The Centre for Integrative Paleobiology (INPAL) is an independent research centre established in the new organisational structure of the UPJŠ Technology and Innovation Park (TIP UPJŠ) from February 2025. Under the leadership of doc. RNDr. Martin Kundrát, PhD., INPAL represents a unique workplace in Slovakia, which links paleontology, developmental biology, imaging technologies and interdisciplinary approaches in the study of the evolutionary history of life.
The focus of the Centre is research on major evolutionary transitions in vertebrates – from embryonic development, through the origin of flight in dinosaurs, to morphological and functional diversification in archosaurs. INPAL uses cutting-edge technologies such as synchrotron micro- and nano-tomography, 3D morphometry, spectroscopy and histological analyses of fossil tissues to provide an unprecedented look inside million-year-old structures.
INPAL collaborates extensively with international partners – from research centres in Europe to synchrotrons in Japan and Australia. The Centre has been involved in the description of new species of dinosaurs, birds and mammals, and has provided key insights into the evolution of their skeletons or embryos.
Supporting young scientists is also an important part of INPAL’s mission – students are actively involved in projects, have the opportunity to take part in expeditions and work with state-of-the-art technological facilities. INPAL thus creates an innovative and motivating environment for the further development of integrative palaeobiology.
With its emphasis on excellence, international networking and interdisciplinary research, INPAL is becoming not only a leader in the field of evolutionary science in Slovakia, but also a strategic player in the research and innovation ecosystem of Central Europe.
