application process, and focusing on the soft skills of junior researchers.

Mgr. Martina Kopecká Jurčeková: 3rd meeting of the ISAB

Networking and support for talent

In addition to the intensive scientific programme, there was also a social programme, including a tour of Kudowa-Zdrój and a joint dinner. An important part was the award for the best poster presentations by young scientists, highlighting the project’s emphasis on educating a new generation of pharmaceutical experts. Among the awardees were Ing. Anna Tvrdá, Mgr. Mária Bajnoková, and Mary Angelia Alfred, M.Sc.

Mgr. Martina Kopecká Jurčeková: Award for the best poster presentations

“NETPHARM is at the midpoint of its journey and clearly demonstrates that building a nationwide platform of excellence makes sense. Our scientific outputs and modernized facilities form a strong foundation for innovations that will directly influence the quality of pharmaceutical care in the future,” said Prof. Petr Pávek, the project’s principal investigator, summarising the meeting.