Jan Kudlacek, MSc, PhD
Team Leader
Experimental Neurophysiology Group
Department of Physiology, Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University
Scientific background
During my studies at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering of the Czech Technical University, I was mainly involved in audio technology and signal processing. After completing my master’s degree, I decided to pursue Ph.D. studies. Among several options, Prof. Přemysl Jiruška sparkled my interest for epilepsy. I have learned to work with laboratory rodents and mastered in vivo electrophysiology. I have also improved my skills in signal analysis in Matlab. In my doctoral thesis, I have investigated the long-term dynamics of epileptic seizures. After completing my PhD, I moved to the University of Lund for a one year assignment where I learned patch-clamp (single neuron recording), optogenetics and chemogenetics. Currently, I serve as the leader of the Experimental Neurophysiology Group at the Department of Physiology, Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University.
Research interests
My main current focus is the study of slow fluctuations in seizure risk. These fluctuations can be observed in a period of days, weeks or months as they occur in most patients with epilepsy as well as in animal models of epilepsy. Fluctuations in seizure risk have been described to be associated with the cyclic changes in interictal EEG signal. Animal models of epilepsy allow for a more detailed monitoring of slow cycles than what would be possible in patients. Therefore, we study the occurrence and characteristics of seizures, the interictal EEG signal, and also analyze the distinct behavioral features using automated video processing. The ultimate goal is to find a way to forecast seizure risk.
In addition, I study the cellular mechanisms of seizure generation in focal cortical dysplasia (FCD). Using optogenetics and chemogenetics, we have been trying to trigger or suppress the activity of different types of nerve cells and to analyze the effect of these manipulations on epileptic activity from electrophysiological recordings. I believe that our findings will contribute to the development of gene therapy for epilepsy.
Although I enjoy participating in the experimental work produced in our lab, most of my time is spent at the computer creating experimental protocols and analyzing the acquired data.
Selected publications
Prochazkova, N.; Nguyenova, M.; Rehorova, M.; Kudlacek, J.; Chvojka, J.; Ziak, J.; Balastik, M.; Otahal, J.; Jiruska, P.; Novak, O. (2024). NeuroPorator: An open-source, current-limited electroporator for safe in utero gene transfer. Journal of Neuroscience Methods. 406:110126. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneumeth.2024.110126
Chvojka, J.; Prochazkova, N.; Rehorova, M.; Kudlacek, J.; Kylarova, S.; Kralikova, M.; Buran, P.; Weissova, R.; Balastik, M.; Jefferys, J.G.R.; Novak, O.; Jiruska, P. (2024). Mouse model of focal cortical dysplasia type II generates a wide spectrum of high-frequency activities. Neurobiology of Disease. 190:106383. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nbd.2023.106383
Waloschkova, E.; Gonzalez-Ramos, A.; Mikroulis, A.; Kudláček, J.; Andersson, M.; Ledri, M.; Kokaia, M. (2022). Human Stem Cell-Derived GABAergic Interneurons Establish Efferent Synapses onto Host Neurons in Rat Epileptic Hippocampus and Inhibit Spontaneous Recurrent Seizures. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 22(24):13243. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms222413243
Kudlacek, J.; Chvojka, J.; Kumpost, V.; Heřmanovská, B.; Posusta, A.; Jefferys, J.; Maturana, M.; Novak, O.; Cook, M.; Otáhal, J.; Hlinka, J.; Jiruska, P. (2021). Long-term seizure dynamics are determined by the nature of seizures and the mutual interactions between them. Neurobiology of Disease. 154. 105347. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nbd.2021.105347
Maturana, M.; Meisel, C.; Dell, K.; Karoly, P.; D’Souza, W.; Grayden, D.; Burkitt, A.; Jiruska, P.; Kudlacek, J.; Hlinka, J.; Cook, M.; Kuhlmann, L.; Freestone, D. (2020). Critical slowing down as a biomarker for seizure susceptibility. Nature Communications. 11. 2172. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-15908-3
Chvojka, J.; Kudlacek, J.; Chang, W.C.; Novak, O.; Tomaska, F.; Otáhal, J.; Jefferys, J.; Jiruska, P. (2019). The role of interictal discharges in ictogenesis — A dynamical perspective. Epilepsy & Behavior. 106591. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yebeh.2019.106591
Chang, W.C.; Kudlacek, J.; Hlinka, J.; Chvojka, J.; Hadrava, M.; Kumpost, V.; Powell, A.; Janca, R.; Maturana, M.; Karoly, P.; Freestone, D.; Cook, M.; Palus, M.; Otahal, J.; Jefferys, J.; Jiruska, P. (2018). Loss of neuronal network resilience precedes seizures and determines the ictogenic nature of interictal synaptic perturbations. Nature Neuroscience. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41593-018-0278-y
Kudlacek, J.; Chvojka, J.; Posusta, A.; Kovacova, L.; Hong, S.; Weiss, S.; Volna, K.; Marusic, P.; Otáhal, J.; Jiruska, P. (2017). Lacosamide and Levetiracetam Have No Effect on Sharp-Wave Ripple Rate. Frontiers in Neurology. 8. https://doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2017.00687