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.

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.

Open Access offers:

Access to laboratory services (e.g. trace lab) and facilities for conducting individual experiments
Utilization of sample preparation and measurement services
Access to databases (GENASIS, CELSPAC, etc.)

Project proposals can be submitted at any time, however, are evaluated at the end of each quarter:

31 March 2022
30 June 2022
30 September 2022
31 December 2022

Eligible applications will be evaluated until capacities have been fully exhausted for a given period. Once approved, applicant may begin their work immediately.

Projects must be completed within the calendar year in which they were approved.

How to apply

Gather required documents:
1. application form (Trace analytical laboratories, for other contact dr. Růžičková)
2. applicant's CV
3. student and junior scientist must also submit a letter of recommendation from their senior researcher/supervisor
Submit completed application form and all accompanying documentation via openaccess@recetox.muni.cz. Please write “RECETOX RI – OPEN ACCESS APPLICATION” in subject line.

Proposal Evaluation

All applications are evaluated on a quarterly basis in a two-step process.

Technical feasibility is evaluated by respective core facility or research programme head.
Proposal quality (project description) and CV of applicant are 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.

Funding

Full support is provided for experimental work including consumables and work performed by the technical staff. However, support is not provided for travel and allowance.

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 RECETOX Research Infrastructure (ID LM2018121, MEYS CR, 2019–2022).

RNDr. Petra Růžičková, Ph.D.

Manager of RI

Phone:	+420 549 49 3123
E‑mail: