Background
Kopecek, Jindrich was born on January 27, 1940 in Strakonice, Bohemia, Czechoslovakia. Came to the United States, 1986. Son of Jan and Herta Zita (Krombholz) Kopecek.
scientist pharmaceutics educator
Kopecek, Jindrich was born on January 27, 1940 in Strakonice, Bohemia, Czechoslovakia. Came to the United States, 1986. Son of Jan and Herta Zita (Krombholz) Kopecek.
Master of Science in Polymer Chemistry, Institute Chemical Technology, Prague, Czechoslovakia, 1961. Doctor of Philosophy in Polymer Chemistry, Institute Macromolecular Chemistry, Prague, 1965. Doctor of Science in Chemistry, Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences, Prague, 1990.
Doctor Kopeček has made significant contribution to the developments of biomedical applicable hydrogels and polymeric drug conjugates. His lab designed and developed North-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide (HPMA) copolymer-drug conjugates as a lysosomal delivery vehicle to cancer cells. The concept of using poly(HPMA) as polymeric drug carriers has opened a new perspective in modern pharmaceutical science, and developed into the first polymer-drug conjugates entering clinical trials.
Doctor Kopeček received his Doctor of Philosophy training in macromolecular chemistry at the Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry (International Minerals and Chemical Corporation) and received a Doctor of Science degree in chemistry from the Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences.
Before joining the University of Utah in 1986, he served as a principal investigator at the International Minerals and Chemical Corporation (1972–1988). He has served as President of the Controlled Release Society (1995–1996), Company-Director of Center for Controlled Chemical Delivery at the University of Utah (1986–present), and Chair of the Biomaterials and Interfaces Study Section at United States National Institutes of Health (2003–2006).
His research has high impact in areas of bioconjugate chemistry, biorecognition of macromolecules, developments of drug delivery systems and self-assembled biomaterials. He has authored more than 400 scientific publications cited over 12,500 times.
Many of his research has over the years advanced from concept to clinic and applied to a variety of different fields.
Hydrogels from his laboratory have been in clinical uses, and HPMA copolymer-anticancer drug conjugates are in clinical trials. During his career, he has trained many successful chemists and pharmaceutical scientists all over the world.
Chair National Institutes of Health Biomaterials and Biointerforces Study Section, 2003—2006. Co-chair Gordon Conference on Drug Carriers in Medicine and Biology, 2004. Fellow American Association Pharmaceutical Science, American Institute Medical and Biological Engineering.
Member American Association for the Advancement of Science, American Chemical Society, American Association Cancer Research, Society Biomaterials (Clemson award for basic research 1995), Controlled Release Society (board governors 1988-1991, vice president 1993-1994, president-elect 1994-1995, president 1995-1996, Founders award 1999, Fel. 2010), Czech Learned Society (honorary).
Married Marie Porcari, August 11, 1962 (Division 1984). 1 child, Jana; Married Pavla Hrusková, April 27, 1985.