I am an experienced cancer biologist with the expertise in cancer stem cell biology, cell signaling, and cytogenetics. My recent research interests are focused on cancer stem cells for the discovery of novel therapeutic approaches, especially in pediatric solid tumors.

  • Svazna 401/15, Brno, Czech Republic
  • +420 607 706 532
  • jan.skoda.cancerbiologist
  • info@janskoda.me
  • www.janskoda.me

Education

  • April 2016
    Masaryk University, School of Science, Brno, Czech Republic
    Ph.D., summa cum laude, Molecular and Cell Biology
    Thesis: “Identification of cancer stem cells in cell lines derived from selected types of solid tumors” (Read full-text)
  • 2014
    Masaryk University, School of Science, Brno, Czech Republic
    RNDr. (Doctor of Natural Sciences), Molecular Biology and Genetics
    Thesis: “Analysis of signaling pathways in glioblastoma cell line with a loss of EGFR gene copy” (Read full-text in Czech)
  • 2009
    Masaryk University, School of Science, Brno, Czech Republic
    M.Sc., summa cum laude, Molecular Biology and Genetics
    Thesis: “Genetic abnormalities in pediatric solid tumors: changes in karyotype and clonal selection during in vitro cultivation” (Read full-text in Czech)
  • 2007
    Masaryk University, School of Science, Brno, Czech Republic
    B.Sc., Molecular Biology and Genetics
    Thesis: “Prognostic and predictive genetic markers in childhood tumors of the nervous system” (Read full-text in Czech)

Employment

  • May 2016–present
    Postdoctoral Researcher – St. Anne's University Hospital
    International Clinical Research Center (FNUSA-ICRC), Brno, Czech Republic
  • May 2016-present
    Assistant Professor – Masaryk University
    Department of Experimental Biology, School of Science, Brno, Czech Republic
  • 2015-2016
    Junior Researcher – St. Anne's University Hospital
    International Clinical Research Center (FNUSA-ICRC), Brno, Czech Republic
  • 2013–2016
    Instructor – Masaryk University
    Department of Experimental Biology, School of Science, Brno, Czech Republic
  • 2012–2015
    Specialist – University Hospital Brno
    Department of Pediatric Oncology, Czech Republic
  • 2011–2014
    Specialist – St. Anne's University Hospital
    Institute of Pathologic Anatomy, Brno, Czech Republic
  • 2009–2014
    Specialist – Masaryk University
    Department of Experimental Biology, School of Science, Brno, Czech Republic

Publications

Publications in peer-reviewed journals

  • 2016
    Skoda J, Hermanova M, Loja T, Nemec P, Neradil J, Karasek P, Veselska R. Co-expression of cancer stem cell markers corresponds to a pro-tumorigenic expression profile in pancreatic adenocarcinoma. PLoS ONE. 2016; 11(7): e0159255. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0159255
  • Skoda J, Nunukova A, Loja T, Zambo I, Neradil J, Mudry P, Zitterbart K, Hermanova M, Hampl A, Sterba J, Veselska R. Cancer stem cell markers in pediatric sarcomas: Sox2 is associated with tumorigenicity in immunodeficient mice. Tumor Biol. 2016; 37(7):9535–48.
  • Zambo I, Hermanova M, Zapletalova D, Skoda J, Mudry P, Kyr M, Zitterbart K, Sterba J, Veselska R. Expression of nestin, CD133 and ABCG2 in relation to the clinical outcome in pediatric sarcomas. Cancer Biomark. 2016; 17(1):107–16.
  • 2015
    Nunukova A, Neradil J, Skoda J, Jaros J, Hampl A, Sterba J, Veselska R. Atypical nuclear localization of CD133 plasma membrane glycoprotein in rhabdomyosarcoma cell lines. Int J Mol Med. 2015;36(1):65–72.
  • 2014
    Skoda J, Neradil J, Zitterbart K, Sterba J, Veselska R. EGFR signaling in the HGG-02 glioblastoma cell line with an unusual loss of EGFR gene copy. Oncol Rep. 2014;31(1):480 7.
  • Skoda J Neradil J, Veselska R. Functional Assays for Detection of Cancer Stem Cells. Klin Onkol. 2014;27(Suppl 1):S42–7.
  • 2012
    Veselska R, Skoda J, Neradil J. Detection of Cancer Stem Cell Markers in Sarcomas. Klin Onkol. 2012;25(Suppl 2):2S16–2S20.
  • 2011
    Sana J, Zambo I, Skoda J, Neradil J, Chlapek P, Hermanova M, Mudry P, Vasikova A, Zitterbart K, Hampl A, Sterba J, Veselska R. CD133 expression and identification of CD133/nestin positive cells in rhabdomyosarcomas and rhabdomyosarcoma cell lines. Anal Cell Pathol. 2011;34(6):303–18.
  • 2010
    Veselska R*, Skoda J*, Loja T, Zitterbart K, Pavelka Z, Smardova J, Valaskova I, Hermanova M, Sterba J. An unusual loss of EGFR gene copy in glioblastoma multiforme in a child: a case report and analysis of a successfully derived HGG-02 cell line. Childs Nerv Syst. 2010;26(6):841–6. (* Co-first authors)

Conference abstracts

  • 2015
    Skoda J, Nunukova A, Zambo I, Neradil J, Mudry P, Zitterbart K, Hermanova M, Hampl A, Sterba J, Veselska R. SOX2 expression correlates with tumorigenicity of cells derived from pediatric sarcomas. In: XXV. Konference dětských hematologů a onkologů České a Slovenské republiky; 2015. p. 68.
  • Veselska R, Zambo I, Skoda J, Nunukova A, Loja T, Neradil J, Mudry P, Hermova M, Zitterbart K, Zapletalova D, Kyr M, Jaros J, Hampl A, Sterba J. Cancer stem cell markers in pediatric sarcomas. In: XXV. Konference dětských hematologů a onkologů České a Slovenské republiky; 2015. p. 67.
  • Skoda J, Neradil J, Zambo I, Hermanova M, Sterba J, Veselska R. Identification of cancer stem cells in osteosarcoma cell lines: Characterization of cancer stem cell markers expression and in vivo tumorigenicity. Pediatric Blood & Cancer. 2015;62(S4):S269.
  • 2014
    Skoda J, Neradil J, Nunukova A, Nemec P, Hermanova M, Lenz J, Veselska R. Expression profile analysis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas based on the presence of distinct cancer stem cells markers. In: Stem Cells and Epigenetics in Cancer – EMBO Workshop, Abstract Book; 2014. p. 57.
  • Skoda J, Neradil J, Zitterbart K, Sterba J, Veselska R. EGFR signaling in glioblastoma cells with a loss of EGFR gene copy and unusually mild clinical course of disease. International Journal of Molecular Medicine 34 (Suppl. 1) - 19th World Congress on Advances in Oncology and 17th International Symposium on Molecular Medicine; 2014. p. S78.
  • Veselska R, Nunukova A, Skoda J, Neradil J, Jaros J, Hermanova M, Zambo I, Mudry P, Zitterbart K, Hampl A, Sterba J. Nuclear localization of CD133 in sarcoma cells. International Journal of Molecular Medicine 34 (Suppl. 1) - 19th World Congress on Advances in Oncology and 17th International Symposium on Molecular Medicine; 2014. p. S81.
  • Skoda J, Rumiskova G, Neradil J, Nunukova A, Mikulenkova E, Hermanova M, Lenz J, Veselska R. Detection of putative cancer stem cells markers in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas. In: Stem Cells and Cancer – 8th International Heinrich F.C. Behr Symposium – abstract book; 2014. p. 78.
  • 2013
    Skoda J, Neradil J, Zambo I, Hermanova M, Sterba J, Veselska R. Detection of CD133 in osteosarcoma cell lines. In: The 7th symposium Mechanisms and models of cancer; 2013. p. 106.
  • Skoda J, Neradil J, Zitterbart K, Sterba J, Veselska R. Signalizace EGFR v buňkách multiformního glioblastomu s neobvyklou ztrátou kopie genu EGFR a mírným klinickým průběhem onemocnění. In: XXIII. Konference dětských hematologů a onkologů České a Slovenské republiky; 2013. p. 31.
  • Nunukova A, Skoda J, Neradil J, Zitterbart K, Mudry P, Sterba J, Veselska R. Detekce antigenu CD133 a jeho epitopu AC133 v rhabdomyosarkomových buněčných liniích. In: XXIII. Konference dětských hematologů a onkologů České a Slovenské republiky; 2013. p. 77.
  • Skoda J, Neradil J, Zambo I, Hermanova M, Sterba J, Veselska R. Detekce CD133 u osteosarkomových buněčných linií. In: XXIII. Konference dětských hematologů a onkologů České a Slovenské republiky; 2013. p. 78.
  • 2012
    Skoda J, Neradil J, Sana J, Zambo I, Chlapek P, Hermanova M, Mudry P, Vasikova A, Zitterbart K, Hampl A, Sterba J, Veselska R. Expression of CD133 and identification of CD133/nestin positive cells in rhabdomyosarcomas and rhabdomyosarcoma cell lines. In: Stem Cells and Cancer – 7th International Heinrich F.C. Behr Symposium – abstract book; 2012. p. 100.
  • Neradil J, Skoda J, Sana J, Zambo I, Chlapek P, Hermanova M, Mudry P, Vasikova A, Zitterbart K, Hampl A, Sterba J, Veselska R. Exprese CD133 a identifikace CD133/nestin pozitivních buněk u rabdomyosarkomů a rabdomyosarkomových buněčných linicích. In: XXII. Konferencia detských hematológov a onkológov Českej a Slovenskej republiky – program a zborník abstraktov; 2012. p. 87.
  • 2011
    Skoda J, Neradil J, Loja T, Zitterbart K, Pavelka Z, Brichtova E, Smardova J, Valaskova I, Hermanova M, Sterba J, Veselska R. Analysis of HGG-02 cell line with loss of EGFR gene copy derived from childhood glioblastoma multiforme. International Journal of Molecular Medicine 28 (Suppl. 1) - the 16th World Congress on Advances in Oncology and the 14th International Symposium on Molecular Medicine; 2011. p. S36.
  • Hermanova M, Zambo I, Sana J, Skoda J, Neradil J, Chlapek P, Mudry P, Vasikova A, Zitterbart K, Sterba J, Veselska R. Identification of cells with cancer stem cell phenotype in rhabdomyosarcoma. In: Virchows Archive 459 (Suppl 1). 23rd European Congress of Pathology, Helsinki, Finland; 2011. p. S316.
  • Zitterbart K, Dobrucka L, Chlapek P, Neradil J, Skoda J, Sterba J, Veselska R. N-terminal p73 protein isoforms in medulloblastoma cells and their involvement in retinoic acid-induced differentiation. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2011;57(5):807.
  • Skoda J, Neradil J, Loja T, Zitterbart K, Pavelka Z, Brichtova E, Smardova J, Valaskova I, Hermanova M, Sterba J, Veselska R. Analysis of HGG-02 cell line with loss of EGFR gene copy derived from childhood glioblastoma multiforme. In: VII. Dny diagnostické, prediktivní a experimentální onkologie. Onkologie 5 (Suppl. B); 2011. p. B47.
  • 2010
    Neradil J, Skoda J, Loja T, Zitterbart K, Pavelka Z, Smardova J, Valaskova I, Hermanova M, Sterba J, Veselska R. Ztráta kopie genu pro EGFR u pacienta s multiformním glioblastomem: případová studie a analýza derivované linie. In: XX. konference dětských hematologů a onkologů České a Slovenské republiky – program konference a sborník abstrakt; 2010. p. 105.

Conference books

  • 2013
    Smarda J, Skoda J, Dvorak P, Steflova P, Krupkova O, editors. The Student Scientific Conference on Biotechnology & Biomedicine 2013. Conference book. 1st edn. Brno: Masaryk University, 2013. 226 p. ISBN 978-80-210-6200-9.
  • 2012
    Doskar J, Krupkova O, Reichman P, Skoda J, editors. The Student Scientific Conference on Biotechnology & Biomedicine 2012. Conference book. 1st edn. Brno: Masaryk University, 2012. 192 p. ISBN 978-80-210-5811-8.
  • 2011
    Smarda J, Krupkova O, Reichman P, Skoda J, editors. The Student Scientific Conference on Cancer Research. 1st edn. Brno: Masaryk University, 2011. 178 p. ISBN 978-80-210-5442-4.
  • 2010
    Doskar J, Krupkova O, Reichman P, Skoda J, editors. The Student Scientific Conference on Genetically Modified Organisms. 1st edn. Brno: Masaryk University, 2010. 132 p. ISBN 978-80-210-5160-7.

Teaching

  • since 2012
    Lecturer – Masaryk University, School of Science, Brno, Czech Republic
    Regular teaching
    Fluorescence Microscopy – lectures;
    Fluorescence Microscopy – practice;
    Cell Biology – practice.

Projects

Participation in research projects

  • Co-investigator – Receptor tyrosine kinase and downstream signaling pathways as possible therapeutic targets in pediatric refractory solid tumors (Grant no. 16-34083A of the Ministry of Healthcare of the Czech Republic; duration: 2016–2019; principal investigator: J. Sterba)
  • Specialist – Identification and characterization of cancer stem cells in pediatric sarcomas (Grant no. NT13443-4 of the Ministry of Healthcare of the Czech Republic; duration: 2012–2015; principal investigator: R. Veselska)
  • Specialist – Center of Experimental Biomedicine (CEB) (Project OP VK CZ.1.07/2.3.00/20.0183; duration: 2012–2015; principal investigator: J. Smarda)
  • Specialist – Molecular Basis of Cell and Tissue Regulations (Long-term research plan no. MSM0021622415 of the Ministry of Education of the Czech Republic; duration: 2005–2011; principal investigator: J. Fajkus)
  • Specialist – Importance of Molecular Cytogenetic Markers for Diagnosis and Prediction of Embryonal Childhood Tumors (Grant no. NR/9125-4 of the Ministry of Healthcare of the Czech Republic; duration: 2006–2009; principal investigator: R. Veselska)

    • Participation in educational projects

  • Specialist – Partnership and Networks for Cooperation in Experimental Biology (PASSEB) (Project OP VK CZ.1.07/2.4.00/31.0155; duration: 2013–2014; principal investigator: J. Smarda)
  • Specialist – Modular Structure of the Studies Focused on Experimental Biology (MOSSEB) (Project OP VK CZ.1.07/2.2.00/07.0429; duration: 2009–2012; principal investigator: J. Smarda)

Awards

  • 2016
    Outstanding Dissertation Award (awarded by the Dean of the Faculty of Science, Masaryk University)
  • 2010
    Award of the Dean of the Faculty of Science, Masaryk University for organization of The Student Scientific Conference on GMO Research