Dr Nino Palavandishvili comes from Tbilisi from a family of doctors, which predetermined her career path. As she says with exaggeration, perhaps it was her mother's home microscope that sparked her interest in medical research. During her studies in Georgia she came across Prof. Jan Trka, who encouraged her to apply at Charles University. She has settled in Prague and is learning Czech so that she can better collaborate with the clinical part of the Department of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology. After returning to Georgia, she would like to develop paediatric haematology and oncology care there. We talked about her PhD project, the inspiring environment at the CLIP, the situation in her homeland, but also the international environment and dance parties in Prague.
Nino Palavandishvili, MD, comes from Tbilisi and studied General Medicine at Tbilisi State Medical University. She is currently in her second year of the Immunology doctoral program at the Department of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology, in the CLIP group, under the mentorship of Ester Mejstříková, MD, PhD.
What sparked your interest in paediatric haematology and flow cytometry?
In my fifth year, I chose to focus on oncohaematology and began clinical practice at a local clinic, where I met Dr Tamar Javakhadze, one of Georgia’s leading paediatric oncohaematologists. Through this experience, I gained insight into the diagnostic side of haematology, and Dr Javakhadze introduced me to flow cytometry – something we hadn’t encountered at our faculty. We also discussed career opportunities in the field, and I realised that oncohaematology, especially flow cytometry, is still underdeveloped in Georgia, with a noticeable lack of specialists.
Was medicine your first choice?
I would not consider anything else to be honest. Even though my mom, who is a doctor herself, was against this, at least at the beginning.
Why?
In Georgia, there’s a real risk of spending six years training in a field where you can’t actually work, and where proper pay is often lacking. She wanted me to have a less stressful life.
How did you come across Prof. Jan Trka? Some of the CLIP experts helped Georgia to establish a paediatric haemato-oncological care in the past, was it that?
Yes, he had played a key role in establishing a PCR laboratory in Tbilisi in 2017 with the support of the Czech Development Agency. His work laid the foundation for modern leukaemia diagnostics in Georgia. As the lack of specialists motivated me to seek opportunities to gain international-level training, my mentor recommended me to contact him directly. And he kindly encouraged me to apply for the PhD programme in immunology at Charles University. That set me on the path to joining the CLIP group in Prague.
What caught your attention about CLIP?
I was immediately drawn to it, I liked its integration of diagnostics and research, and its strong national and international reputation in paediatric leukaemia. The opportunity to work in such an environment – with leaders in flow cytometry and molecular diagnostics – felt like a perfect fit.
What's your PhD project about?
My PhD project focuses on how we detect minimal residual disease, or MRD, using flow cytometry in patients with B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukaemia who are receiving targeted therapies. These treatments are changing how we approach leukaemia – they offer new possibilities, but they also make monitoring and risk assessment more challenging.
First, I’m studying how these therapies affect not just the malignant cells, but also the healthy bone marrow environment. Second, I’m looking at how normal haematopoiesis recovers under the pressure of these drugs, which could help us understand resistance and long-term outcomes. And third, I’m improving MRD detection a bit like updating a map – targeted therapies can change the ’landmarks’ on leukemic cells, so we need to adjust our strategies to still find them.
I like my project very much because it’s designed to change something in real time, hopefully make some clinicians’ lives easier – most projects will probably only have an impact after years. But that’s wonderful about the whole CLIP that they are changing children’s care in real time, you really see what you have changed.
But it’s not only your own project you are working on in the CLIP, in a particular field and subject. You have the opportunity to work also on other projects with different people. I see my personal growth every year and it’s amazing!
Did everything go smoothly, moving to Prague and settling in?
You have to collect all the documents and everything, renew your visa and so on, but it was manageable.
What makes your life easier in Prague as a foreigner is that Prague is very international. I’ve met a lot of people from different parts of the world, so from the beginning I have always had this feeling that I'm not the only newcomer.
Moreover, colleagues from the CLIP were so helpful, not just about how to understand how the faculty and system work in Czech Republic, but also about the easy things, how to go to the post office and so on.
Well, going to the post office has not been particularly easy for locals either, since they've cancelled most spots in the country.
Really? The one I’ve been using still exists.
Lucky you!
Well, once they believed I would understand if they screamed. It was hardly funny anymore.
What do you enjoy doing besides work?
I love swimming. After work, you will find me in the swimming pool for sure. And also dancing. There are a lot of open-air sessions and dancing parties especially during the summer; you get a small lesson beforehand and meet a lot of people there. Back in Georgia, I was doing folk dances. Here it’s more multinational.
How do you perceive the recent events in Georgia? I travelled there a few weeks ago and we were thrilled by the people, the culture, and the progress the country has made recently, but one evening we were warned not to get involved in an anti-government demonstration – one of many that can become quite violent.
It hasn’t been easy to watch the political situation in Georgia from afar. There have been significant challenges and tensions back home, and being away during those moments has been emotionally difficult. But I always carry the hope that things will move in a positive direction. To borrow the words of a very important figure in Georgia: “I am Georgian and nevertheless I am European.” I strongly believe in this path, and I hope it continues, especially for young people like me who are studying and building their future in Europe.
Are you planning to come back to Georgia after your studies?
Yes, it was my initial goal. Becoming a professional, I also want to somehow impact my country in the best way, as we really need to develop this field.