Leos Heger, Health Minister of the Czech Republic, to Visit Mayo Clinic

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

ROCHESTER, Minn. — A delegation from the Health Ministry of the Czech Republic, led by Minister Leos Heger, M.D., will visit Mayo Clinic in Rochester on Thursday, March 29. Minister Heger wants to have a firsthand experience of Mayo Clinic, the crucial partner of the International Clinical Research Centre (ICRC) at St. Anne's University Hospital in Brno, one of the strategic projects of the Czech government. The ICRC recently was awarded a $220 million grant from the European Union and the Czech government. The overall award is being used to support clinical research and education at the ICRC, and will focus initially on cardiovascular and neurological studies. Mayo's portion ($10 million) will support the collaboration in the United States. It is anticipated that because of the novel research involved, the center's work will advance medical research, education and patient care in Europe.

WHAT: An opportunity to ask questions about the collaboration between Mayo Clinic and the Czech Republic

WHO: Leos Heger, M.D., Health Minister of the Czech Republic

Virend Somers, M.D., Ph.D., Division of Cardiovascular Diseases, Mayo Clinic and International Scientific Director, International Clinical Research Centre

WHERE: Reporters meet at the lobby of Mayo Clinic Siebens Building, 100 Second Avenue SW

WHEN: 1:30–2 p.m. CST Thursday, March 29, 2012

NOTE: Members of the media should RSVP to Duska Anastasijevic at 507-284-5005.

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