Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences
The Czech Republic has reaffirmed its position within the leadership of one of Europe’s key research infrastructures. At the 14th meeting of the Euro-BioImaging ERIC Board, Professor Pavel Hozák, Director of the national research infrastructure Czech-BioImaging, was elected Vice-Chair of the Board, the organisation’s highest governing body. Euro-BioImaging ERIC brings together more than 300 state-of-the-art imaging facilities across 40 national nodes in 18 member states, providing researchers with access to cutting-edge technologies for biological and biomedical imaging. The election of a Czech representative to the infrastructure’s leadership confirms the Czech Republic’s significant role in the development of European research infrastructures and biological imaging.
Euro-BioImaging was established to provide scientists, clinicians and industry partners across Europe with access to advanced imaging technologies. Since obtaining ERIC status in 2019, it has developed into one of Europe’s leading infrastructures for biological and biomedical imaging. Today, it connects a network of 40 national nodes in 18 member states and the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), and is among the established European research infrastructures included on the ESFRI Roadmap.
Since 2020, Euro-BioImaging has supported more than 1,260 research projects from Europe and beyond, becoming an important component of the European Research Area. In addition to providing access to unique imaging technologies, it offers expert consultancy, training, support in scientific data management, the application of artificial intelligence, and collaboration with industry partners.
“Euro-BioImaging demonstrates that sharing advanced technologies and expertise across Europe delivers results that individual countries would find difficult to achieve independently. I greatly appreciate the trust placed in me by the member states and look forward to contributing to the further enhancement of Euro-BioImaging’s activities, ensuring that the infrastructure continues to support excellent science and innovation through shared access to state-of-the-art imaging methods,” says Pavel Hozák, newly elected Vice-Chair of the Euro-BioImaging ERIC Board.
The Czech Republic participates in Euro-BioImaging through the national research infrastructure Czech-BioImaging, headquartered at the Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences. Czech-BioImaging brings together 16 leading imaging facilities across the country and provides access to more than 200 specialised instruments for biological and biomedical imaging. More than 1,300 researchers use its services each year.
Czech-BioImaging serves as the Czech national infrastructure for biological and biomedical imaging, while Euro-BioImaging ERIC represents its European counterpart. Membership of this infrastructure enables Czech institutions to participate in international projects, share advanced technologies and provide services to users from abroad. Czech teams also contribute to the development of new methods, training activities and European projects focused on open science and image data management.
“Euro-BioImaging demonstrates that sharing advanced technologies and expertise across Europe delivers results that individual countries would find difficult to achieve independently.”
Euro-BioImaging ERIC is managed through a central Hub and two specialised sub-Hubs dedicated to biological and biomedical imaging. This structure coordinates the network of national nodes, service development, training, data management and international collaboration.
The Board is the highest decision-making body of the infrastructure and includes representatives of all member states. Each country holds one vote and delegates both government representatives and experts from the scientific community. The Board therefore combines administrative and scientific perspectives in guiding the infrastructure’s development and determining its strategic direction.
“Euro-BioImaging ERIC is among Europe’s strategic research infrastructures that significantly strengthen the competitiveness of the European Research Area. Professor Hozák’s election to the leadership of the Board reflects the high level of expertise within the Czech scientific community and the long-term contribution of the Czech-BioImaging infrastructure. It provides the Czech Republic with an opportunity to play an active role in shaping the future direction of this important European infrastructure,” says Jan Buriánek of the Czech Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports.
The election of Pavel Hozák as Vice-Chair of the Board represents significant recognition of the long-standing work of the Czech biological imaging community and confirms the Czech Republic’s strong position among European partners in the field of research infrastructures.
“Professor Hozák’s election to the leadership of the Board reflects the high level of expertise within the Czech scientific community and the long-term contribution of the Czech-BioImaging infrastructure.”
The Czech Republic is represented in Euro-BioImaging ERIC by Czech-BioImaging through three national nodes: the Prague Node for Advanced Light and Electron Microscopy, the Brno Multimodal Imaging Node, and the Centre for Advanced Preclinical Imaging in Prague. Czech nodes are an active part of the European network, contributing not only to the provision of services for international users, but also to the development of new methods, training activities and international scientific collaboration.
