IKEM opened a new pavilion for science and research for 98 million

Prague - The Institute of Clinical and Experimental Medicine (IKEM) has opened a new pavilion for science and research called the Ellipse. With an investment of 98 million crowns, one of the most modern European workplaces for doctors and scientists has been created in 18 months, featuring laboratories and facilities for research in the areas of heart and vascular diseases, transplantation, diabetology, and metabolic disorders. The construction was presented to journalists by IKEM director Aleš Herman.
    "The results of the Center for Experimental Medicine will be used for more effective prevention and treatment in the area of circulatory diseases, metabolic disorders associated with diabetes, and for further improvements in transplantation programs at IKEM," said Professor Luděk Červenka, the center's head, during the ceremonial opening.
    A significant part of the "Ellipse" will be occupied by a group focusing on the transplantation of Langerhans islets. Their aim is to improve the procedure so that 50 to 60 percent of cells are not lost during tissue transfer as has been the case so far.
    There will also be doctors investigating the liver's function. Understanding the mechanisms of liver regeneration aims to open the way for acquiring functional liver replacements, whether in the form of an organ or tissue.
    In the new pavilion, doctors will also be searching for new pharmacotherapy options for patients with heart failure. Research will continue on the roles of genetics, nutrition, and hormones in arteriosclerosis and the development of ischemic heart disease. A small animal facility on the first floor of the pavilion will serve the doctors for research purposes.
    The building of the Ellipse is designed as a low-energy structure, making it more environmentally friendly, with lower operating costs. It features exclusively LED lighting, which consumes one-third of the energy compared to traditional panels. Heating is also energy-efficient.
    The Z7 Ellipse pavilion cost 98 million crowns including VAT, which covers the laboratory furniture, laminar boxes, and new centrifuges. The construction alone cost 88.5 million, with equipment accounting for just under ten million. The project initially budgeted 136 million including VAT, but public competition helped reduce costs.
    "I am very pleased that we have managed to build new facilities for research at IKEM. Our plans do not end here. We are already preparing to build pavilions G1 and G2, which will include a new acute intake area, new spaces for the clinic of anesthesiology, resuscitation, and intensive care, along with additional capacities necessary for expanding patient care," the director summarized, noting that if the plan receives support from the Ministry of Health, construction should begin at the end of next year.