Professor Václav Snášel, current Rector of VSB – Technical University of Ostrava, an experienced educator and renowned expert in artificial intelligence, has been appointed Director of the newly established research centre CLARA (Center for Artificial Intelligence and Quantum Computing in System Brain Research). He was selected for the role following an international selection process. CLARA focuses on the integration of artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, and medical research. In an interview, Professor Snášel discusses why he sees this project as a natural continuation of his academic and research career and how CLARA could contribute to major breakthroughs in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.
Professor Snášel, what does your new role as Director of CLARA mean to you, and what do you see as the main priorities?
The greatest challenge will be building a team capable of conducting truly multidisciplinary brain research. From the centre’s focus, it’s clear that we will be bringing together experts from a wide range of scientific fields. One of the main priorities is creating a common language between researchers in AI, quantum computing, and brain research. The project is not only focused on basic research but has strong ambitions to bring results into practical use, particularly in collaboration with industry. CLARA is a unique project, not only on a national level but across Europe, and I am honoured to be part of its founding.
What does CLARA mean to you personally?
This topic is professionally very close to me. CLARA brings together disciplines that have long interested me both professionally and personally. As a rector, I had the opportunity to support and build top research teams within the university. Given that the project involves several prominent international experts, this is, in some ways, a continuation of what I did as rector. My term as rector ends in August, and until then, I will hold a partial appointment at CLARA. In that sense, this is a natural transition from what I found most interesting in the rector role. I am particularly looking forward to contributing to research that has a real impact on the quality of life for people with neurodegenerative diseases – whether through new insights into brain function, early diagnostic tools, or even the development of new treatment methods.
What can we expect from CLARA in the coming years?
The project will address critical topics such as coexisting with AI, brain health, and the development of quantum computing applications. Each of these areas is a major challenge on its own. I hope CLARA will act as a catalyst for connections between universities, research organisations, industry, and society, becoming a leader in the multidisciplinary research of neurodegenerative diseases, not just in the Czech Republic but across Europe. Our shared goal is to build an open environment for top-tier scientific collaboration. We also want to engage with society, sharing our findings and discussing the challenges AI and quantum computing bring to brain research.
What makes CLARA unique compared to other research centres in the Czech Republic and Europe?
CLARA is built on multidisciplinarity – bringing together data scientists, AI experts, biologists, medical professionals, and ethicists. This offers the potential to create an excellent centre and opens the door to collaboration with other major European and global projects. It also aims to deliver tangible outcomes that can be commercialised, linking basic research with practical applications. Another distinguishing factor is the technological infrastructure provided by CLARA’s partners. Through facilities in Prague, Brno, Ostrava, Munich, and Paris, we combine AI, quantum computing, and high-performance infrastructure with deep neuroscience expertise.
How do you plan to integrate AI and quantum computing with neuroscience research?
As always, it’s all about the people – experts who are pioneering their fields. US-based experts were involved in shaping the concept of CLARA and, on behalf of INDRC as the coordinator, will also contribute to its implementation: Ara S. Khachaturian, a globally recognized leader in psychiatric epidemiology, biostatistics, and brain health policy, and Zaven S. Khachaturian, internationally regarded as the chief architect of modern Alzheimer’s disease research and a pioneer in the neurobiology of aging. The participation of Olivier Colliot from the French Paris Brain Institute (PBI), which specialises in the use of artificial intelligence in the analysis of brain images and biomarkers, is also a major contribution. A number of new ideas are being brought by Jean-Marie Charles Bouteiller, who works in the field of computational neuroscience and neuroengineering, where he focuses on modelling neural systems and developing new tools for processing brain data.
On the Czech side, the project connects top researchers across disciplines. Josef Šivic from CIIRC CTU is our leading expert in artificial intelligence and machine learning for protein engineering, and in the CLARA project, will develop new machine learning techniques to gain further insights into the molecular basis of neurodegeneration. Also from CIIRC CTU is Václav Křemen, a biomedical engineer and neuroscientist currently at the prestigious Mayo Clinic in the USA, where he is advancing the diagnosis of neurological disorders through AI and bionics. Jiří Damborský of the FNUSA-ICRC and Masaryk University plays a key role at CLARA in protein engineering, bioinformatics and translational medicine. The infrastructure component of the project will be managed by Vít Vondrák, director of IT4Innovations national supercomputing centre at VSB-TUO, together with teams from the German Leibniz Supercomputing Centre (LRZ) of BAdW – the Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities. Together, they specialise in the development of powerful computing infrastructures and their use in scientific research, including biomedicine.
A quantum computer is currently being installed at VSB-TUO, providing a unique opportunity for the practical use of quantum computing combined with AI methods to tackle highly complex problems, such as brain dynamics and protein analysis. These are also key inputs for future real-world applications. CLARA’s research infrastructure will serve not only Czech scientists but also international partners and may become a model for other research centres in Europe and globally.
INVITATION TO EVENT
Press Conference Introducing the CLARA Centre & Expert Panel Discussion:
“Brain, Memory & Technology: Where Science Stands Today and What’s Ahead in Alzheimer’s Research?”
When: 13 June 2025, 9:30–11:30
Where: CIIRC CTU, Jugoslávských partyzánů 1580/3, Prague 6 – Dejvice
We invite media representatives and the general public to join us in a discussion with CLARA’s managing teams about the role of modern technologies and AI in the future of Alzheimer’s disease research and treatment.
The press conference will be followed by a public panel with experts in neuroscience, medicine, and technology. Together, we will explore the current state and future opportunities in the diagnosis, treatment, and care for people with cognitive disorders. The event is held in collaboration with the Alzheimer Foundation.
More information: https://www.clara-center.eu/mozek-pamet-a-technologie.html
To attend, please register on the event website or contact eva.dolezalova@cvut.cz no later than 10 June 2025.
