The projects are carried out in cooperation with the University of Ostrava and the University Hospital Ostrava. They will deliver major innovations in nanomedicine, immunotherapies, and intelligent systems enabling more accurate decision-making in obstetric practice.

“Both projects demonstrate that our faculty is becoming a key player in biomedical engineering, nanoengineering, and applied artificial intelligence. Thanks to close collaboration with clinical departments and academic partners, a modern research environment is emerging in Ostrava—one capable of delivering technologies with a direct impact on the quality of healthcare,” said Radek Martínek, Dean of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at VSB–TUO.

Nanorobots to Strengthen Immunity
The first project, Advanced Functional Nanorobots for Precise Gene Engineering of Immune Cells, was rated as the best project within the entire Biomedical Technologies panel of the Czech Ministry of Health. “Our research team will focus on the development of intelligent nanorobots. This opens up new possibilities for advanced therapies and personalized medicine,” said Professor Martin Pumera, head of the Advanced Nanorobots and Multiscale Robotics Lab at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.

Experts from the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Ostrava are also involved in the project. “The application of nanorobots will enable precise and, above all, very gentle delivery of genetic tools into immune cells, which is currently extremely challenging and costly. At the same time, this technology will significantly accelerate and reduce the cost of producing modern cell therapies for the treatment of cancer, autoimmune, or infectious diseases, and will allow their broader availability,” explained Associate Professor Michal Šimíček from the Faculty of Medicine, University of Ostrava.

“I greatly value the joint projects carried out with VSB–TUO. It is clear that close interdisciplinary cooperation and regular meetings with colleagues from the technical university yield tangible results, particularly in the field of biomedical research,” added Associate Professor Ondřej Volný, Vice-Dean for Science and Research at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Ostrava, and Deputy Head for Research at University Hospital Ostrava.

More Accurate Information During Childbirth
The second project is implemented by VSB–TUO in cooperation with University Hospital Ostrava (UHO) and focuses on improving care during childbirth, with the aim of protecting children even before birth. The PROTEKT project (PeRinatal Research for OpTimal Care and More Efficient Clinical Technology) will create a new computer-aided diagnostic system that combines traditional cardiotocography with new digital biomarkers obtained through advanced biosignal processing and multisource clinical data. Using artificial intelligence, the system will provide physicians with more accurate information about the health status of both mother and fetus, enabling more reliable decision-making in demanding clinical situations.

“The project introduces an entirely new concept that integrates clinical expertise with modern technologies. Thanks to access to unique data, deeper analysis, and the development of more accurate predictive models, we will be able to better understand risk situations during childbirth,” explained Associate Professor Radana Vilímková Kahánková from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at VSB–TUO.

The PROTEKT project demonstrates how close cooperation between physicians and engineers can elevate care for both mother and fetus to a new level. “The collaboration between VSB–TUO and our clinic is truly exceptional. Following the unique project focused on detecting microplastics in amniotic fluid, we are now directing our joint efforts toward fetal monitoring during labor,” recalled Associate Professor Ondřej Šimetka, co-investigator of the project at UHO and Head of the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics.

The research projects will commence in January. Both projects confirm the growing synergy among key institutions in Ostrava. VSB–TUO, the University of Ostrava, and University Hospital Ostrava are connecting their expertise, data, and know-how to create a unified ecosystem that advances both research and clinical practice.