Nothing exceptional will come from playing it safe | Kateřina Štěpánková | TEDxCharles University

In her speech, "Nothing exceptional will come from playing it safe," Kateřina Štěpánková explores the powerful role that personal influences play in shaping scientific discovery. She reflects on how her journey as a neuroscientist—working on cutting-edge gene therapies and drug treatments for spinal cord injury patients—has been continually impacted by the people and environments around her. Through this talk, she delves into how her interactions with colleagues, mentors, and even the patients she aims to help have shaped her understanding of what truly matters in her work. Beyond the laboratory, it’s the inspiration drawn from these influences that fuels her relentless drive to find solutions that could restore hope and mobility to spinal cord injury patients. Kateřina Štěpánková is a neuroscientist at the Institute of Experimental Medicine, where she is pioneering groundbreaking research in gene therapy and potential drug treatments aimed at restoring motor function in spinal cord injury patients. Named one of Forbes Czech Republic's 2024 30 Under 30 most influential people, Kateřina’s work is shaping the future of neurological treatment. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx