1. Research Focus of the Department
The Department of Pneumology is among the most important centers in the Czech Republic in both clinical and experimental research of pulmonary diseases.
2. Major Scientific Projects
EMPIRE (European MultiPartner IPF Registry)
EMPIRE is an international registry of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis coordinated at this department under the leadership of Prof. Vašáková.
It collects data from more than 12 Central and Eastern European countries and represents the largest Central European database of IPF patients.
Development of a biodegradable tracheal stent
It´s an award-winning innovative project (Innovation Award 2015) that has advanced treatment options for patients with airway stenosis.
Lung transplantation program
The department participates in patient preparation and collaborates with transplantation centers both in the Czech Republic and abroad.
Clinical trials
The department is regularly involved in international multicenter trials evaluating new drugs for IPF, COPD, asthma, and lung cancer.
3. Collaboration and Interdisciplinarity
International collaboration
The department is active within the European Respiratory Society (ERS) and works with leading research centers across Europe.
National centers
The department contributes to the activities of the Czech Pneumological and Phthiseological Society and to the development of clinical guidelines.
Interdisciplinary approach
There is close cooperation with radiologists, pathologists, oncologists, immunologists, and transplant surgeons.
4. Publication Activity and Journals
The results of the research are regularly published in international journals, such as:
• European Respiratory Journal (Switzerland)
– flagship journal of the European Respiratory Society, covering all aspects of respiratory medicine
• Respiration (Switzerland)
– peer-reviewed journal focused on clinical and experimental research in pulmonology
• BMC Pulmonary Medicine (United Kingdom)
– open-access journal publishing clinical and translational studies in respiratory diseases
• PLOS One (USA)
– one of the world’s largest open-access journals, covering multidisciplinary biomedical research
Topics include:
• antifibrotic therapy (nintedanib, pirfenidone)
• long-term prognosis of IPF patients
• application of cryobiopsy
• innovations in bronchoscopy
Among the most significant monographs authored or co-authored by our faculty members are the following titles:
KOČOVÁ, Eva, KOZIAR VAŠÁKOVÁ, Martina (ed.). HRCT u intersticiálních plicních procesů v instruktivních kazuistikách. 3. rozšířené vydání. Jessenius. Praha: Maxdorf, [2021]. ISBN 978-80-7345-712-9. [in Czech]
KOLEK, Vítězslav; KAŠÁK, Viktor; VAŠÁKOVÁ, Martina. Pneumologie. 3. rozšířené vydání. Jessenius. Praha: Maxdorf, [2017]. ISBN 978-80-7345-538-5. [in Czech]
KOZIAR VAŠÁKOVÁ, Martina; POLÁK, Jaroslav; KOČOVÁ, Eva; MATĚJ, Radoslav. Intersticiální plicní procesy: od etiopatogeneze přes radiologický obraz k histopatologické diagnóze. 3. aktualizované a rozšířené vydání. Jessenius. Praha: Maxdorf, [2024]. ISBN 978-80-7345-795-2. [in Czech]
POLÁK, Jaroslav; VAŠÁKOVÁ, Martina. Jak na radiodiagnostiku nemocí plic. Jessenius. Praha: Maxdorf, [2020]. ISBN 978-80-7345-635-1. [in Czech]
SOLOVIČ, Ivan; VAŠÁKOVÁ, Martina (ed.). Tuberkulóza ve faktech i obrazech. Jessenius. Praha: Maxdorf, [2019]. ISBN 978-80-7345-613-9. [in Czech]
ŠTERCLOVÁ, Martina. Idiopatická plicní fibróza: informace (nejen) pro pacienty a jejich blízké. 2. vydání. Praha: Maxdorf, [2022]. ISBN 978-80-7345-725-9. [in Czech]
ŠTERCLOVÁ, Martina. Progredující fibrotizující intersticiální plicní procesy. Jessenius. Praha: Maxdorf, [2022]. ISBN 978-80-7345-741-9. [in Czech]
VAŠÁKOVÁ, Martina. Bronchologie a pneumologická cytodiagnostika. Jessenius. Praha: Maxdorf, [2017]. ISBN 978-80-7345-533-0. [in Czech]
VAŠÁKOVÁ, Martina. Moderní farmakoterapie v pneumologii. 2. rozšířené vydání. Jessenius. Praha: Maxdorf, [2016]. ISBN 978-80-7345-506-4. [in Czech]
VAŠÁKOVÁ, Martina; BEČVÁŘ, Radim; LUKÁŠ, Milan; ŠTERCLOVÁ, Martina; AL-HITI, Hikmet. Plicní postižení u systémových nemocí pojiva, vaskulitid a idiopatických zánětů v gastroenterologii. Praha: Mladá fronta, 2016. ISBN 978-80-204-4044-0. [in Czech]
VAŠÁKOVÁ, Martina; ŽÁČKOVÁ, Pavla. Thoracic drainage: a step-by-step guide. Translated by Barbora ROZKOŠNÁ. Jessenius. Praha: Maxdorf, [2016]. ISBN 978-80-7345-485-2.