Academic research is paving the way for children with cancer to receive modern treatment. The Czech Republic is strengthening its role in European clinical research.
Press Release – [Download the press release as a PDF]
Prague, May 20, 2026 — The development of new drugs for pediatric patients, particularly in oncology and for rare diseases, remains one of the greatest challenges facing modern medicine. Patient numbers are low, development is technically and financially demanding, and it is often not commercially attractive for the pharmaceutical industry. This is precisely why the importance of academic clinical research, public support, and international collaboration is growing in this area.
This topic will kick off this year’s International Clinical Trials Day (ICTD), an annual event organized by the European infrastructure ECRIN, which will take place on May 20 in Prague. The event, co-organized by CZECRIN as part of the CREATIC Center of Excellence at Masaryk University’s Faculty of Medicine, will welcome experts from approximately 15 countries. The Czech Republic will thus present itself as a country that, in addition to providing high-quality health care, is also becoming increasingly involved in the development, clinical evaluation, and availability of modern therapies within the European context.
“Cell and gene therapies currently represent the cutting edge of innovation in the treatment of rare diseases, particularly in pediatric patients. For these therapies to become part of routine clinical practice, clinical trials evaluating their safety and efficacy are essential. These trials also provide the critical data necessary for regulatory authorities to make decisions; in the Czech Republic, this is the State Institute for Drug Control,” says Associate Professor Regina Demlová, director of the CREATIC Center of Excellence and the CZECRIN national research infrastructure.
Pediatric oncology needs support where the market falls short
Experts in pediatric oncology have long been drawing attention to the need for systematic support for the development of new drugs for children. “Today, the pharmaceutical industry is, understandably, focused primarily on large patient groups. For most childhood cancers, however, commercial incentives are not enough. Due to current legislation—both national and EU—children have long been neglected. If we do not want children to continue waiting for modern treatment for many years longer than adult patients, the government, academia, and international institutions must become significantly more involved,” says Prof. Jaroslav Štěrba, head of the Department of Pediatric Oncology at the Brno University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University; head of the research group at the CREATIC Center of Excellence; and scientific director of the National Cancer Institute.
According to him, Czech pediatric oncology has a very high-quality professional infrastructure and is part of leading European research and treatment networks. However, in order to continue keeping pace with the rapid developments in modern medicine, it needs long-term and systematic support for clinical research, data infrastructure, and innovative treatment approaches for small groups of patients.
From Academic Research to Patient Care
CZECRIN, as the Czech national network for clinical trials, supports academic clinical studies and connects Czech institutions with the European research community. As part of the CREATIC Center of Excellence, it also focuses on the field of cell and gene therapies. These therapies can be crucial for patients for whom standard treatment is insufficient or does not exist at all.
An important milestone is the granting of the first hospital exemption for advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs) in the Czech Republic for the specific cellular immunotherapy product MyDendrix, which is being developed for pediatric and adolescent patients with high-risk tumors. Czech academic research and clinical trials have translated into treatment options in real-world practice . “The goal is to ensure that a safe and effective medicinal product reaches patients. The MyDendrix case shows that the Czech Republic is now capable of navigating this process—from development through clinical trials to regulated availability in clinical practice,” Regina Demlová reports.
The hospital exemption allows selected modern therapies to be made available to patients under clearly defined conditions. At the same time, it paves the way for their coverage by health insurance. In the case of products developed in academic settings and manufactured on a non-commercial basis, this model can contribute not only to improved access to treatment but also to more sustainable costs for the healthcare system.
The Government as a Partner in Innovation
The development of academic clinical trials and modern therapies is not possible without public support. CZECRIN is part of the Czech Republic’s system of major research infrastructures, and its activities have long been supported by the Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sports. “These projects are unique in that they bridge the gap from basic research to hope for patients, most of whom are children with rare diseases. That’s what makes them absolutely outstanding,” said Education Minister Robert Plaga this past April at the grand opening of the CREATIC Center of Excellence at Masaryk University’s Faculty of Medicine.
The results of clinical research are primarily reflected in medical practice. The first hospital exemption for cell therapy in the Czech Republic shows that the government is capable of creating the conditions for the safe and regulated introduction of innovative treatments to patients. . “The Czech healthcare system has extraordinary potential in the areas of clinical research and modern therapies. We want to create the conditions necessary for innovative treatments to reach patients as quickly as possible, while ensuring their safety. It is precisely the integration of cutting-edge academic research, clinical practice, and a high-quality regulatory environment that is the way to improve access to modern treatments for patients with serious and rare diseases,” says Health Minister Adam Vojtěch.
Prague reaffirms the Czech Republic’s role in Europe
The fact that this year’s International Clinical Trials Day is dedicated to modern therapies in Prague confirms the Czech Republic’s growing prominence in European clinical research. As part of the European ECRIN network, the CZECRIN national infrastructure is becoming a key partner in the design and conduct of clinical trials in the field of modern therapies.
Greater involvement in European clinical trials can provide Czech patients with better access to innovative treatment options, including trials conducted abroad. At the same time, it strengthens the position of Czech academic institutions in international collaboration.
“It is no coincidence that the European expert debate on modern therapies is taking place right here in the Czech Republic. We have repeatedly presented the path we are taking to audiences abroad. We have experience that is relevant to our international partners as well. We are able to integrate academic research, clinical trials, regulatory expertise, and the issue of treatment accessibility. This is the direction that will be crucial for the future of medicine,” Regina Demlová concludes.
CZECRIN is a national research infrastructure for clinical research in the Czech Republic and part of the CREATIC Center of Excellence at Masaryk University’s Faculty of Medicine. It supports academic clinical trials, provides methodological, regulatory, data, and coordination support, and connects Czech institutions with the European research community through the ECRIN network—the European Clinical Research Infrastructure Network. It is part of the Roadmap for Large Research Infrastructures in the Czech Republic, and its activities are supported by the Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sports.
The CREATIC Center of Excellence at Masaryk University’s Faculty of Medicine focuses on the research, development, and production of modern therapeutic drugs, particularly cell and gene therapies for patients with rare and serious diseases. CREATIC integrates research, development, and non-commercial manufacturing under GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) standards, clinical trials, regulatory expertise, and support for making innovative therapies available to patients.
Media contact:
Veronika Plachá
CZECRIN – Masaryk University
veronika.placha@med.muni.cz | +420 722 905 756