prof. Alexander W. Bruce, Ph.D.
Current positions
since 2024 | Head of the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics | Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic |
since 2010 | Head of the Laboratory of Early Mammalian Developmental Biology (LEMDB) | Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic |
Education
2000-2004 | Ph.D. in Biochemistry | School of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom |
1996-2000 | B.Sc. (Hons) 1st Class in Biochemistry with Industrial Placement (AstraZeneca) | University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom (awarded Crabtree & Happold prizes for academic excellence) |
Research history & individual awards
From 2022 | Professor & Research Group Leader | Department of Molecular Biology & Genetics (appointed Head of Department in January 2024), Faculty of Sciences, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, Czech Republic (Laboratory of Early Mammalian Developmental Biology (LEMDB)), appointed full professor in the field of "Molecular & Cellular Biology and Genetics", from June 2022. |
2018 - 2022 | Habilitated Associate Professor (docent) & Research Group Leader | Department of Molecular Biology & Genetics, Faculty of Sciences, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, Czech Republic (Laboratory of Early Mammalian Developmental Biology (LEMDB)), from February 2018. Thesis title: "Regulation of mammalian cell-fate: Insights from genomics based investigation of transcriptional regulation and chromatin structure & studies of preimplantation mouse embryogenesis." |
2010 – 2018 | Assistant Professor Lecturer & Research Group Leader | Department of Molecular Biology & Genetics, Faculty of Sciences, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, Czech Republic (Laboratory of Early Mammalian Developmental Biology (LEMDB)), from May 2010 - February 2018. |
2007–2010 | Senior Postdoctoral Research Associate | The Gurdon Institute, Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom (laboratory of Prof. Magdalena Zernicka-Goetz; Mammalian Development & Stem Cell Biology Group) |
2004–2007 | Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute Research Fellow | The Sanger Institute, Welcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, United Kingdom, (semi-autonomous fellowship award in the laboratory of David Vetrie Ph.D.; Chromatin Structure & Function Group) |
2000-2004 | Ph.D. studies | BBSRC Research Studentship, School of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom, (laboratory of Prof. Noel Buckley; Molecular Neuroscience Group, awarded 3rd prize by ‘Promega Young UK Biochemist of 2004’ prize committee at the annual British Biochemical Society meeting). Thesis title: "Genome wide analysis of Repressor Element 1 Silencing Transcription factor (REST)/ Repressor Element 1 (RE1) interactions." |
1996-2000 | Undergraduate studies | School of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom. Graduated with a ‘First Class B.Sc. Honours’ degree and completed one year research/ career placement with the ‘Molecular Endocrinology Department’ at AstraZeneca pharmaceuticals; Alderley Edge site, Cheshire, United Kingdom (awarded Happold and Crabtree prizes for academic excellence) |
Awarded research grants (as an independent researcher)
2021-2023 | Czech Science Foundation (CSF): 21-03305S | ‘Characterisation of Hippo-signalling related genes during mouse oocyte maturation, acentrosomal cell division & blastocyst cell lineage allocation.’ Duration: 3 years. Finance: 8,672,000 CZK. |
2018-2020 | Czech Science Foundation (CSF): 18-02891S | ‘Regulating the balance between differentiation and pluripotency; molecular characterisation of p38-MAPK function in mouse blastocyst ICM maturation.’ Duration: 3 years. Finance: 6,247,000 CZK. |
2013-2016 | Czech Science Foundation (CSF): 13-03295S | ‘Functional characterisation of identified novel candidate cell-fate influencing genes during pre-implantation mouse development’. Duration: 4 years. Finance: 6,889,000 CZK |
2011-2014 | Marie Curie Career Integration Grant (within the 7th European Community Framework Programme) | IDNOVCELFAT2011: ‘Identification and characterization of novel cell-fate influencing genes in pre-implantation mouse development’. Duration: 4 years. Finance: 100,000 EUR. |
Awarded research grants (within the LEMDB)
2024-2026 | Rector’s Post-Doctoral Fellowship Award | University of South Bohemia (awarded to a post-doctoral researcher, Monika Fluks Ph.D., who was hosted in the LEMDB): ‘Investigating optimal derivation of mouse blastocyst embryos’. Duration: 2 years. Finance: 1,400,000 CZK (salary only). |
2021-2022 | Grant Agency of the University of South Bohemia (GA JU) | Ph.D. student project award. (Mgr. Martina Stiborová.) ‘Mechanistic characterisation of the role of WWC2 protein in acentrosomal spindle formation and cytokinesis in oocyte and early embryo development’. Duration: 2 years. Finance: 400,000 CZK.
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2020-2021 | Grant Agency of the University of South Bohemia (GA JU) | Ph.D. student project award. (Rebecca Collier M.Sc.) ‘Blastomere positioning and cell fate derivation in the preimplantation mammalian embryo’. Duration: 2 years. Finance: 400,000 CZK. |
2019-2020 | Grant Agency of the University of South Bohemia (GA JU) | Ph.D. student project award. (Pablo Bora M.Sc.) ‘RNAi and piggyBAC mediated analysis of p38 mitogen-activated-kinases during inner-cell-mass (ICM) fate specification’. Duration: 2 years. Finance: 400,000 CZK. |
2017-2021 | Marie Curie Career Individual Fellowship Grant | (awarded to a post-doctoral researcher, Lenka Gahurová Ph.D., who is hosted in my group; H2020): OOCSOCS: ‘Socs3 gene in oocyte maturation and fertilsation – a novel link between inflammation and infertility’. Duration: 3 years (extended due to maternity leaves). Finance: 142,720 EUR.
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2017 | Grant Agency of the University of South Bohemia (GA JU) | Ph.D. student project award. (Giorgio Virnicchi M.Sc.) ‘The role of the Wwc-family of proteins during Hippo-signalling and cell-fate derivation in mouse preimplantation embryo development. Implications for improved IVF clinical outcomes’. Duration: 1 year. Finance: 140,000 CZK. |
2015-2017 | Rector’s Post-Doctoral Fellowship Award | University of South Bohemia (awarded to a post-doctoral researcher, Lenka Veselovská Ph.D., who was hosted in the LEMDB): ‘The role of the Socs3 gene in early mammalian development’. Duration: 2 years. Finance: 768,000 CZK (salary only) |
2015 | Grant Agency of the University of South Bohemia (GA JU) | Ph.D. student project award (Aleksandar Mihajlović M.Sc.). ‘Are the first two cell differentiation events of mammalian embryogenesis integrated or totally distinct? Implications for improved IVF clinical outcomes’. Duration: 1 year. Finance: 197,000 CZK |
2013-2014 | Grant Agency of the University of South Bohemia (GA JU) | Consortium of four research groups, ‘Exploiting model systems in molecular biological research (MODBIOLIN)’. Duration: 2 years. Finance: 200,000 CZK |
Publications
- Mani RR, Raj S, Bruce AW, Anbalagan M, Srinivasan H, Chinnappan S, Rajagopal M, Khanna K, Chandramoorthy CK. COVID-19 influenced gut dysbiosis, post-acute sequelae, immune regulation, and therapeutic regimens. Front. Cell. Infect. Microbiol. In press (2024). IF2022 = 5.7
- Fluks M, Collier R, Walewska A, Bruce AW, Ajduk A. How great thou ART: Biomechanical properties of oocytes and embryos as indicators of quality in assisted reproductive technologies. Front. Cell Dev. Biol. 12:1342905 (2024). IF2022 = 5.5
- Iyyappan R, Aleshkina D, Ming H, Dvoran M, Kakavand K, Jansova D, Del Llano E, Gahurova L, Bruce AW, Masek T, Pospisek M, Horvat F, Kubelka M, Jiang Z, Susor A. The translational oscillation in oocyte and early embryo development. Nucleic Acids Res. gkad996 (2023). IF2022 = 14.9.
- Gahurova L, Tomankova J, Cerna P, Bora P, Kubickova M, Virnicchi G , Kovacovicova K, Potesil D, Hruska P, Zdrahal Z, Anger M, Susor A and Bruce AW. Spatial positioning of preimplantation mouse embryo cells is regulated by mTORC1 and m7G-cap dependent translation at the 8- to 16-cell transition. Open Biology 8:230081 (2023). IF2022 = 5.800.
- Bora P, Gahurova L, Hauserova A, Stiborova M, Collier R, Potěšil D, Zdráhal Z and Bruce AW. DDX21 is a p38-MAPK sensitive nucleolar protein necessary for mouse preimplantation embryo development and cell-fate specification. Open Biology 7:210092 (2021). IF2021 = 7.000.
- Bora P, Gahurova L, Mašek T, Hauserova A, Potěšil D, Jansova D, Susor A, Zdráhal Z, Ajduk A, Pospíšek M and Bruce AW. p38-MAPK-mediated translation regulation during early blastocyst development is required for primitive endoderm differentiation in mice. Commun. Biol. 4:788 (2021). IF2021 = 6.548.
- Virnicchi G, Bora P, Gahurova L, Šušor A and Bruce AW. Wwc2 is a novel cell division regulator during preimplantation mouse embryo lineage formation and oogenesis. Front. Cell. Dev. Biol. 8:857 (2020). IF2020 = 6.684.
- Del Llano E, Masek T, Gahurova L, Pospisek M, Koncicka M, Jindrova A, Jansova D, Iappan R, Roucova K, Bruce AW, Kubelka M and Susor A. Age-related differences in the translational landscape of mammalian oocytes. Aging Cell e13231 (2020). IF2020 = 9.304.
- Masek T, Del Llano E, Gahurova L, Kubelka M, Susor A, Roucova K, Lin C-J, Bruce AW and Pospisek M. Identifying the translatome of mouse NEBD-stage oocytes via SSP-profiling; a novel polysome fractionation method. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 21(4), 1254 (2020). IF2020 = 5.923.
- Bora P, Thamodaran V, Šušor A and Bruce AW. p38-mitogen activated kinases mediate a developmental regulatory response to amino acid depletion and associated oxidative stress in mouse blastocyst embryos. Front. Cell. Dev. Biol.7:276 (2019). IF2019= 5.186.
- Koncicka M, Tetkova A, Jansova D, Del Llano E, Gahurova L, Kracmarova J, Prokesova S, Masek T, Pospisek M, Bruce AW, Kubelka M and Susor A. Increased expression of maturation Promoting Factor components speeds up meiosis in oocytes from aged females. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 19(9), 2841 (2018). IF2018 = 4.183.
- Mihajlović AI and Bruce AW. The first cell-fate decision of mouse preimplantation embryo development: integrating cell position and polarity. Open Biology. 7(11) /rsob.170210 (2017). IF2017 = 3.286.
- Koštál V, Štětina T, Poupardin R, Korbelová J, Bruce AW. Conceptual framework of the eco-physiological phases of insect diapause development justified by transcriptomic profiling. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 114(32): 8532-8537 (2017). IF2017 = 9.504.
- Thamodaran V and Bruce AW. p38 (Mapk14/11) occupies a regulatory node governing entry into primitive endoderm differentiation during preimplantation mouse embryo development. Open Biology. 6(9) /rsob.160190 (2016). IF2016 = 3.481.
- Mihajlović AI and Bruce AW. Rho-associated protein kinase regulates subcellular localisation of Angiomotin and Hippo-signalling during preimplantation mouse embryo development. Reprod. Biomed. Online. 33(3), 381-390 (2016). IF2016 = 3.249.
- Mihajlović AI, Thamodaran V and Bruce AW. The first two cell-fate decisions of preimplantation mouse embryo development are not functionally independent. Sci. Rep. 13(5): 15034 (2015). IF2015 = 5.228.
- Bruce AW. Generating different genetic expression patterns in the early embryo; insights from the mouse model. Reprod. Biomed. Online. 27(6), 586-592 (2013). IF2013 = 2.98.
- Bruce AW. Response: Role of mouse maternal Cdx2: what’s the debate all about? Reprod. Biomed. Online. 22(6), 519-5120 (2011)b. IF2011 = 2.042.
- Bruce AW. What is the role of maternally provided Cdx2 mRNA in early mouse embryogenesis? Reprod. Biomed. Online. 22(6), 512-515 (2011)a. IF2011 = 2.042.
- Dhami P§, Saffrey P§, Bruce AW§, Dillon SC§, Chiang K, Bonhoure N, Koch CM, Bye J, James K, Foad NS, Ellis PD, Watkins NA, Ouwehand WH, Langford CF, Andrews RM, Dunham I and Vetrie D. Complex exon-intron marking by histone modifications is not determined solely by nucleosome distribution. PLoS One. 5(8), e12339 (2010). §equal contribution. IF2010 = 4.411.
- Bruce AW and Zernicka-Goetz M. Developmental control of the early mammalian embryo: competition among heterogeneous cells that biases cell fate. Curr. Opin. Genet. & Dev. 20, 485-491 (2010). IF2010 = 9.381.
- Jedrusik A, Bruce AW§, Tan MH§, Leong DE, Skamagki M, Yao M and Zernicka-Goetz M. Maternally and zygotically provided Cdx2 have novel and critical roles for early development of the mouse embryo. Dev. Biol. 344, 66-78 (2010). §equal contribution. IF2010 = 4.094.
- Dhami P, Bruce AW, Jim JH, Dillon SC, Hall A, Cooper JL, Bonhoure N, Chiang K, Ellis PD, Langford CF, Andrews RM and Vetrie D. Genomic approaches uncover increasing complexities in the regulatory landscape at the human SCL (TAL1) locus. PLoS One. 5(2), e9059 (2010). IF2010 = 4.411.
- Wu Q§, Bruce AW§, Jedrusik A, Ellis PD, Andrews RM, Langford CF, Glover DM and Zernicka-Goetz M. CARM1 is required in ES cells to maintain pluripotency and resist differentiation. Stem Cells. 27, 2637-2645 (2009) §equal contribution. IF2009 = 7.747.
- Zernicka-Goetz M, Morris SA and Bruce AW. Making a firm decision: Multifaceted regulation of cell fate in preimplantation development. Nat. Rev. Genet. 10, 467-477 (2009). IF2009 = 27.822.
- Bruce AW, Lopez-Contreras AJ, Flicek P, Down T, Dhami P, Dillon SC, Koch CM, Langford, CF, Dunham I, Andrews RM and Vetrie D. Functional diversity for REST (NRSF) is defined by in vivo binding affinity hierarchies at the DNA sequence level. Genome Res. 19, 994-1005 (2009). IF2009 = 11.342.
- The ENCODE Project Consortium (inc. Bruce AW). Identification and analysis of functional elements in 1% of the human genome by the ENCODE pilot project. Nature. 447, 799-816 (2007). IF2007 = 28.751.
- Koch CM, Andrews RM, Flicek P, Dillon SC, Karaoz U, Clelland GK, Wilcox S, Beare DM, Fowler JC, Couttet P, James KD, Lefebvre GC, Bruce AW, Dovey OM, Ellis PD, Dhami P, Langford CF, Weng Z, Birney E, Carter NP, Vetrie D and Dunham I. The landscape of histone modifications across 1% of the human genome in five human cell lines. Genome Res. 17, 691-707 (2007). IF2007 = 11.224.
- Johnson RJ, Gamblin RJ, Ooi L, Bruce AW, Donaldson IJ, Westhead DR, Wood IC, Jackson RM, Buckley NJ. Identification of the REST regulon reveals extensive transposable element-mediated binding site duplication. Nucleic Acids Res. 34, 3862-3877 (2006). IF2006 = 6.317.
- Bruce AW, Krejčí A, Ooi L, Deuchars J, Wood IC, Doležal V and Buckley NJ. The transcriptional repressor REST is a critical regulator of the neurosecretory phenotype. J. Neurochem. 98, 1828-1840 (2006). IF2006 = 4.260.
- Follows GA, Dhami P, Göttgens B, Bruce AW, Campbell PJ, Dillon SC, Smith AM, Koch C, Donaldson IJ, Scott MA, Dunham I, Janes ME, Vetrie D, Green AR. Identifying gene regulatory elements by genomic microarray mapping of DNaseI hypersensitive sites. Genome Res. 16, 1310-1319 (2006). IF2006 = 10.256.
- Bruce AW§, Donaldson IJ§, Wood IC, Yerbury SA, Chapman M, Sadowski MI, Göttgens B and Buckley NJ. Genome-wide analysis of Repressor Element-1 Silencing Transcription factor (REST) binding sites reveals novel target genes. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 101, 10458-10463 (2004). §equal contribution. IF2004 = 10.452.
- Krejčí A, Bruce AW, Tuček S, Doležal V, Buckley NJ. Multiple promoters drive cell-specific expression of the human M2 muscarinic acetylcholine gene. J. Neurochem. 91, 88-98 (2004). IF2004 = 4.821.
- Belyaev ND, Wood IC, Bruce AW, Street M, Trinh JB, Buckley NJ. Distinct RE1 Silencing Transcription Factor (REST)-containing complexes interact with different target genes. J. Biol. Chem. 279, 556-561 (2004). IF2004 = 6.355.
- Wood IC, Belyaev ND, Bruce AW, Jones C, Mistry M, Roopra A, Buckley NJ. Interaction of the repressor element 1-silencing transcription factor, (REST), with target genes. J. Mol. Biol. 334, 863-874 (2003). IF2003 = 5.239.
Publication metrics
Total publications (Web of Science 16.05.2024): 35
Hirsh index (Web of Science 16.05.2024): 19
Total citing articles (Web of Science 16.05.2024, excluding self-citations): 5332
Average impact factor (IF) per publication (based on IF in year of publication): 7.584
Completed research student supervisions
Ph.D. (Doctoral) Theses (x3):
- Bora P. 'The role of p38-MAPKs in mouse preimplantation embryonic development: Regulating translation towards blastocyst maturation and lineage specification". (2021). University of South Bohemia, Faculty of Science, České Budějovice; Physiology & Developmental Biology/ Animal Physiology & Developmental Biology programme.
- Mihajlović AI. ‘The involvement of the Hippo signalling pathway in the first two cell-fate decisions of pre-implantation mouse embryo development’. (2017). University of South Bohemia, Faculty of Science, České Budějovice; Physiology & Developmental Biology/ Animal Physiology & Developmental Biology programme.
- Thamodaran V. ‘The role of p38-Mapk14/11 as an enabler of primitive endoderm (PrE) maturation and as a sensor of metabolism during mouse preimplantation embryo development’. (2016). University of South Bohemia, Faculty of Science, České Budějovice; Physiology & Developmental Biology/ Animal Physiology & Developmental Biology programme.
Mgr. (Masters) Theses (x5):
- Hauserová A. 'Investigating functional p38-MAPK signalling during mouse blastocyst ICM cell-fate maturation'. (2023). University of South Bohemia, Faculty of Science, České Budějovice; Experimental Biology: Molecular & Cell Biology and Genetics programme.
- Kutsyna V. 'Assaying mitochondrial cell number, morphology and respiration status in the emerging three lineages of the preimplantation stage mouse embryo'. (2023). University of South Bohemia, Faculty of Science, České Budějovice; Experimental Biology: Molecular & Cell Biology and Genetics programme.
- Černá P. 'mTOR-regulated translation during the first wave of inner cell generation in mouse preimplantation embryos'. (2022). University of South Bohemia, Faculty of Science, České Budějovice; Physiology & Developmental Biology/ Animal Physiology & Developmental Biology programme.
- Pekl'anská M. 'Utilising CRISPR-Cas9 mediated genome editing to C-terminally tag endogenous gene loci with fluorescent protein fusions in preimplantation mouse embryos'. (2021). University of South Bohemia, Faculty of Science, České Budějovice; Physiology & Developmental Biology/ Animal Physiology & Developmental Biology programme.
- Kubíčková M. Investigation of the gene Dynactin subunit 2 (Dctn2) in regulating the frequency of asymmetric cell divisions during mouse preimplantation embryonic development. (2018). University of South Bohemia, Faculty of Science, České Budějovice; Physiology & Developmental Biology/ Animal Physiology & Developmental Biology programme.
Bc. (Bachelors/ B.Sc.) Theses (x9):
- Hauserová A. Analyzing the role of p38 mitogen activated protein kinases and their effectors on mouse blastocyst maturation (2021). University of South Bohemia, Faculty of Science, České Budějovice, Czech Republic; Biology Programme.
- Gajovská T. Effects of mTOR and AMPK pathways on specification of inner cell mass (ICM) cell lineages during preimplantation development (2021). University of South Bohemia, Faculty of Science, České Budějovice, Czech Republic; Biology Programme.
- Moser F. Cloning useful recombinant cDNA/mRNA constructs to study cell cycle and Hippo-signalling in preimplantation mouse embryos (2020). University of South Bohemia, Faculty of Science, České Budějovice, Czech Republic; Joint Biological Chemistry Programme.
- Pezelj S. Generating fluorescently tagged MARK2 fusion protein as a marker for the basolateral membranes of preimplantation stage mouse embryo blastomeres (2019). University of South Bohemia, Faculty of Science, České Budějovice, Czech Republic; Joint Biological Chemistry Programme.
- Holzer MA. Assaying the effect of VEGFR2 receptor inhibition on preimplantation mouse embryo development (2018). University of South Bohemia, Faculty of Science, České Budějovice, Czech Republic; Joint Biological Chemistry Programme.
- Schnabellehner SC. The role of Csf1 and Zfpm1 in the preimplantation mouse development (2016). University of South Bohemia, Faculty of Science, České Budějovice, Czech Republic; Joint Biological Chemistry Programme.
- Jakesová M. Role of Csf1 during preimplantation mouse development (2014). University of South Bohemia, Faculty of Science, České Budějovice, Czech Republic; Joint Biological Chemistry Programme.
- Ahiable JEA. Cloning candidate novel cell-fate genes (pre-implantation mouse development). (2012). University of South Bohemia, Faculty of Science, České Budějovice Czech Republic; Joint Biological Chemistry Programme.
- *Gstöttenmayer D. DNA separation by capilliary electrophoresis: a literature review (2011). of South Bohemia, Faculty of Science, České Budějovice Czech Republic; Joint Biological Chemistry Programme.
* literature review only
Grant peer review history
- Grant Agency of the Czech Republic (Grantová agentura České republiky, GA ČR), Panel P303; Cellular, Developmental & Evolutionary Biology (2020 - 2024).
- Hungarian National Research, Development & Innovation Office (NKFI), Developmental Life Sciences Panel, Budapest, Hungary (2019 & 2020).
- Medical Research Council (MRC), 58 Victoria Embankment, London, EC4Y 0DS, United Kingdom (x1; 2021, x2; 2022).
- Grant Agency of Charles University (Grantová agentura univerzita Karlova, GA UK), Prague, Czech Republic (x2; 2016, x2; 2018; x1 2023).
- Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), Polaris House, North Star Avenue, Swindon SN2 1UH, United Kingdom (x1; 2016, x1; 2018).
Scientific journal editorial & peer review history
- Review Editor at Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology (2021 onwards). Based at Frontiers Media SA, Avenue du Tribunal Federal 34, 1005 Lausanne, Switzerland.
- Member of the Editorial Board of Reproductive BioMedicine Online (2013 onwards). Based at Duck End Farm, Park Lane, Dry Drayton, Cambridge, CB23 8DB, United Kingdom. Published on behalf of Reproductive Healthcare Ltd. by Elsevier Ltd.
- Ad hoc reviewer for scientific journals; Development, Reproduction, Reproductive BioMedicine Online, PLoS Biology, Nucleic Acids Research, iScience, Scientific Reports, International Journal of Molecular Sciences, Biochemical Journal and Bioscience Horizons.
Professional habilitation reviews/evaluations
- Habilitation thesis (Associate Professor). Anonymous, Canadian Research Chairs (2020) – strictly confidential details available on request.
- Habilitation thesis (Associate Professor/docent). MVDr. Martin Anger, C.Sc., Department of Histology & Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic (2019).
Student research degree examinations undertaken
Examination appointments at Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice:
- summer 2010 - present: appointed to the examining committees for bachelors and masters level degree defences.
- summer 2010 - present: appointed to the examining committees for doctorate entrance and final state exams - including as a member of the Specialist Board (Developmental Biology) within the Integrative Biology study programme, since 2021.
Specific & external Ph.D. (Doctoral) theses examinations:
- Horvat F. 'Bioinformatic analysis of RNA dynamics during mammalian oocyte-to-embryo transition'. (2023). Charles University in Prague, Faculty of Science, Prague, Czech Republic.
- Lilao-Garzon J. 'Effect of maternal age and metabolic syndrome on preimplantation embryo development'. (2023). University of Las Palmas in Gran Canaria, University Institute for Biomedical and Health Research, Las Palmas, Spain.
- Lopez-Contreras AJ. ‘Characterization of the ODCp gene and the novel related gene, inhibitor of antizymes 2/AZIN2’. (2008). University of Murcia, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Biochemistry, Murcia, Spain.
Specific & external M.Sc. (Masters) theses examinations:
- Gupta M. ‘Finding direct targets of the transcription factor Prospero in the central nervous system (CNS) of the Drosophila melanogaster. (2005). University of Cambridge, Department of Biochemistry, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
Summary of teaching
• From 2022: University of South Bohemia, Faculty of Science, České Budějovice, Czech Republic; Programme guarantor and head for the newly awarded grant ‘National Renewal Plan for Higher Education 2022-2024; creation of new study programmes in progressive fields’; as awarded by the Czech Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports’ (25m CZK). To redevelop a new Master’s study programme to reflect appropriate training within the ‘Faculty of Science’ and ‘Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics’ to meet modern employment requirements and opportunities; with specific reference to large data set generation and analyses using modern ‘-omics’ techniques (subject to study programme content accreditation by the Ministry – due start date: September 2024).
• From 2021: University of South Bohemia, Faculty of Science, České Budějovice, Czech Republic; Teaching and mentoring a practical laboratory based teaching class for the 'Advanced Methods of Cell & Molecular Biology (KMB603 & KMB603E)' practical courses, taught in the summer semesters, for MSc. and Ph.D. students. Class entails three days of mouse ovary and, oviduct and uterus dissection, preimplantation embryo recovery, micro-manipulation by microinjection of RNAi and recombinant mRNAs, in vitro culture, fixation and staining and confocal microscopy & image analysis. Course guarantor Mgr. Lenka Gahurová Ph.D.
• From 2018: University of South Bohemia, Faculty of Science, České Budějovice, Czech Republic; Teaching and mentoring a practical laboratory based teaching class for the 'Methods of Cell Study (KME614 )' and 'Developmental Biology of Animals and Humans (KMB617)' study courses/programmes, taught in the winter and summer semesters, respectively. Class entitles three hours of mouse ovary and, oviduct and uterus dissection, preimplantation embryo recovery and in vitro culture; with theory on early mouse development, cell lineage formation and general reproduction. Course guarantor Mgr. Hana Sehadová Ph.D.
• 2014-2023: University of South Bohemia, Faculty of Science, České Budějovice, Czech Republic; Establishment and lecturing the English taught undergraduate course (operated as part of the ‘Joint Biological Chemistry’ programme with Johannes Kepler University, Linz, Austria) entitled ‘Introduction to Genomics (KMB358)’. Three times two hour lectures (2014 – present, not including ad hoc revision classes not listed in STAG database), taught in the summer semester. Also acting as course guarantor and attracting lecturers from both within and outside the university and faculty (e.g. internally, Mgr. Aleš Horák Ph.D., Mgr. Lenka Gahurová Ph.D. and Mgr. Filip Husník; externally, Mgr. Jan Pačes Ph.D. & RNDr. Miluše Hroudová Ph.D. – Institute of Molecular Genetics/ IMG, Czech Academy of Science, Prague, Czech Republic).
• From 2011: University of South Bohemia, Faculty of Science, České Budějovice, Czech Republic; Lecturing the English taught undergraduate course (operated as part of the ‘Joint Biological Chemistry’ programme with Johannes Kepler University, Linz, Austria) entitled ‘Molecular Biology and Genetics I (KMB758)’. Ten times two hour lectures (2010 – 2014) and eight times two hour lectures (2015 – present), not including ad hoc revision classes not listed in STAG database, taught in the winter semester. Also acting as course guarantor, recruiting other faculty members to teaching roles (e.g. Mgr. Lenka Gahurová Ph.D.).
• 2011-2018: University of South Bohemia, Faculty of Science, České Budějovice, Czech Republic (in cooperation with Johannes Kepler University, Linz, Austria); Acted as course guarantor responsible for overall running/planning of the cross-boarder (CZ-A) Bioinformatics Programme.
• 2011 & 2015: University of South Bohemia, Faculty of Science, České Budějovice, Czech Republic; Ad hoc lecturing on the English taught Masters research degree course entitled ‘Advanced methods in Molecular Biology (KMB603)’. One two hour lecture called ‘Introduction to Microarrays’, taught in the summer semester. Course guarantor, Mgr. Doležel David Ph.D.
• 2008-2009: University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom; Lecturing ‘part II’ undergraduate students in preimplantation embryo development and Assisted Reproductive Technology/ ART module entitled ‘The mouse as a model system’. 2.5 hours. Course guarantor, Prof. Martin H. Johnson (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).
Invited talks & conference presentations
Charles University, Faculty of Sciences (incorporating Masters student programme invite speaker seminar series); Prague, Czech Republic. ‘How to build a blastocyst: regulation of cell fate acquisition during mouse preimplantation embryo development.’ (April 2024) – invited speaker.
Visegrád Group Society for Developmental Biology (V4SDB) Third Meeting; Warsaw, Poland. 'Spatial positioning of preimplantation mouse embryo cells is regulated by mTORC1 and 7mG-cap dependent translation at the 8- to 16-cell transition.' (September 2023) - selected abstract oral presentation.
Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics (IAPG); Liběchov, Czech Republic (IAPG 60th anniversary symposium) ‘How to build a blastocyst; regulation of cell fate acquisition during mouse preimplantation embryo development’. (May 2023) – invited speaker.
University of Las Palmas in Gran Canaria (Spain); ‘Insights into the regulation of cell fate acquisition during mouse preimplantation embryo development’. (May 2023) – invited speaker.
University of Ostrava, Faculty of Sciences; Ostrava, Czech Republic ‘How to build a blastocyst; regulation of cell fate acquisition during mouse preimplantation embryo development’. (December 2022) – invited speaker.
University of South Bohemia (Scientific Board); České Budějovice, Czech Republic. ‘doc. Alexander W. Bruce, Ph.D.: A career summary’. (March 2022) – PROFESSORSHIP APPOINTMENT PROCEDURE (oral presentation).
Charles University, Faculty of Sciences (invited speaker seminar series, incorporating Masters student programme); Prague, Czech Republic. ‘Preimplantation mouse embryo development; the mechanics of building the blastocyst.’ (March 2022) – invited speaker.
University of South Bohemia, Faculty of Science (Scientific Board); České Budějovice, Czech Republic. ‘How to build a blastocyst: regulation of cell fate acquisition during mouse preimplantation embryo development’. (November 2021) – PROFESSORSHIP NOMINATION LECTURE (oral presentation).
Visegrád Group Society for Developmental Biology (V4SDB) Second Meeting; Szeged, Hungary. 'p38-MAPK-mediated translation regulation primes blastocyst development and is required for primitive endoderm differentiation in mice.' (September 2021) - selected abstract oral presentation and poster.
Czech and Slovak Stem Cell Biology Meeting; Prušánky, Czech Republic. 'The role of p38-MAPKs in specifying the primitive endoderm lineage of mouse blastocyst embryos.' (October 2020 - postponed due to Coronavirus pandemic) - invited speaker.
Hungarian Molecular Life Science Conference; Eger, Hungary. 'Deciphering the nodal role of p38 family of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) towards specifying primitive endoderm (PrE) fate in the inner cell mass (ICM) of late-blastocyst stage mouse preimplantation embryo'. (March 2019) - selected abstract oral presentation.
Institute of Genetics & Animal Breeding (Polish Academy of Sciences): Jastrzbeic (near Warsaw), Poland. 'A question of fate: cell lineage derivation during preimplantation mouse embryogenesis'. (May 2018) - invited talk (oral presentation).
University of South Bohemia, Faculty of Science; České Budějovice, Czech Republic. ‘Regulation of mammalian cell-fate: Insights from genomics-based investigation of transcriptional regulation and chromatin structure & studies of preimplantation mouse embryogenesis’. (February 2018) – HABILITATION DEFENCE LECTURE (oral presentation).
Masaryk University, Faculty of Science; Brno Czech Republic. ‘A question of fate; cell lineage derivation during preimplantation mouse embryogenesis’. (January 2018) – invited talk (oral presentation).
University of South Bohemia, Faculty of Science; České Budějovice, Czech Republic. ‘Needing to be different; A summary of cell-fate acquisition in preimplantation mouse embryos.’ (October 2017) - PEDAGOGICAL HABILITATION LECTURE (oral presentation).
British Society for Developmental Biology (BSDB) Autumn Meeting; Edinburgh, United Kingdom. ‘p38 mitogen activated kinases (Mapk14/11) occupy a regulatory node governing entry into mouse embryo primitive endoderm differentiation’. (August 2016) – selected abstract oral presentation and poster (O04 & P21).
University of Manchester, Division of Developmental Biology & Medicine; Manchester, United Kingdom. ‘A question of fate! Cell lineage derivation during preimplantation mouse embryogenesis’. (November 2015) – invited talk (oral presentation).
Czech RNA Club Annual Meeting; University of South Bohemia, Faculty of Science, České Budějovice, Czech Republic. ‘The first two cell-fate decision of preimplantation mouse embryo development are not functionally independent’. (September 2015) – invited talk (oral presentation).
Vita Nova International Education Event (Assisted Reproductive Technologies/ ART); Bratislava, Slovakia. ‘Generating different genetic expression patterns in the early embryo; insights from the mouse model’. (September 2013) – invited talk (oral presentation).
Futures in Reproduction Meeting; Celebrating the award of the 2010 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine to Professor Sir Robert Edwards; Churchill College, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom. ‘Generating different genetic expression patterns in the early embryo; insights from the mouse model’. (December 2012). – invited talk (oral presentation).
Institute of Molecular Genetics (IMG); Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic. ‘Understanding cell-fate decisions in pre-implantation mouse embryogenesis’. (November 2012). – invited talk (oral presentation).
Charles University, Third Medical Faculty; Prague, Czech Republic. ‘Exploring the role of the Cdx2 gene during the first cell-fate choices of mouse embryo development’. (March 2012). – invited talk (oral presentation).
Institute of Molecular Genetics (IMG); Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic. ‘Understanding cell-fate decisions in pre-implantation mouse embryogenesis’. (November 2011). – invited talk (oral presentation).
Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics (IAPG); Czech Academy of Sciences, Liběchov, Czech Republic. ‘A complex state of affairs: Cdx2 and preimplantation mouse development’. (December 2010). – invited talk (oral presentation).
University of Warsaw, Faculty of Biology, Department of Embryology; Warsaw, Poland. ‘A complex state of affairs: Cdx2 and preimplantation mouse development’. (October 2010). – invited talk (oral presentation).
University of South Bohemia, Faculty of Science, Department of Molecular Biology; České Budějovice, Czech Republic. ‘Giving Functional Genomics a REST’. (May 2009). – invited talk (oral presentation).
The Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Wellcome Trust Advanced Courses Workshop (microarrays & the transcriptome); Welcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, United Kingdom. ‘The Application of Functional Genomics: REST, a case study’. (April 2009). – invited talk (oral presentation).
National Centre for Oncological Investigations (CNIO), Madrid, Spain. ‘Giving functional genomics a REST’. (February 2009). – invited talk (oral presentation).
University of Murcia, Faculty of Medicine; Murcia, Spain. ‘Functional characterisation and target gene identification of the transcriptional repressor REST.’ (February 2007). - invited talk (oral presentation).
Anglo-Czech Partnerships in Science Cancer Symposium (sponsored by the British Council); Prague, Czech Republic ‘Using genomic DNA microarrays to identify regulatory elements in the human Stem Cell Leukaemia (SCL) locus’. (March 2005) - selected abstract (oral presentation).
London Chromatin Club Meeting (sponsored by Abcam); London, United Kingdom. ‘Genomic DNA Microarrays: Applications in Chromatin Research (ChIP:Chip)’. (January 2005). – invited speaker/ oral presentation.
Inaugural Chromatin Structure and Function Meeting (sponsored by Abcam); Cancún, Mexico. ‘Identification of transcription factor binding sites and chromatin structural domains in the human genome using DNA genomic microarrays’. (November 2004). – selected abstract (oral presentation), plus poster (P6).
British Biochemical Society Meeting; BioScience; Glasgow, United Kingdom. ‘The transcriptional repressor REST coordinates the regulated secretory pathway’. (July 2004). – selected abstract (oral presentation), plus poster A110).
Other attended conferences/workshops (including indicated poster presentations)
International Society for Developmental Biology (ISDB) Meeting; Algarve, Portugal (October 2022) – x2 LEMDB posters.
Visegrád Group Society for Developmental Biology (V4SDB) Student Practical Summer School (Models of Early Embryological Research); Balaton Limnological Research Institute, Tihany, Lake Balaton, Hungary. (June 2022) - course faculty member & lecturer.
Visegrád Society for Developmental Biology (V4SDB) Second Meeting; Biology Research Centre, Szeged, Hungary (September 2021) – x4 LEMDB lab posters.
European Developmental Biology Congress (EDBC); Alicante, Spain. (October 2019) - x4 LEMDB posters.
Visegrád Society for Developmental Biology (V4SDB) Inaugural Meeting; Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic (September 2018) – x3 LEMDB lab posters.
British Society for Developmental Biology (BSDB) Spring Meeting; Warwick University, Warwick, United Kingdom. (April 2018).
British Society for Developmental Biology (BSDB) Joint Autumn Meeting (with the Portuguese and Spanish Developmental Biology Societies); Alfamar Resort, Algarve, Portugal. (October 2015) – x2 LEMDB lab posters.
The 6th EMBO Meeting – Advancing Life Sciences; Birmingham, United Kingdom. (September 2015) – poster presentation (EMBO confirmed).
Inside-Outside, Challenges and Prejudices; Celebrating the work of Prof. Martin H. Johnson; University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom. (September 2015).
Czech Cytoskeleton Club XXIII Annual Meeting; Vranovská Ves, Czech Republic. (May 2015).
Czech Cytoskeleton Club XXII Annual Meeting; Vranovská Ves, Czech Republic. (May 2014).
EMBO Workshop. Oocyte maturation and fertilization: Lessons from canonical and emerging models; Banyuls-sur-Mer, France. (June 2013).
Gurdon Institute 21st Anniversary Symposium; Cambridge, United Kingdom. (June 2013).
Practical workshops & conferences (co-)organised
- Visegrad Group Society for Developmental Biology (V4SDB) Third Meeting; Warsaw, Poland. (September 2023). Member of general organising committee. https://v4sdb2023.pl/welcome_message
International Society of Developmental Biologists, 19th International Congress of Developmental Biology; Salagados Palace, Algarve, Portugal (October 2022). International Scientific Committee Member (re: scientific programme) https://www.isdb2021.com/ (committee membership details - https://www.isdb2021.com/committees)
- Visegrád Group Society for Developmental Biology (V4SDB) Student Practical Summer School (Models of Early Embryological Research); Balaton Limnological Research Institute, Tihany, Lake Balaton, Hungary. (June 2022). Course faculty member & lecturer (>35 research students students – preimplantation mouse embryo, with dr. hab. Anna Piliszek - Institute of Genetics & Animal Breeding, Polish Academy of Sciences, dr. hab. Anna Ajduk – Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Poland and MVDr. Dušan Fabian, Slovak Academy of Sciences). http://v4sdb.org/2022-v4sdb-summer_school
- Visegrád Group Society for Developmental Biology (V4SDB) Second Meeting - incorporating Day 0 student practical workshop; Szeged, Hungary. (September 2021). Junior member of main conference organising committee & co-lecturer/ demonstrator and co-main organiser (with dr. hab. Anna Piliszek - Institute of genetics & Animal Breeding, Polish Academy of Sciences) of 'Preimplantation mouse embryo recovery and in vitro culture/ manipulation practical class' (>30 research students). http://v4sdb.org/second-v4sdb-meeting-2-1 and https://www.v4sdbszeged.com/
- Visegrád Group Society for Developmental Biology (V4SDB) Inaugural Meeting; Brno, Czech Republic. (September 2018). Member of Czech organising committee. https://webcentrum.muni.cz/visegrad2018
- University of South Bohemia Confocal Microscopy and Image Analysis Workshop (2012 & 2015). University of South Bohemia, Faculty of Science, České Budějovice. Head of the organisation committee (recruiting Mr. Alex Sossick, Head of the Imaging Facility at the Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom and course instructors from the companies BitPlane/Imaris image analysis and Olympus microscopes) for one week intensive practical workshop and trouble-shooting clinic, aimed at faculty Ph.D. students.
- Annual Wellcome Trust Advanced Course; Microarrays and the Transcriptome (2005-2007). Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton, CB10 1SA, United Kingdom. Teaching assistant. Course administrators; David Vetrie Ph.D. (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) and Mrs. Yvonne Hitching (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).
Other activities
- Annual Department of Molecular Biology (& Genetics – since 2016) Scientific Image Competition (2011 onwards); Establishment and organisation of an annual competition within the Department of Molecular Biology (& Genetics), Faculty of Sciences, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic, to showcase exquisite scientific images, judged and awarded on the basis of both aesthetics and scientific merit, generated within the department within the last calendar year. Generated images used for promotional materials. See archived entrant galleries.
- Founder member of the organising committee for the establishment of a Visegrád Group (Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia) Society for Developmental Biology (V4SDB) - re-elected for 2024-2027 term as V4SDB Treasurer & Membership Secretary; Work begun in December 2016 with Polish (Anna Piliszek Ph.D., Institute of Genetics and Animal Breeding, Warsaw, Poland) and Czech colleagues (doc. RNDr. Marcela BuchtováPh.D., Masaryk University, Faculty of Science, Brno, Czech Republic) to establish of an international developmental biology society to sustainably support and promote the field in the Visegrád Group. For more information see the official webpage, V4SDB facebook page and Twitter feed (@V4Sdb)
LEMDB lab alumni
Former senior/post-doctoral researchers:
- Lenka Gahurová (2023 – former Marie Curie Individual Grant Fellowship holder): Faculty member and Assistant Professor at the University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice (Department of Molecular Biology & Genetics – Laboratory of Mammalian Epigenetics and Bioinformatics), Czech Republic.
- Ender Yalcinkaya Kalyan (2013): ADATIP Hospitals, Embryology Laboratory, Istanbul, Turkey.
Former Ph.D. students:
- Pablo Bora (2021): University of Massachusetts Medical School - laboratory of prof. Oliver J. Rando
- Giorgio Virnicchi (2021): PLAISANT, Rome, Italy - Transgenic Mouse Generation outsourcing company.
- Aleksandar Mihajlović (2017): Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada (recipient of competitively awarded FRQS post-doctoral fellowship - 2019) - laboratory of prof. Greg Fitzharris
- Tata Institute for Genetics and Society - TIGS, Bengaluru, India (recipient of INSPIRE Faculty Fellowship/ Early Career - Indian National Academy of Sciences - 2020) - Vasanth Thamodaran (TIGS)
Former Master's students
Former Bachelor's students
Tamara Gajovská (2021): Pronatal Repro Human IVF clinic in České Budějovice (Budweis), Czech Republic.
