At the occasion of the 50th anniversary of its foundation, the short history of the Institute of Endocrinology in Prague is outlined. The early years were connected with its founder, Prof. As. MUDr. Karel Šilink, DrSc., who carried out an imposing epidemiological survey of iodine deficit in the Czech Republic at the beginning of fifties and who founded the institute on 1. 1. 1957. Not only the thyroid gland, but also the use of radioisotopes, enzymology, steroid hormones and cybernetics were the aims of his interest. The Institute survived the turbulent events of the second half of the 20th century and the successors of K. Šilink introduced also endocrine immunology, paediatric endocrinology, molecular biology, neuroendocrinology and obesitology into the normal program of research and health care, which is nowadays applied to over 150 000 patients.

        Key words: 50th anniversary of foundation of the Institute of Endocrinology in Prague.