The discussion brought together students, researchers, representatives of research organisations, universities, embassies, EU liaison offices, and other stakeholders from across the European research and innovation ecosystem. Participants explored how artificial intelligence, supercomputing, and quantum technologies are opening new possibilities for understanding, diagnosing, and treating neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease.
The panel featured Prof. Václav Snášel, Director of the CLARA Center, Associate Professor Vít Vondrák, Director of IT4Innovations, and Dr. Milan Němý, CLARA Tenure Track Position Holder at the Department of Biomedical Engineering and Assistive Technology, CIIRC CTU. The discussion was moderated by Táňa Hálová Perglová from the Technology Agency of the Czech Republic.
A central theme of the debate was the growing need for interdisciplinary collaboration. Neurodegenerative diseases often begin developing in the brain years before the first clinical symptoms appear, making prevention, early diagnosis, and effective treatment particularly challenging. Addressing these challenges requires expertise that spans biology, medicine, neuroscience, data science, artificial intelligence, and advanced computing.
Against this backdrop, the speakers introduced the vision of the CLARA Centre of Excellence, an ambitious European initiative that combines expertise in artificial intelligence, high-performance computing, quantum technologies, and neuroscience. CLARA aims to create a unique research environment capable of processing large-scale biological and clinical data, accelerating scientific discovery, and developing new approaches to understanding neurodegeneration.
The Science Café also reflected CLARA’s commitment to supporting the next generation of scientific leaders by bringing together established experts and promising early-career researchers. Among the speakers was Dr. Milan Němý, a recently appointed CLARA Tenure Track Position Holder at CIIRC CTU, whose work combines advanced MRI imaging and artificial intelligence to identify subtle brain changes that may precede the onset of Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders. His research aims to develop more sensitive biomarkers for early diagnosis and improve our understanding of how neurodegenerative diseases develop long before clinical symptoms emerge.
By creating a platform where senior scientists, emerging researchers, and stakeholders from different sectors can exchange ideas, the Science Café format supports one of CLARA’s key objectives: fostering dialogue across generations, disciplines, and institutions while giving visibility to outstanding young researchers shaping the future of brain health research.
The discussion highlighted how different perspectives naturally complement one another - from brain research and clinical practice to computing infrastructure and research policy. Participants agreed that future progress will depend on stronger connections between disciplines, institutions, and countries, as well as on open research infrastructures that enable data sharing, access to advanced technologies, and collaboration across sectors.
Beyond neurodegenerative diseases, the debate also touched upon emerging public health challenges, including the potential impact of nanoplastics and other microscopic particles on the human body. Such complex issues further demonstrate the need for new research approaches that integrate diverse scientific expertise and make effective use of advanced computational tools.
The Brussels Science Café exemplified CLARA’s commitment to creating regular opportunities for dialogue and knowledge exchange across the research and innovation ecosystem. The format of Science Café events create an informal platform for students, researchers, innovators, policymakers, and societal stakeholders to discuss and explore emerging scientific challenges, share new discoveries, and build collaborations across disciplines and sectors. By creating an open space for discussion, the CLARA Science Café series will continue and contribute to strengthening the CLARA community and advancing its mission to transform brain health research through science, technology, and international cooperation.
The CLARA Centre is coordinated by the International Neurodegenerative Disorders Research Center (INDRC) and brings together leading European institutions, including CIIRC CTU, VSB – Technical University of Ostrava (VSB-TUO), the International Clinical Research Center (ICRC), the Paris Brain Institute (PBI), and the Leibniz Supercomputing Centre (LRZ). Together, the partners are building a distributed ecosystem for breakthrough research at the intersection of neuroscience and digital technologies.
Photo credit: Czech Liaison Office for Education and Research in Brussels (CZELO).
