Zuzana Kečkéšová from IOCB Prague among Innovators of the Year 2026

Zuzana Kečkéšová’s research focuses on understanding the mechanisms that prevent tumor formation. Her team studies so-called tumor suppressors – key molecules that regulate cell growth in healthy cells and prevent uncontrolled cell division. Disruptions of these mechanisms are among the main causes of cancer. A deeper understanding of how they function opens up new possibilities for targeted therapies.

Based on these findings, the spin-off company Taveren Therapeutics was established at IOCB Prague by Zuzana Kečkéšová, who also serves as its CEO. The company focuses on developing innovative therapeutic approaches in oncology, particularly on restoring the body’s natural anti-tumor mechanisms. Taveren Therapeutics thus represents an important step in translating basic research into practical applications benefiting patients.

“This award I see primarily as a recognition of the long-term work of our entire team. At the same time, it motivates me to continue my research and to look for new ways to contribute to more effective cancer treatment. Every sixth death is caused by cancer, so it is a global problem that concerns us all. Reactivating the body’s natural defense mechanisms may become a promising alternative to existing treatment approaches, which fail in many tumor types so far,” says Zuzana Kečkéšová.

Zuzana Kečkéšová has been a prominent figure in Czech science since returning from the United States. Until 2017, she worked there at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where she investigated why certain human tissues are almost never affected by cancer. Through this research, she identified dozens of proteins with the potential to act as tumor suppressors, including the protein LACTB. After joining IOCB Prague, she established her own research group, secured prestigious grants, and attracted significant private funding. Her collaboration with BTCZ Ventures, which began in 2018 with an investment of €1.75 million and was expanded in 2023 by an additional €1 million, demonstrates that even early-stage basic research can attract investors and accelerate the path toward real-world applications.

Cancer remains one of the leading causes of death worldwide, and the need for new treatment strategies is urgent. Research on tumor suppressors and its translation into clinical practice represent promising directions in modern medicine. Zuzana Kečkéšová’s success highlights the crucial importance of top-level basic research, while also underscoring the need to systematically develop technology transfer and collaboration with the commercial sector to enable the translation of scientific discoveries into practical applications in medicine, biotechnology, and beyond.