Marek Šťastný is enthusiastic immunologist by background. He was working on anti-cancer and immunosuppressive drugs during his 12 year academic career under the leadership of prof. Blanka Říhová. He co-developed and tested in vitro and in vivo several antibody-drug conjugates and led the projects with molecules blocking multidrug resistance in cancer cells. In 2007, when phase I. immunotherapy trials with checkpoint inhibitors started, he moved to Bristol-Myers Squibb as a Scientific Advisor working on immuno-oncology approaches in melanoma, renal cancer, lung cancer and Hodgkin Lymphoma. In 2022, he started to work also as a Local Liaison for Business Development & Molecule Scouting in the Czech Republic. In this position he is trying to identify interesting scientific projects and molecules developed in the Czech Republic within the areas of interest for Bristol-Myers Squibb.
During the Covid pandemic, he was giving the lectures and educated both public as well as scientific community on SARS-CoV-2 and new vaccines being developed to reduce fear from the virus and increase vaccination rate in the country. He is interested in all areas related to immunotherapy of cancer, from checkpoint inhibitors, CAR-T cells up to bispecific antibodies and rational combinations of immunotherapies with other modalities like radiotherapy, TKI´s and chemotherapy. Biomarkers of response to immunotherapy represent his favorite topic in real life clinical practice. He is also co-author of the book for with prof. Blanka Říhová named “How immunity works?”. In recent years, he is interested in AI applications in oncology, where he is working with Czech start-up Carebot on pilot project to improve early diagnosis of lung cancer, which is mostly fatal if diagnosed in advanced stage.