Vladimír Sklenář in Strasbourg: Origins of Watergate and Other Adventures (1992-1995)

Vladimír Saudek

Andrew Atkinson, Integrative Biological NMR, Institute of Pharmacology and Structural Biology, Toulouse
Vladimír Saudek, University of Cambridge Metabolic Research Laboratories, Institute of Metabolic Science

In 1992, Vladimír Sklenář joined the Marion Merrell Dow Research Institute in Strasbourg as a visiting scientist. MMDRI was a small yet highly equipped research establishment, conceived as a center of excellence for Dow Chemicals, focusing on pioneering research rather than immediate application, with core drug development being located in Cincinnati. Researchers at the institute enjoyed state-of-the-art equipment and a remarkable degree of freedom in selecting their research topics—a luxury rarely found today.

During this period, scientists from newly liberated Eastern Europe were navigating turbulent times. Although Vladimír (affectionately known as Vladi to distinguish him from another Vladimír) was already an esteemed NMR specialist, he, like many others, had to reconsider his career path. Vladimír Saudek, who had joined the institute few months earlier to develop protein NMR in Strasbourg met Vladi in California. Vladi had multiple options including staying in California as a senior scientist, and pursuing other international opportunities.

Before eventually returning home to Brno in 1995 to contribute to the development of the commercial NMR industry in Eastern Europe and establish a new research group at Masaryk University, he first accepted Vladimír's invitation to assist in developing the NMR group in Strasbourg, with the institute's proximity to Bruker's French (Wissembourg) and German (Karlsruhe) laboratories being a significant attraction. The third member of the group was a postdoctoral researcher, Andrew Atkinson, just fresh from his DPhil at Oxford.

In our presentation, we will share our recollections of Vladi's time in Strasbourg, the origins of the Watergate technique, his inspiration for our work, and his visionary thoughts on the then-emerging possibilities of NMR and its future development. Vladi left in 1995 to embark on his brilliant career in Brno, a journey we look forward to hear more about from his local and international colleagues.