On 25 August 2026, representatives of BBMRI.cz, Doc. Hrstka and Dr. Nováková from the Masaryk Memorial Cancer Institute, visited the Veterinary Research Institute (VRI). The meeting focused on linking veterinary and biomedical research, the use of biological samples, and opportunities for future scientific collaboration.
BBMRI.cz – Biobanking and BioMolecular Resources Research Infrastructure of the Czech Republic – is a large research infrastructure supported by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports. It is also part of the European biobanking research infrastructure BBMRI-ERIC, which brings together biobanks and research institutions across Europe.
During the visit, the guests were introduced to the VRI’s main research areas, as well as its laboratory and technological facilities. The subsequent discussion focused primarily on opportunities for collaboration in the collection, standardization, storage, and use of biological samples and related data.
An important topic of the meeting was also the potential linking of veterinary research with the activities of biobanks and biomedical research infrastructures. Veterinary medicine can provide valuable insights into the onset, development, and prevention of diseases that affect both humans and animals.
Such linking is in line with the One Health approach, which emphasizes the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health and represents one of the key areas of research at the VRI.
The meeting opened the way for continued scientific dialogue and the identification of specific areas in which VRI and institutions involved in the BBMRI.cz could collaborate in the future. Opportunities lie not only in sharing expertise and implementing common standards, but also in preparing new research projects and making more effective use of biological samples for veterinary and biomedical research.
