Brno, March 31, 2025 – An international research team, including Peter Fabian from the Institute of Experimental Biology at the Faculty of Science, Masaryk University in Brno, has been awarded a prestigious grant from the Human Frontier Science Program (HFSP).
Following a rigorous multi-stage evaluation by an international panel of esteemed scientists, the Human Frontier Science Program (HFSP) Board of Trustees has approved funding of $400,000 per year for three years. The project is a collaboration between three laboratories. In Czech Republic: Peter Fabian’s team focuses on cell sequencing and analysis. The Hungarian team is conducting developmental studies on fish. And scientists in Japan are exploring evolutionary biology and broader adaptation mechanisms.
A photo of an adult zebrafish with red-marked facial cells. Source: Peter Fabian's archive
The HFSP grant is one of the most prestigious awards in fundamental research, with a success rate of only 4%. So far, only a handful of such grants have been awarded to researchers in the Czech Republic, highlighting the significance of this achievement.
Research on a Unique Fish Organ That Enables Breathing Beyond Gills
The research investigates the evolution of respiratory strategies in fish, with a focus on the Paradise Fish (Macropodus opercularis). As Peter Fabian explains: “While humans breathe through lungs and fish through gills, some species have developed unique organs that allow them to breathe differently. The Paradise Fish forms a specialized labyrinth organ that helps it process oxygen more efficiently. This organ is a fascinating evolutionary adaptation that can provide crucial insights into how organisms adapt to extreme conditions. Our goal is to understand the mechanisms behind its formation, the factors influencing its development, and its biological significance.”
The information obtained will be compared with common fish, such as zebrafish, which lack this organ. Scientists even plan to simulate conditions that could lead to the formation of a similar structure in zebrafish. Photo: Irina Matusevich
Insights into Extreme Adaptations
The study could provide fundamental insights into how organisms adapt to extreme environments. Scientific literature shows that the Paradise fish (Macropodus opercularis) initially develops gills like any other fish but later requires atmospheric oxygen to fully develop its labyrinth organ. Without this organ, the fish weakens and eventually dies, proving its essential role in survival.
As Fabian explains: “We wanted to understand why this mechanism is so crucial and what it really means for the fish’s survival and function. We can analyze adult fish by isolating cells and studying their processes. Then, we compare this with the common zebrafish, our model organism. We can even simulate what happens if we introduce labyrinth organ-related factors into zebrafish, which naturally lack this structure. This could reveal whether a similar organ could form. This approach helps us better understand the mechanisms behind the development of this unique respiratory organ.”
Human Frontier Science Program Support a New Global Scientific Collaboration
Beyond deepening our understanding of evolution, this project will strengthen international collaboration by forming new teams, equipping laboratories, organizing symposia, and facilitating researcher exchanges across continents.
Contact:
Mgr. Peter Fabian, Ph.D.
fabian@sci.muni.cz
+420 608 833 191
Peter Fabian is part of an international team that has received a prestigious Human Frontier Science Program grant to study the evolution of fish respiratory strategies. In this interview, you’ll learn about the fascinating labyrinth organ of the paradise fish, as well as other topics from the Fabian...
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