Young Scientist Award for imunologist Štěpán Coufal

Why did you choose immunology?

My decision to pursue the field of immunology stems from its unique position between basic research and clinical application. Immunology is not only concerned with the biology of immune cells, but also provides an understanding of the complex defense mechanisms of the human body, the pathogenesis and diagnosis of disease, and drug development itself.

For me, this dual contribution – advances in scientific knowledge and patient care – is why immunology is a unique field in which I can make a meaningful contribution to both research and the health of the individual in practice. A great inspiration for the study of the immune system in children in particular is my dad – a paediatrician and Professor Helena Tlaskalová-Hogenová, whose lifelong work on the importance of the microbiota and mucosal immunity is a professional example for me.

(author of the photo: Pavel Coufal)

RNDr. Štěpán Coufal, Ph.D.

Studied immunology at the Faculty of Science of Charles University. From 2021 to 2022 he was a postdoctoral research fellow at the Center for Regenerative Therapy in Dresden. At the Institute of Microbiology of the CAS, he works in the Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology (head of the laboratory: Miloslav Kverka), where he deals with mucosal immunology, intestinal microbiota and diagnostics of gastrointestinal diseases. In addition to studying mechanisms of pathogenesis and tools for differential diagnosis, he also collaborates with clinical centres on research into the impact of early gut microbial colonisation on the development of the immune system in newborns and the importance of gut microbiota in the response to biological therapy in patients with neurological diseases. He is a member of the Czech Society of Allergology and Clinical Immunology, Czech Society of Microbiome and a member of the board of the Czech Immunological Society.

Medals for merit for the development of science and awards to eminent scientists, teachers and talented high school and university students were awarded by the Learned Society of the Czech Republic at its XXXI General Assembly on 19 May 2025. Congratulations to all the awardees.