Centre of Experimental Medicine SAS
Topic
Pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic evaluation of novel therapeutic options for the treatment of inflammatory diseases in in vivo and 3D in vitro models
PhD. program
Pharmacology
Year of admission
2026
Name of the supervisor
PharmDr. František Dráfi, PhD., MPH
Contact:
Receiving school
Faculty of Pharmacy, Comenius University
Annotation
The proposed doctoral research topic integrates research activities carried out at the CEM of the Slovak Academy of Sciences (SAS) within the VEGA and APVV projects, with a shared focus on the experimental pharmacology of inflammatory diseases. The research is designed as a methodologically integrated system of in vivo and in vitro approaches, aiming at a comprehensive evaluation of pharmacodynamic effects, mechanisms of action, and the biological availability of the investigated therapeutic strategies.
The VEGA project is oriented toward the assessment of anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects of selected bioactive compounds and innovative dosage forms in validated in vivo models of chronic inflammation, particularly adjuvant arthritis. Emphasis is placed on the analysis of key inflammatory, oxidative-stress-related, and tissue-remodelling signalling pathways. These experiments are systematically complemented by targeted in vitro studies focused on mechanistic elucidation of drug action, as well as on the assessment of the rate and extent of compound penetration using validated in vitro 3D models.
The APVV project expands this biological and mechanistic framework by addressing the development of modern delivery and carrier systems for biological DMARDs. In this context, the contribution of CEM SAS is primarily focused on in vivo evaluation of the pharmacokinetic profile and biological availability of advanced formulations, which is performed in parallel with in vitro assessments using 3D models. This integrated combination of experimental approaches enables a critical evaluation of the translational potential of novel therapeutic strategies for inflammatory diseases.
Thus, the doctoral research establishes a coherent and logically structured experimental framework in which in vivo and in vitro methodologies are systematically integrated to generate academically relevant and translationally applicable insights into the efficacy, mechanisms of action, and pharmacokinetic properties of new therapeutic approaches.
The VEGA project is oriented toward the assessment of anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects of selected bioactive compounds and innovative dosage forms in validated in vivo models of chronic inflammation, particularly adjuvant arthritis. Emphasis is placed on the analysis of key inflammatory, oxidative-stress-related, and tissue-remodelling signalling pathways. These experiments are systematically complemented by targeted in vitro studies focused on mechanistic elucidation of drug action, as well as on the assessment of the rate and extent of compound penetration using validated in vitro 3D models.
The APVV project expands this biological and mechanistic framework by addressing the development of modern delivery and carrier systems for biological DMARDs. In this context, the contribution of CEM SAS is primarily focused on in vivo evaluation of the pharmacokinetic profile and biological availability of advanced formulations, which is performed in parallel with in vitro assessments using 3D models. This integrated combination of experimental approaches enables a critical evaluation of the translational potential of novel therapeutic strategies for inflammatory diseases.
Thus, the doctoral research establishes a coherent and logically structured experimental framework in which in vivo and in vitro methodologies are systematically integrated to generate academically relevant and translationally applicable insights into the efficacy, mechanisms of action, and pharmacokinetic properties of new therapeutic approaches.