These unique structures play a crucial role in regulating gene expression, viral pathogenesis, and cancer development. Through her research, Michaela makes a significant contribution to a deeper understanding of these mechanisms and opens new possibilities in the field of biomedical research.

Michaela Dobrovolná works at the Faculty of Chemistry, Brno University of Technology, where she earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees. She is conducting her doctoral research under the supervision of Professor Václav Brázda, who has been both her supervisor and long-term mentor. Thanks to his guidance, she also collaborates with the Institute of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, focusing on the study of secondary DNA structures.

“I am very pleased with her success – it is a well-deserved recognition of her talent, enthusiasm for science, and dedication to research. I also see it as an appreciation of our entire team and our successful international collaborations,” says Professor Václav Brázda.

“Michaela has excellently represented the university during her research stays at universities in Graz, Austria, and Ljubljana, Slovenia. She is also involved in collaborations with research institutions in the United Kingdom and France. I nominated her because, despite her modesty, she stands out for her creativity and determination. Her ambition, high-quality results, and discoveries are reflected in her impressive publication record – having four first-author papers, including one in the prestigious journal Nucleic Acids Research, just two years into her PhD studies is truly exceptional,” adds Professor Brázda.

Michaela has completed several international research stays, most notably at the Slovenian NMR Centre of the National Institute of Chemistry in Ljubljana, where she participated in advanced DNA structure analysis using nuclear magnetic resonance. She is the author or co-author of more than ten scientific publications in renowned journals such as Biochimie, ACS Omega, and the Journal of Medical Virology.

“Receiving the Lorem Award and the Česká hlava recognition means a great deal to me. It is one of the most prestigious honors I could ever wish to achieve in my scientific career. A week before the ceremony, I was really nervous and kept comforting myself with the thought that scientists are usually not very talkative. However, it turned out to be quite the opposite, which didn’t exactly calm me down. In the end, though, I managed it—just like everyone else. I would like to thank all those who supported and helped me, not only in my work but also during the filming. My thanks go to the crew, my friends, family, partner, my supervisor Prof. Václav Brázda, and my colleagues from the team. This award is certainly not the result of one person’s effort, but of the shared dedication and collaboration of many wonderful people. My deepest thanks also go to the Brno University of Technology, the Faculty of Chemistry, and the Institute of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences for their support and inspiration, without which this work would not have been possible,” said Michaela in connection with the award ceremony.

In the future, Michaela aims to focus on studying G-quadruplexes in mitochondrial DNA, whose presence may be linked to the development of neurodegenerative diseases. This research broadens our understanding of cellular processes and paves the way for more targeted approaches in drug development.

Congratulations, and we wish Michaela continued success in her scientific career!

Ing. Michaela Dobrovolná – LOREM Award

The Česká hlava Awards have been presented since 2002 to help Czech scientists and researchers build public awareness of their contributions to society. It is the largest project supporting the development of Czech scientific and technical intelligence, aiming to popularize science, research, and education while also fostering suitable conditions for effectively linking research with industrial practice. Since 2006, the laureate of the main National Government Award Česká hlava has been selected by the Government based on a recommendation from the Research, Development and Innovation Council.