Laboratory of Genome Integrity

We reveal how DNA damage and changes in intercellular communication contribute to ageing and age-related diseases

+ DNA damage, + cellular senescence, + glioma, + cancer resistance, + PML

Zdeněk Hodný

Group leader

zdenek.hodny@img.cas.cz

Scientific Career – Milestones

since 2020: Research Group Leader, IMG, Prague

2010-2011: Visiting Fellow, Danish Cancer Society Research Center, Copenhagen, Denmark

2001-2006: Research Fellow, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague

2001: PhD, Institute of Physiology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague

1987: MD, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic

Identification of the secretome produced by drug-induced senescent cells

We were among the first to describe the ability of cells with unrepaired DNA damage to express a complex secretome containing morphogens and pro-inflammatory cytokines. This finding paved the way for our understanding of how cellular senescence contributes to age-related diseases. [pubmed] [doi]

Uncovering radiotherapy-induced plasticity of cancer cells

We have shown that radiotherapy and chemotherapy can mobilize the epithelial-mesenchymal transition and stem cell phenotype in therapy-resistant cancer cells. This work helped to understand the mechanisms of cancer resistance to genotoxic therapies. [pubmed] [doi]

Discovery of the mechanisms of bystander senescence

We have found that specific cytokines produced by senescent cells can inflict DNA damage and secondary senescence in neighbouring cells. We also described the molecular mechanisms by which bystander senescence arises. [pubmed] [doi]