Areas of professional activity and research interest: Music therapy / art therapy, special / inclusive pedagogy, music education for people with special needs, vibroacoustic therapy.

Professional background: Jiří Kantor graduated from Palacký University Olomouc, Faculty of Education, majoring in special education and music education in 2002. Until 2010, he worked as a teacher and music therapist for students with special needs, then he joined the Institute of Special Educational Studies, Faculty of Education, Palacký University Olomouc as an assistant professor. He is the guarantor of the Master's program in Music Therapy (the only one in the Czech Republic), co-founder of the Music Therapy Association of the Czech Republic and co-founder of the international methodological group GRADE for Education.

Areas of professional activities and research interest: development, promotion, using and teaching of the Evidence-Based approach, particularly in the context of evidence synthesis, practice guidelines, GRADE methodology, and implementation science, quantitative and quantitative research, physiotherapy, biomechanics, movement analysis, podiatry

Professional background: Dr. Jitka Klugarová, Ph.D. is the Deputy Director of the JBI Center for Evidence-Based Education and Arts Therapies at Palacký University Olomouc (JBI EduArt). Her professional work focuses on the development, promotion, using and teaching of the Evidence-Based approach, particularly in the context of evidence synthesis, practice guidelines, GRADE methodology, and implementation science. She is an active member of several international methodological groups, including JBI and the GRADE Working Group, where she contributes to the development of methods for systematic reviews, rapid reviews, guideline updating, and GRADE education. Dr. Klugarová is a co-founder of three international centres operating in the Czech Republic: Cochrane Czech Republic, the Czech JBI Centre of Excellence, and the Czech GRADE Network. Since 2023, she has served as Deputy Head of the Methodological Centre of the National Institute for Quality and Excellence in Healthcare, based at the Institute of Health Information and Statistics of the Czech Republic, established by the Ministry of Health of the Czech Republic. She is also an Associate Professor of Public Health at the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide, Australia. She gained her professional background and more than 10 years of practice in physiotherapy, podiatry, and biomechanics. Dr. Klugarová is long-term engaged in bridging scientific evidence with practice, policy, and education at both national and international levels. She is a principal investigator and co-investigator of numerous national and international projects in the areas of evidence-informed decision-making, guideline development, and evidence implementation. Dr. Klugarová is the author of more than 90 Web of Science-indexed publications, with over 2,600 citations in WoS and a current WoS H-index of 20.

Areas of professional activities and research interest: evidence synthesis methodologies, determinants of health and disease, physiology, hyperbaric medicine

Professional background: Dr. Miloslav Klugar is the Director and co-founder of three international centers operating in the Czech Republic: the Czech Republic JBI Centre, the Czech Republic Cochrane Centre, and the Czech Republic GRADE Network. These centers are part of the Methodological Centre of the National Institute of Quality and Excellence in Health Care (NIKEZ) at the Institute of Health Information and Statistics of the Czech Republic (IHIS-CR), established by the Czech Ministry of Health. He is also an adjunct Associate Professor of Public Health at the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Adelaide University, Australia, and a Senior Researcher at the Faculty of Education, Palacký University Olomouc. Dr. Klugar focuses on the development, implementation, promotion, and teaching of the evidence-based approach, particularly in the context of evidence synthesis and guideline development. He is a member of several international methodological groups within JBI, the GRADE Working Group, Cochrane, and GIN (e.g., Diagnostic Test Accuracy, Public Health, Umbrella Reviews, Rapid Reviews, Guideline Updating, GRADE Adolopment, Predatory Publishing, etc.). Dr. Klugar is the authorized NIKEZ representative to GIN and serves on the Steering Committee of the international Evidence-Based Research Network as well as the GIN Board of Trustees. He was Chair of the Scientific and Local Organizing Committees of the Global Evidence Summit 2024 in Prague. Dr. Klugar has successfully led more than twenty national and international projects, authored over 175 publications indexed in Web of Science with more than 4700 citations, and currently holds an H-index of 33 (Web of Science).

Areas of professional activities and research interest: Primary and secondary qualitative research in education, with a focus on inclusive education and special education—particularly topics related to the experiences of students and other participants in education within inclusive settings.

Professional background: Dagmar Sedláčková studied at the Faculty of Education, Palacký University Olomouc, where she earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Special Education and English Language Teaching, and Ph.D. in Special Education with a focus on the education of students with limited mobility. She currently works as a lecturer at the Institute of Special Education Studies, Faculty of Education, Palacký University Olomouc. She is a member of the EduArt Centre, where she serves as a Co-deputy and Secretary and coordinates the Qualitative Evidence Synthesis Team. Previously, she worked as a primary and secondary school teacher of English, social sciences, and health education, and also served as a central examiner for English at CERMAT, Prague. 

Areas of professional activities and research interest: social justice issues for marginalised groups of youth to access education, inclusive education, special education, qualitative systematic review

Professional background: Dr Liliana Belkin has a PhD in Educational Leadership, Administration and Policy from New York University and was awarded a US–UK Fulbright Core Scholar Fellowship in 2019–20. She was awarded an ESRC ADR UK Fellowship in 2024. She began collaborating with faculty at Palacky University in 2023 through an Erasmus+ Staff Mobility Award and became a member of the Palacky University EduArt Centre in 2025. She is a senior lecturer in the School of Education and Programme Leader of the MA in Education Leadership & Management at the University of Roehampton in London, UK. Her research interests centre on social justice issues for marginalised groups of youth to access education. This includes research focused on the overlaps of education and youth/adult criminal justice policy and practice in the US and England, inclusive education policy and practice in England and the Czech Republic, alternative education settings in the US and England, and public sector organisational learning and change. Her research skills and expertise include primary qualitative research, mixed methods evaluations, qualitative systematic reviews, and quantitative research using large administrative datasets. She is a Social Justice Special Interest Group (SIG) co-convener in the British Educational Research Association, a member of the American Educational Research Association, and a Co-Editor of the Emerald Educational Leadership for Social Justice Book Series.

Areas of professional activities and research interest: Systemic family therapy, psychometrics, evidence synthesis, and inclusive education.

Professional background: Jian Du obtained his Master’s degree in Education with a focus on Applied Psychology from Yunnan Normal University, China, and is a nationally certified Level II Psychological Counselor. He is currently pursuing a PhD in Special Education at the Faculty of Education, Palacký University Olomouc. Since joining the Palacký University Center for Evidence-Based Education & Arts Therapies, a JBI Affiliated Group, he has participated in several international projects focusing on evidence-based research methodology, inclusive education, suicide postvention, and systemic family therapy. He is also an active member of the GRADE of Education Working Group and a field collaborator for JBI Evidence Summaries.

Areas of professional activities and research interest: Mental health of children and adolescents, Evidence-based educational methodologies, Systemic family therapy.

Professional background: Jiaoli Li obtained her Master’s degree in Applied Psychology from the Faculty of Education at Yunnan Normal University, China. She is currently pursuing a PhD in Special Education at the Faculty of Education, Palacký University Olomouc, Czech Republic. Her research focuses on exploring the applicability and necessity of evidence-based methodologies within educational research. She has several years of teaching experience in courses such as Fundamentals of Psychological and Educational Statistics and Psychological and Educational Measurement at various educational institutions in China. Jiaoli is also a nationally certified Psychological Counselor (Level II, China) with practical experience in individual and family counseling practice.

Areas of professional activities and research interest: Digital Health Innovation, Ageing and Cognitive Health, Health Data Science, Translational and Implementation Research, Digital Health Equity and Socioeconomic Inequalities, App-Based Pilot Interventions, Interdisciplinary Research Leadership, Evidence-Based Digital Solutions, and International Collaborative Research. 

Professional background: Lua Perimal-Lewis is an Associate Professor at Palacký University, Olomouc, Czech Republic, and was previously a Senior Research Fellow at the Flinders Digital Health Research Centre as well as a Senior Lecturer in Digital Health. Her research focuses on Digital Health Supporting Our Ageing Society, translating data-driven insights into practical, equitable healthcare solutions. She has led the Flinders Assistant for Memory Enhancement (FAME) study and coordinated the Dementia and Aged Care Services project. She currently leads a systematic review team at the Centre of Evidence-Based Education & Arts Therapies (JBI-affiliated) and has designed and implemented health intervention pilots and clinical feasibility studies. Her skills include quantitative and qualitative data analysis, patient-flow modelling, and research project management, alongside supervising HDR students and mentoring early-career researchers. 

Website (profile at the Flinders University)

Areas of professional activities and research interest: Economics of the healthcare sector, Health Technology Assessment (HTA), systematic reviews in healthcare, clinical guidelines, evaluation of the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of health technologies.

Professional background: Dr. Jana Rozmarinová holds a Ph.D. in Economic Science from Masaryk University (Faculty of Economics and Administration) and a master’s degree in Economic Science from Prague University of Economics and Business. Her Ph.D. thesis focused on methodological aspects of health technology assessment (HTA) and their implications for robotic technologies in healthcare. She specializes in health economics, health technology assessment, clinical guidelines, and systematic reviews, including systematic reviews on the prevalence of infectious diseases.

Areas of professional activities and research interest: Secondary research, qualitative systematic reviews, special education.

Professional background: Graduated from the Faculty of Education at Palacký University Olomouc, holding a Master’s degree in Special Education – Counseling. She is currently pursuing a PhD in the same field. During her bachelor's studies, she became involved in secondary research at the EduArt Center. She currently serves there as a team member focused on qualitative evidence synthesis.

Areas of professional activities and research interest: Drama therapy, art therapy, special/inclusive pedagogy, behavioral disorders and conduct disorders, attachment theory, qualitative research methodologies.

Professional background: Assistant professor, educator and researcher at Palacký University Olomouc. He is a drama therapist focused on Role Theory and Method and DvT certified practitioner. He worked for 9 years in Psychiatric Hospital and now is a head of Drama-based center at Faculty of Edcuation of the Palacký University. He is also the current president of Association od Dramatherapists of Czech Republic and an author of Drama Therapy educational channel on YouTube – Drama in the Head. 

Areas of professional activities and research interest:  Special education and psychology.

Professional background: Miloň Potměšil is a professor at Palacký University Olomouc and a distinguished scholar in special education and educational psychology. With academic credentials from Charles University in Prague, the University of Hradec Králové, and Boston College, his research focuses on Deaf studies, the education of children with hearing impairments, and psychological support for families of children with disabilities. He has authored and co-authored numerous books and scientific articles, including works published by Taylor & Francis and Peter Lang, and is the recipient of multiple Rector’s Awards for best monographs (2008, 2009, 2022). Prof. Potměšil has lectured internationally across Europe and Asia and serves on several scientific and editorial boards in the field of education and psychology.

Areas of professional activities and research interest: Special educatin, Psychology, Art therapy.

Professional background: Petra Potměšilová is a professor at Palacký University Olomouc. Her professional interests are in the areas of special education, psychology, and art therapy. She received her education at Charles University in Prague and Palacký University Olomouc. She is the author of several publications, focusing, among other things, on developing creativity in children with hearing impairments. In addition to teaching and scientific activities, she also provides psychological counseling to students.

Areas of professional activities and research interest: Information studies.

Professional background: Zuzana Svobodová graduated from the Institute of Information Studies and Librarianship at Charles University. She worked for 10 years at the Central Library of Palacký University Olomouc, where she held several positions related to research and information education. She spent almost two years in Brno, where she worked at the Brno University of Technology as an assistant to the research team at St. Anne's University Hospital and collaborated with Dr. Klugarová and Dr. Klugar on the creation of clinical guidelines. After returning from maternity leave, she became the head librarian at the Faculty of Health Sciences.

Areas of professional activities and research interest: International projects, websites, marketing, PR and communications.

Professional background: Dana Jurková graduated from the Faculty of Arts of Palacký University Olomouc (UP), where she received a master's degree in Political Science and European Studies. She obtained a bachelor's degree in International Relations and Diplomacy from University College Prague. In the past, she worked as a coordinator of the external relations department and the press department of the regional administration in Olomouc. She gained professional experience as a marketing and event manager of the UP Science and Technology Park. As a coordinator of science and research at the UP Faculty of Education, she was in charge of project activities (TA ČR), contractual research, commercialization and communication with the application sphere. She now works there as a project manager, supporting scientific teams in submitting international research projects (Horizon Europe calls, ERC grants, Creative Europe calls, Digital Europe calls). She enjoys promoting scientific research outputs with impact. She manages the website for the EduArt center, handles the promotion of selected research outputs and assists with submitting international projects.

Areas of professional activities and research interest: Music Therapy, Arts Therapies, Psychology, Eating Disorders, Scoping Reviews, Telehealth

Professional background: Monika Bucharová is currently a PhD candidate in the field of Special Education, focusing on virtual music therapy in her current research. She holds a Master’s degree in Psychology from Masaryk University in Brno and a Master’s degree in Music Therapy from Palacký University Olomouc. In both of her master’s theses, she gained experience in scoping review methodology, exploring topics related to arts therapies and eating disorders. In addition to her research activities, she works as an Assistant Professor at the Janáček Academy of Performing Arts and as a music therapist in a psychiatric setting in Brno.

Areas of professional activities and research interest: Implementation of evidence-based procedures into school and university practice.

Professional background: Dr. Monika Smolíková is a special education teacher and a certified behavior analyst. In her professional practice, she has long focused on the education and intervention of neurodivergent children, pupils, and students, particularly individuals with autism spectrum disorders. Her professional work is grounded in the principles of applied behavior analysis, with an emphasis on effectiveness, measurability, and functional assessment of intervention procedures. She specializes in the implementation of evidence-based practices in both primary/secondary and higher education settings, including the area of feeding interventions, and contributes to the development of systemic solutions based on evidence-based principles. 

Areas of professional activities and research interest: arts therapies, drama therapy, music therapy, substance use disorders, psychiatric disorders, special education.

Professional background: Martin Olšan holds Master’s degrees in both Drama Therapy and Music Therapy from Palacký University Olomouc, where he is currently pursuing his doctoral studies. His research and clinical practice focus on the application of arts therapies, particularly within psychiatric and addiction treatment settings. For many years, he has led the drama therapy team and facilitated interventions at the Psychiatric Department of the Military Hospital Olomouc. His experience also includes work in social services (SPOLU Olomouc), focusing on individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders and multiple disabilities, and in the field of primary prevention (KAPPA-HELP), where he served as a lecturer and co-author of methodologies for children and youth. In addition to his clinical practice, he is an active lecturer and occasionally facilitates specialized programs and workshops focusing on drama therapy and music therapy for various populations.

Areas of professional activities and research interest: Her professional and research work focuses on the use of arts therapies in healthcare and psychosocial support. She conducted an umbrella review examining the use of arts therapies in individuals with an oncological diagnosis. Her interests also include dramatherapy, creative education, and supporting mental health through expressive methods.

Professional background: She graduated in Special Education with a specialization in dramatherapy and completed her doctoral studies in the Special Education programme. She has also completed psychotherapeutic training in the SUR programme. She currently works as an Assistant Professor at the University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice. Her professional activities include teaching, methodology development, and group work in both educational and therapeutic settings.

Areas of professional activities and research interest: Research support, open science.

Professional background: Hana Pechová graduated from the Information Studies and Library Science program in the field of Scientific Information and Library Science at the Faculty of Arts, Masaryk University in Brno. She has been working at the Central Library of Palacký University in Olomouc since 2016. She is currently part of the newly established Research Support and Information Literacy Office, where she focuses on open science, publication support, institutional repository management, and research.

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