Ambassador Graber Takes Part in ICRC Brno Groundbreaking

October 7, 2008

On October 7, Ambassador Richard Graber went to Brno to take part in the groundbreaking ceremony for the International Clinical Research Center (ICRC), a cooperative project between the Mayo Clinic and St. Anne's University Hospital in Brno. The all-star cast of participants in the ceremony included Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek, Minister of Health Tomas Julinek, South-Moravian Regional Governor Stanislav Juranek and Dr. Virend Sommers of the Mayo Clinic. This unique medical research project is based on the International Space Station model and represents the Mayo Clinic's first large-scale international colloaboration. ICRC Brno will focus on cardiovascular and other state-of-the-art medical research. The Czech government has approved spending CZK 2.9 billion (USD 180 million) on the project, which is scheduled to be completed in 2012. In his remarks at the ceremony, Ambassador Graber thanked the Czech government for welcoming the Mayo Clinic, a world-renowned U.S. health care organization. He recognized that the synergy between Czech and U.S. companies and academic and research institutions has meant more jobs and increased opportunities for Czech workers, students, and scientists.