Doc. MUDr. Tomáš Jelínek, Ph.D.

He made his way into the top ranks of his field in America, yet decided to return to the Czech Republic and build a team in Ostrava that has successfully joined international research into blood cancers. Tomáš Jelínek is among the world's leading experts on the dangerous tumour disease multiple myeloma. He combines clinical practice with scientific research — treating patients in the morning, analysing their samples in the laboratory in the afternoon. He develops new methods that can determine the prognosis of the disease more precisely and that may in future replace painful bone-marrow punctures.

He works at the University Hospital in Ostrava, where alongside his clinical practice he leads his own research team. He spent long periods at top institutions abroad, publishes in leading journals in the field, coordinates a number of international research projects and clinical trials, and is a co-author of the national guidelines for the treatment of multiple myeloma.

Written about him in the media (in Czech):

A Neuron Award laureate: at the University of Ostrava we run research of world standard.
And when you have a good team, the results come

Why did he receive the Neuron Award?

He is among the scientists who have managed to combine clinical medicine naturally with research that has a direct impact on patients: it makes cancer treatment more humane and less painful, and so significantly improves their quality of life.

His work is proof that first-rate medicine can be practised outside the great world centres as well, if it is done by people with vision and courage. Through his personality and his exceptional results he is moving Czech haematology into the world elite.

Can you recall a eureka / aha / wow moment of your own?

If I am to stay with work matters, I always naively thought that you have to work hard and well and that "somebody" will recognise it accordingly. Only recently did it dawn on me that it really does not work that way…

Do you remember any childhood questions that kept you awake? Has a child (or an adult) ever asked you a question that inspired you somehow?

Any question that starts with the word Why is a good one!

Which five words or phrases describe you?

If you are going to do something, do it properly. See things through. Everything at the last minute. Work and fun.

If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?

As for realistic superpowers, being able to be content with what I have. Of the unrealistic ones, something like Bran in Game of Thrones — being able to witness events as they really happened.

Have you had a life or work "fuck-up"? And what did your fuck-up give you and take from you?

In haemato-oncology we make a point of preventing fuck-ups, so not yet. And I believe none will come.

What must not be missing from a recipe for good science?

A good team, hard work and vision.

Science and family — how do they rhyme for you?

Splendidly. What has not rhymed with science lately is mostly senseless bureaucracy.