Follow the timeline to see how we are gradually transforming the idea of the Central European Advanced Therapy and Immunotherapy Centre into practice. 

June 2026

CREATIC LF MU team took part in the EATRIS and ERDERA Face-to-Face Course in Utrecht, focused on the intersection of scientific innovation, regulation, and clinical development in the field of Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMPs). Through expert lectures, workshops, and case studies, the programme offered valuable insights into the challenges of ATMP development for rare diseases, particularly in areas where new models of collaboration between academia, hospitals, and non-profit organisations are needed. The participation of CREATIC’s multidisciplinary team helped connect different areas of expertise and deepen the understanding of how individual roles come together along the translational pathway, from research, regulation, and manufacturing to clinical implementation for the benefit of patients.

11.06.2026

Patient and Professional Experiences with Experimental ATMP Treatment

As part of the From Lab to Patient – CREATIC LabtoP Talks series, the webinar “Patient and Professional Experiences with Experimental ATMP Treatment” focused on lived experiences in the context of experimental cancer immunotherapy. The session was led by Zainab Afshan Sheikh from the Center for Advanced Studies in Bioscience Innovation Law (CeBIL), University of Copenhagen, and featured Mie Seest Dam from the Section for Health Services Research, University of Copenhagen, as a guest speaker. The discussion highlighted how patients, families and healthcare professionals navigate advanced therapy medicinal products under conditions of uncertainty, hope, and emotional and ethical complexity. By placing patient and professional perspectives at the centre, the webinar contributed to a deeper understanding of how experimental ATMP treatments are experienced in practice.

11.06.2026

CREATIC LF MU started the summer with a joint breakfast, creating space to share updates across the growing centre and to better understand the work of individual teams. The programme connected research, development, production and clinical practice: prof. Jaroslav Štěrba opened the meeting by highlighting the importance of CREATIC’s work for patients in clinical care, MUDr. Kateřina Slabá introduced the topic of ultra-rare diseases and patients without a diagnosis, and prof. Lenka Zdražilová Dubská presented current products being developed within the CREATIC Production Facility (CREPROFA). These included advanced therapy medicinal products based on mesenchymal cells and dendritic cell-based cancer immunotherapy, for which CREATIC LF MU received a hospital exemption earlier this year. The event once again underlined the value of interdisciplinary collaboration and open discussion in bringing advanced therapies closer to patients.

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2-3.06.2026

How can the gap between promising science and therapies that actually reach patients be bridged? This question stood at the heart of the panel discussion “How to Overcome the Valley of Death in CGT Development?” at the SaxoCell Conference in Dresden, where doc. Regina Demlová, Director of CREATIC LF MU, represented the centre as a panellist. She shared CREATIC’s vision and activities in supporting the translation of cell and gene therapies from research towards clinical application. The conference brought together experts, scientists, clinicians, innovators and industry leaders, with the programme highlighting key developments such as in vivo CAR-T approaches, immune monitoring for cellular therapies and the role of spin-off companies in bringing cutting-edge science closer to clinical practice.

June 2026

The CREATIC consortium gathered at the University of Copenhagen for the CREATIC Annual Meeting 2026. Over three days, partners reviewed key achievements across the network, including the development of research infrastructure, progress in translational programmes, expert support units and emerging innovation pipelines. The meeting also focused on sustainability, talent development, education and training, while preparing the consortium for the upcoming reporting period. Most importantly, the discussions confirmed CREATIC’s shared ambition to grow into a sustainable and internationally recognised Centre of Excellence for Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMPs), building a strong foundation for future impact on patients.

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21.05.2026

The CREATIC LabtoP Talks webinar “Hospital Exemption in Policy and Practice” focused on the hospital exemption pathway as one of the important mechanisms for bringing Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMPs) closer to patients. Led by Zainab Afshan Sheikh from CeBIL, University of Copenhagen, and Zora Čechová from CoE CREATIC LF MU, Masaryk University, the session connected European policy perspectives with practical experience from the Czech Republic. The discussion highlighted how hospital exemption reflects the broader balance between innovation, regulation, patient access and safety.

20.05.2026

The Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, launched a new tradition with the first Research Day 2026, bringing together the scientific community to connect, share ideas and celebrate outstanding research. CREATIC LF MU took part in the event’s infrastructure showcase, presenting its research vision, developing infrastructure and future direction to the broader scientific and clinical community. A highlight of the programme was the presentation by Prof. Lenka Zdražilová Dubská, who introduced CREATIC’s LF MUresearch activities and helped bring greater visibility to the work of the centre. The CREATIC LF MU team also contributed to the poster session with a presentation focused on innovative Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMPs) for rare diseases, an area with significant potential for patients and a key focus of CREATIC’s LF MU research.

20.05.2026

On 20 May 2026, CZECRIN co-hosted International Clinical Trials Day 2026 in Prague together with ECRIN, bringing together the clinical research community under the theme “Stronger Together: Advanced therapy clinical trials without borders.” The programme opened with remarks by Adam Vojtěch, Minister of Health of the Czech Republic, and Jacques Demotes Mainard, Director General of ECRIN, followed by a keynote lecture by Gonzalo Calvo Rojas on cross-cutting challenges in ATMP clinical trials. CREATIC LF MU was represented in the morning session by Jaroslav Štěrba and Regina Demlová, Director of CREATIC LF MU and CZECRIN, who presented biomarker-driven, adaptive treatment strategies for high-risk paediatric tumours. Throughout the day, speakers and participants discussed key topics shaping the future of advanced therapy clinical trials, including patient involvement, regulatory and HTA perspectives, academic ATMP development, public contributions to research and development, and system-level solutions for more equitable and efficient clinical trials.

12.05.2026

Prof. Ondřej Slabý, one of the scientific leaders of CREATIC LF MU, received the South Moravian Region Award for 2025 in recognition of his outstanding contribution to cancer biology, genetics, molecular oncology and precision medicine. His work has long focused on advancing the diagnosis and treatment of cancer and rare genetic diseases, helping to bring personalised patient care closer to clinical practice. At CREATIC LF MU, Prof. Slabý leads the Human Translational Genomics research group, which focuses on the diagnosis of rare diseases and the translation of cutting-edge genomic research into clinical application. This recognition highlights the importance of his scientific work and its impact on modern, patient-centred medicine.

18.04.2026

CREATIC LF MU took part in Den s Krtkem 2026, an event organised by the Krtek Children’s Oncology Foundation, with an interactive station introducing children and families to the world of research. Through the “Colourful Science” programme, visitors could try pipetting, mixing colours and discovering basic laboratory equipment in a playful and accessible way. For CREATIC LF MU, the event was not only an opportunity to popularise science, but also a meaningful reminder of the patients and families at the centre of its work.

15-17.04.2026

CREATIC LF MU took part in the 17th International Conference on Bioimplantology and Regenerative Medicine in Znojmo, which provided a platform for sharing current insights across clinical and preclinical research, interdisciplinary discussion and new collaborations. Marie Mlnaříková and Sofiia Lymarenko represented CREATIC with commented posters presenting advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs) developed within the centre. Their contributions focused on dendritic cell-based immunotherapy produced from cryopreserved monocytes and an ATMP based on adipose-derived mesenchymal stem/stromal cells for wound treatment in patients with epidermolysis bullosa. Together, these approaches reflected CREATIC’s LF MU commitment to translating research into innovative, patient-oriented therapies for oncological and rare disease indications.

10.04.2026

As part of the From Lab to Patient – CREATIC LF MU LabtoP Talks series, the webinar “From Hospital Bench to Market” explored the complex journey of Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMPs) from academic and hospital environments towards wider clinical use. The session brought together Ana Nordberg from Lund University, Gabriela Maria Lenarczyk and Jakob Wested from CeBIL, University of Copenhagen, to discuss how innovation, collaboration, ownership and patient access intersect in the development of advanced therapies. By connecting legal, ethical and practical perspectives, the webinar offered valuable insight into the conditions needed to support responsible translation of ATMPs from research to patients.

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08.04.2026

We officially opened the newly renovated facilities of the Centre of Excellence CREATIC at the Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University! The new premises provide modern infrastructure for research, development and manufacturing of advanced therapies, particularly for patients with rare and hard-to-treat conditions. The opening marks an important milestone in strengthening the full translational pathway: from research to patient access.

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30.03.2026

CREATIC LF MU took part in the international conference Sustainability of the EU Pharma and Healthcare Market, held at Jagiellonian University in Kraków. The event brought together experts from academia and practice to discuss key challenges shaping Europe’s pharmaceutical and healthcare landscape, including access to innovative therapies, affordability of medicines, regulation of advanced therapies and orphan drugs, intellectual property, and medicine security. CREATIC was represented by Eliška Vladíková, Zora Čechová and Jaroslav Divoký, who gained valuable insights into current European trends and legislative developments. The conference also provided important inspiration for CREATIC’s LF MU ongoing research and expert activities in healthcare law, regulation and innovation.

24-25.03.2026

CREATIC LF MU was represented by Marie Mlnaříková and Hana Skoupá at the 28th Conference and Expo Pharma Manufacturing & Technology in Wiesbaden, which brought together experts from industry, academia and regulatory bodies to discuss current challenges in pharmaceutical manufacturing. The programme focused strongly on practical experience, quality, regulation and GMP requirements, with particular attention to Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMPs), including manufacturing processes, aseptic production, quality control and new technological solutions. The accompanying expo also offered insight into innovations for GMP manufacturing, including automation in cleanroom environments. The event provided valuable inspiration for CREATIC’s LF MU ongoing efforts to develop and implement high-quality, safe and innovative solutions in ATMP manufacturing.

21.03.2026

“Gene Era Between Science and the Patient” a public discussion hosted by the Czech Gene Therapy Association took place on 21 March 2026 at the Václav Havel Library, moderated by Daniel Stach. Leading experts explored the pathway from scientific discovery to new therapies, decision-making in treatment, and the role of patients. CREATIC Director Regina Demlová contributed the perspective of a centre of excellence, highlighting the development of advanced therapies and collaboration with the patient community. The event was available via Czech Television’s iVysílání platform (link here).

16-17.03.2026

CREATIC LF MU was represented by Regina Demlová, Jakub Jamárik and Adam Gajdoš at the CERTAINTY Annual Meeting 2026 in Basel, where partners from across Europe gathered to review progress and plan the next phase of the project. Led by Fraunhofer IZI, CERTAINTY focuses on the development of a virtual twin for CAR T cell therapy in multiple myeloma. At the project’s midpoint, the meeting provided space to discuss technical progress, user perspectives, future directions and opportunities for further collaboration. Patient representatives also contributed valuable insights, helping to strengthen the relevance of the project for future clinical application. The event supported knowledge exchange, interdisciplinary cooperation and alignment across the consortium in advancing innovative approaches to CAR T cell therapy.

09.03.2026

CREATIC LF MU held its March joint breakfast as an informal team meeting combining scientific exchange with space for discussion across the centre. The expert part of the programme was opened by doc. Petr Vaňhara from the Research Division, who presented his team’s work on cellular models of lung stress and regulation. His talk introduced innovative approaches to studying alveolar differentiation and preclinical testing, highlighting how detailed cellular models can support the future development of targeted therapies for patients with rare lung diseases. The meeting encouraged open discussion, new ideas and further collaboration, once again showing the value of bringing CREATIC LF MU teams together around shared scientific and clinical goals.

26.02.2026

DEBRA Czech Republic celebrates 25 years of supporting people living with epidermolysis bullosa (EB), a rare and extremely painful condition that affects not only patients’ physical health, but also their mental well-being and family life. Over the past quarter century, DEBRA has become a vital source of expert, practical and human support, while also helping raise awareness and strengthen connections across the clinical, patient and research communities. CREATIC is proud to be a close partner of DEBRA and to have taken part in the anniversary gathering, where we also had the opportunity to present our role in supporting patients. Read more