Our research
Our research is dedicated to discovering and designing novel neuroactive compounds that can protect the brain and improve neurological function. We focus on developing safer, more effective treatments for conditions such as epilepsy, neuropathic pain, ischemia, and neuropsychiatric disorders – while also exploring broader applications such as reducing neuroinflammation, boosting cognitive performance, and slowing the progression of neurodegeneration linked to aging and disease.
A central theme of our work is neurosteroids – natural steroid molecules that the brain can produce from cholesterol. Unlike traditional steroid hormones that work mainly through slow genomic mechanisms, neurosteroids can act within seconds to minutes, rapidly altering the activity of neuronal circuits. They do this by modulating key receptor systems, including glutamate, GABAA, glycine, and nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. These fast, targeted actions allow neurosteroids to influence fundamental brain processes such as learning, memory, mood regulation, pain perception, and resilience to stress.
In our laboratory, we engineer new synthetic analogs of naturally occurring neurosteroids. Small changes in their structure can completely shift which receptors they affect – and whether they activate, enhance, or inhibit their function. This targeted approach lets us create molecules that, for example, enhance inhibitory GABAergic signaling to stop seizures, or selectively modulate glycine receptors to treat pain, all while avoiding many of the side effects seen with current drugs.
Our research also goes beyond ion channels. We have discovered that certain neurosteroids bind to muscarinic acetylcholine receptors as allosteric modulators — a property that opens the door to new treatments for cognitive impairment, including that seen in Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias.
By combining organic chemistry, molecular pharmacology, and neuroscience, we explore the precise mechanisms by which neurosteroids act in health and disease. This integration allows us to create new strategies that could protect neurons against excitotoxic injury, restore disrupted brain networks, and promote functional recovery after neurological damage. Our goal is to transform the fundamental insights from our research into next-generation treatments that improve quality of life for people living with complex neurological and psychiatric conditions.
Joint laboratory
The joint laboratory, a collaboration between the Second Faculty of Medicine at Charles University and our team, unites medicinal chemistry and neuroscience to develop innovative tools and therapeutics for probing brain function. By integrating organic synthesis, molecular biology, and advanced neurofunctional imaging, we aim to enable selective modulation and visualization of neural processes for future diagnostics and therapies.