Meeting of AZV ČR with patient organisations: a new opportunity to engage in research

The Agency for Health Research ČR organized a seminar for representatives of patient organizations, which introduced new opportunities for their involvement in national and European research projects. Chair AZV ČR , Prof. Ondřej Slabý, appreciated the interest of the organisations in this cooperation and stressed that the Agency would be of maximum assistance to them in this respect.

More than thirty representatives of patient organisations from all over the Czech Republic attended a seminar organised by AZV ČR at the Academic Club of the 1st Faculty of Medicine - Faust House in Prague on 4 November 2025. The aim of the meeting was to present new possibilities and conditions for the involvement of patient organizations in research projects supported by the Ministry of Health ČR through the AZV ČR.

The opening speech was given by the Chair the Agency, Prof. Ondřej Slabý, who emphasized the importance of the patient perspective in medical research. "I very much appreciate your interest and willingness to engage in projects that can bring concrete benefits to patients. It is common practice abroad for patient organisations to participate in research activities and we are glad that this opportunity is opening up in the Czech Republic as well. Our agency wants to be of maximum assistance in this respect," said O. Slabý.

On the agenda of the meeting was a presentation of the activities of AZV ČR, which has been supporting applied research in healthcare for more than ten years and offers up to 100% funding for projects aimed at improving diagnostics, treatment and quality of life of patients. In the next part, Ing. Iva Škach Vrbíková and Mgr. Monika Kocmanová, who introduced the participants to the possibilities of involving patient organisations in national public competitions and European partnerships in the field of health. Representatives of the AZV ČR explained the conditions under which patient organisations can become full partners in research projects, for example in the field of questionnaire surveys, registry management or quality of life of patients. Information was also given on the upcoming calls for European partnerships, such as EP PerMed, ERDERA or ERA4Health, which allow for the active involvement of patients and their organisations in international research consortia.

The meeting thus opened the way for future cooperation between research institutions and patient organizations and confirmed the interest of AZV ČR to further support and develop this cooperation. We thank all participants for their interest and rich discussion and we look forward to further meetings together!

Both presentations from the seminar are available in the attached files. If you have any questions about the national tenders, please contact , enquiries about European partnerships should be directed to e-mail . 

Attachments:
Presentation of AZV ČR
Possibility of involvement of patient organisations in VES and EP projects