Prof. Jiří Horáček (born 1966) is a Czech psychiatrist, neuroscientist and university teacher. He heads the Department of Psychiatry and Medical Psychology at the Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, and since September 2025 serves as director of the National Institute of Mental Health (NUDZ). His research focuses on the neurobiology of depression and schizophrenia, the mechanisms of psychedelics, and functional brain imaging; he has authored or co-authored over 200 peer-reviewed papers and is a co-founder of the Prague psychedelic clinic Psyon.
Health Minister Vlastimil Válek appointed Jiří Horáček as director of the National Institute of Mental Health effective September 1, 2025; he replaced Petr Winkler in the position, who resigned in July.
As the new director of NUDZ, Horáček announced a financial and personnel audit and the intention to focus research on the prevention of mental disorders in young people and the strengthening of sleep medicine.
As of January 1, 2026, therapeutic use of psilocybin in healthcare facilities is legal in the Czech Republic; the Psyon clinic, of which Horáček is a co-founder, plans to offer this therapy in the second half of 2026.
Horáček was a guest on the Vltava program of Czech Radio, where he spoke about the influence of art and psychedelics on consciousness and how social media limits cognitive flexibility.
Horáček appeared on a popular Czech podcast, where he explained how stress damages neural connections and what the brain needs for well-being.
(2 days)
A two-day festival combining movement workshops, talks on consciousness and theatre performances in a natural amphitheatre setting.
(2 days)
An interdisciplinary festival bridging science and spirituality, featuring lectures by neuroscientists, theologians, and artists, alongside workshops, film screenings, and a concert.