Academics and Researchers
As part of the RECETOX RI (Research Infrastructure) “Open Access” project, RECETOX makes its state-of-the-art research infrastructure and services available to internal as well as external academics and researchers. The project is funded by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic.
RECETOX RI offers:
Laboratory capacity (in physical access mode or on-demand services)
- Complex studies on environmental and human exposure including indoor and occupational exposures (design and implementation of the field studies including long-term monitoring networks, accredited sampling services, accredited laboratory analysis, environmental and human health risk assessment, data interpretation and modelling),
- Innovative testing technologies (development of passive samplers, personal samplers, etc.),
- Multi-residual target analysis of a wide spectrum of anthropogenic and natural toxins (see above) in various environmental and biological matrices,
- Novel suspect and non-target (full scan) screening of environmental and human samples,
- Targeted metabolomics and proteomics on human samples,
- Metagenomics (human microbiome, microbiome in indoor environment, role in development of diseases, bacterial resistance, design, and implementation of studies including bioinformatic pipelines for data processing, metagenomic sequencing libraries,
- Assessment of DNA modification and damage, genetic implication, and sensitivity to DNA damage in human, animal, and in vitro tissue systems,
- Toxicological and ecotoxicological testing using a battery of experimental models, development of adverse outcome pathway models,
- Assessment of potential to affect the activity of hormonal receptors in several in vitro cell models,
- Cultivation of cell cultures including advanced 3D cultivation and real-time cell analysis (non-invasive detection of cell viability and growth),
- Immunochemical detection of biomarkers (ELISA, Western blot), detection of gene expression using quantitative RT PCR, study of gap junctional intercellular communication,
- Physiologically based pharmacokinetic modelling for assessment of distribution of target chemicals in human body and linking external and internal exposome,
- Design of biosensors for detection of environmental pollutants, determination of the structures, thermodynamic parameters and stabilities of proteins, production of natural and engineered biocatalysts, protein purification, analysis of enzymatic activities and substrate specificity profiles
- Design, synthesis and characterisation of new photoactivatable compounds and supramolecular assemblies for biology and medicine.
Services offered via remote access mode
- Design, implementation, and long-term support of longitudinal and cross-sectional (bio)monitoring and population studies,
- On-demand development of data repositories, interdisciplinary multilevel database systems and web portals optimized for multiuser groups,
- Development of environmental models, assessment systems and tools supporting decision-making in ecological risk assessment including data management and visualization tools using GIS,
- Analyses of causality, spatial patterns, and temporal dynamics in environmental data,
- Development of national inventories and implementation plans for the international conventions, preparation of related national and regional reports, effectiveness evaluation of the conventions including capacity building and training in these areas,
- Export, analysis and/or interpretation of raw or aggregated exposure data available in the in-house environmental data warehouses,
- Export, analysis and/or interpretation of pseudonymised and/or aggregated population data (including socioeconomic, demographic or lifestyle data),
- Processing, characterisation, and storage of biological material from population and clinical studies according to validated SOPs,
- Providing aliquots of available samples for specific (exposure and effect) studies,
- Linking exposure and effect (mechanistic toxicology, AOPs), risk assessment and modelling,
- Integrative data analysis and interpretation, advanced biostatics, and bioinformatics.
Training, capacity building and technology transfer services
- Science-to-policy interface (National centre for toxic compounds, Regional centre for capacity building and technology transfer),
- Capacity building workshops for scientists, regulatory sector, policy makers and relevant stakeholders,
- Innovation platform for commercial sector,
- International summer schools,
- Student research projects at all levels, events for schools and gifted students,
- Individual consultations and training events in all research areas above
- Science popularisation and public events.
The open access to the RECETOX RI capacities is based on the general access policy designed to ensure transparent and merit-based access to available technologies and data. The same procedures are applied in case of physical and remote access.
Project proposals can be submitted at any time, however, are evaluated at the end of each quarter:
- 31 December 2023
- 31 March 2024
- 30 June 2024
- 31 September 2024
Application process
Applications for access are available via the Open Access proposal online submission form platform. You will be asked to provide a short proposal outlining what you would like to do, the problem it addresses and how it is linked to your ongoing activities.
The evaluation process
All applications are evaluated on a quarterly basis in a two-step process, according to 2 standards:
- Technical feasibility is evaluated by respective core facility or research programme head.
- Scientific excellence: considering the scientific and technical value, the originality and novelty, the relevance and impact of the project, the dissemination plan, the quality of the proposing user group, CV of applicant etc. - evaluated by an expert panel.
Projects requiring access to population databases must also be approved by the ELSPAC Executive Board (and by an ethical committee if needed), while joint projects (with RECETOX research programmes) only require approval of the respective programme leader.
Once the evaluation is completed, its results are presented to the RECETOX Extended Executive Board for final approval. The procedure is the same regardless if users are internal or external. All applicants are informed of the outcome within three months of submitting the proposal. Once approved, successful applicants are contacted by the open-access manager to discuss the project’s technical implementation, are assigned a local project supervisor, and must communicate with the head of respective core facility and/or a supervisor regarding project implementation.
General conditions
- All applicants must sign the "General access conditions" agreement, stipulating the terms of access as specified by local regulations, safety procedures, IPR rules and rules for publishing results.
- Acknowledgement of RECETOX RI is required in all published outcomes originating from the open-access projects.
- A project implementation report and an evaluation questionnaire must be submitted to the open-access coordinator within two weeks after project completion.
- Users are also requested to provide a copy of all publications or reports based on the open-access project.
Acknowledgements
Publications resulting from the use of RECETOX core facilities in the framework of Large Research, Experimental Development, and Innovation Infrastructure projects, must include an acknowledgement according to the following pattern:
This work/Part of the work was carried out with the support of core facilities of RECETOX Research Infrastructure, project number LM2023069, funded by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic under the activity „Projects of major infrastructures for research, development and innovations”.
Short version: This work / Part of the work was carried out with the support of RECETOX Research Infrastructure (ID LM2023069, MEYS CR, 2023–2026).
For any other questions or for assistance, do not hesitate to contact the Open Access Manager, Dr. Petra Růžičková.
