History of the Department

The history of the Department of Chemistry of Natural Compounds at the University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague dates back to the beginnings of modern organic chemistry research in Czechoslovakia and is closely associated with the prominent Czech chemist Rudolf Lukeš. After the Second World War, Professor Lukeš headed the Department of Organic Chemistry at UCT Prague and made major contributions to the development of research in the field of natural compounds.

In 1952, the Laboratory of Heterocyclic Compounds was established for Professor Lukeš within the Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences. Its research focused primarily on heterocyclic compounds, alkaloids, and other natural substances. The laboratory was closely connected with research and teaching at UCT Prague and also played an important role in the training of young scientists. After the death of Professor Lukeš in 1960, leadership of the laboratory was assumed by Jiří Jarý, who gradually redirected its research toward carbohydrate chemistry. In 1961, the laboratory became part of the structure of UCT Prague, and from 1963 it was known as the Laboratory of Monosaccharides. Over time, the workplace became an important center of carbohydrate chemistry research and gained international recognition through the work of many distinguished scientists.

In 1991, following changes in the higher education system, the Laboratory of Monosaccharides was transformed into the Department of Chemistry of Natural Compounds, becoming an independent academic and research unit of UCT Prague. The department obtained the right to supervise its own diploma and doctoral students and gradually expanded its research activities into additional areas of bioorganic and medicinal chemistry.

From 2000, the department was headed by Jitka Moravcová, who contributed significantly to its further development, particularly in the synthesis of analogues of biologically active carbohydrate structures. In 2005, she was appointed Vice-Rector of UCT Prague, and leadership of the department was taken over by Oldřich Lapčík, who led the department until 2024.

Since 2024, the department has been headed by Kamil Parkan. Today, the department continues its long tradition of research in natural compounds chemistry, bioorganic chemistry, and medicinal chemistry, and pursues the study of biologically active molecules at the interface of chemistry, biology, and medicine.