Bioengineered Tumor

Jelena Petrović

admin — Sat, 25 May 2024 17:21:01 +0000

Jelena Petrović

Junior Researcher

Biography

Jelena Petrović, MSc of Chemical Engineering, obtained her BSc and MSc degrees in Chemical Engineering at the Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy, University of Belgrade, in 2016 and 2017, respectively. In 2017 she started her PhD in Chemical Engineering at the same faculty, with the thesis subject: “”Biomimetic 3D System for Cancer Cell Cultures and Reliable Anticancer Drug Testing.”” During her studies, Jelena Petrović received a scholarship from the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technological Development for four years of studies and was awarded the “”Panta S. Tutundžić”” award from the Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy for academic excellence. Since 2018, Jelena has been employed at the Innovation Center of the Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy in Belgrade, first as a junior research assistant and, since 2021, as a research assistant. She participated in two projects of the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia and is currently engaged in the international project “Biomimetic Tumor Engineering to Enhance Drug Discovery – Bioengineered Tumor.” In 2016 and 2017, Jelena Petrović volunteered for 8 months at the Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering, University of Belgrade, in the Laboratory for Molecular Biomedicine. She also spent 3 months in 2017 on a student internship at the Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, “”Christian-Albrechts”” University in Kiel, Germany. In 2022, Jelena spent 2 months on a short-term staff exchange at the Center for Translational Research on Autoimmune Diseases and Allergies – CAAD, University of Eastern Piedmont in Novara, Italy. During her studies, Jelena attended several seminars and workshops in the fields of intellectual property protection, patent protection, peer review for researchers, project proposal writing, research data management and presentation skills and techniques. She was a member of the technical committee at the conferences ELMINA 2018, YUCOMAT 2022, and ExcellMater 2024. As a PhD student, she was involved in conducting experimental and computational exercises in several courses at the Department of Chemical Engineering. Jelena is the author of 2 peer-reviewed papers in international journals and over 20 presentations and lectures at international conferences. At the conference Innovative Biomaterials for Novel Medical Devices in 2024, she received the award for the best rapid-fire presentation. Jelena speaks English, Italian, Spanish and German

Shaping the Future of Cancer Treatment: The Vision and Mission of the BioengineeredTumor Project

admin — Tue, 30 Apr 2024 10:04:04 +0000

Shaping the Future of Cancer Treatment: The Vision and Mission of the BioengineeredTumor Project

Project Updates & Highlights

At the heart of breakthrough scientific research lies a core vision and mission that drives progress and innovation. The BioengineeredTumor project, spearheaded by a dedicated team at the University of Belgrade, is a testament to this, pushing the boundaries of cancer research towards more ethical and effective methodologies.

Our Mission: Simplifying Complexity

The mission of the BioengineeredTumor project is to create an accessible, yet effective platform for 3D cultures of cancer cells that can be used even by scientists without extensive technical expertise in this area. Our focus is on developing novel 3D models for carcinoma and osteosarcoma cells. These models are designed to provide a more accurate representation of the tumor in vivo providing more relevant response to antitumor drugs, ensuring that our findings are both scientifically valid and clinically relevant. By integrating systematic and innovative methodologies, we aim to validate these models by using standard anti-cancer drugs in both short- and long-term studies, demonstrating their potential in enhancing anti-cancer drug testing.

Our Vision: Efficient Personalised Medicine

Looking forward, our vision extends beyond current capabilities to a future where cancer treatment is profoundly personalized. We are committed to establishing a systematic methodology for developing 3D in vitro cancer models that mimic in vivo conditions as closely as possible. This approach will eventually allow for the adaptation of the BioengineeredTumor platform to various cell types, including autologous cells from patients. The implication of this is profound, offering a potential leap towards personalized therapies that are tailored to the unique genetic makeup of individual patients’ tumors.

Commitment to Ethical Research: Embracing the 3R Principle

In line with our commitment to ethical research practices, the BioengineeredTumor project fully embraces the “3R” principle—replace, reduce, and refine. Our use of advanced 3D models aims to replace traditional research methods that rely heavily on animal testing. By refining our techniques and reducing the number of animals needed for conclusive results, we not only adhere to ethical standards but also improve the reliability and applicability of our research. This approach not only benefits the scientific community but also aligns with societal expectations for humane and responsible research.

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Shaping the Future of Cancer Treatment: The Vision and Mission of the BioengineeredTumor Project

The BioengineeredTumor Project’s Approach to Cancer Research

admin — Tue, 30 Apr 2024 09:52:36 +0000

The BioengineeredTumor Project’s Approach to Cancer Research

Project Updates & Highlights

In the realm of medical research, few challenges are as complex and critical as the fight against cancer. The BioengineeredTumor project at the University of Belgrade is revolutionizing how we approach cancer research and drug testing through its innovative use of 3D in vitro tumor models. Supported by the Science Fund of the Republic of Serbia, this initiative is paving the way toward more effective and personalized cancer treatments.

A New Dimension in Cancer Research

Traditional 2D cell culture methods have limitations, often failing to mimic the intricate nature of human tumors. The BioengineeredTumor project addresses this issue by developing 3D in vitro models that replicate key aspects of the tumor environment more accurately. This approach not only enhances the reliability of preclinical tests but also reduces the dependence on animal studies, aligning with a more ethical approach to research.

Collaborative Innovation

The project harnesses the expertise of engineers from the Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy and life scientists across several departments at the University of Belgrade. This multidisciplinary team is focused on creating biomimetic scaffolds and using advanced perfusion bioreactors to cultivate cells in conditions that closely resemble human tissues.

Objective-Driven Research

With a clear set of objectives and a structured methodology, the project aims to develop robust tumor models that can withstand long-term studies. These models are crucial for testing the efficacy of anti-cancer drugs over extended periods, providing valuable insights into their potential success in clinical settings.

Engaging the Scientific Community and Beyond

The BioengineeredTumor project is not just about laboratory achievements; it’s about community and capacity building. By organizing workshops, summer schools, and actively disseminating findings through scientific publications and conferences, the project fosters a broader understanding and collaboration in the field of cancer research.

A Vision for the Future

Looking ahead, the project envisions a platform adaptable not only to various types of cancer cells but also to patient-specific cells. This could dramatically enhance personalized medicine, allowing treatments to be tailored to the individual characteristics of each patient’s tumor.

Join Us on This Journey

We invite the scientific community, industry professionals, and anyone interested in the advancement of cancer research to follow the progress of the BioengineeredTumor project. Together, we are stepping closer to a world where cancer treatment is more precise, effective, and personalized.

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Shaping the Future of Cancer Treatment: The Vision and Mission of the BioengineeredTumor Project

The BioengineeredTumor Project’s Approach to Cancer Research

Dr Jovana Zvicer

admin — Tue, 30 Apr 2024 08:08:56 +0000

Dr. Jovana Zvicer

Research Associate

Biography

Dr. Jovana Zvicer, Research Associate at FTM, obtained her BSc, MSc and PhD degrees in chemical engineering at the Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy, University of Belgrade. Her main research focus is development of biomimetic bioreactors and their utilization as 3D models for tissue and tumor engineering, or for physiological biomaterial evaluation with intention to reduce the need for in vivo animal studies. During her studies and career, she has been participating in numerous schools and training on different interest topics, from intellectual properties, specific focus scientific topics, to leadership, project writing and implementation, business and entrepreneurship. Also, she experienced research scientific visit at the Institut „Jožef Stefan“, Ljubljana, Slovenia (2 months) and at the AO Research Institute Davos, Switzerland (2 months). Dr. Jovana Zvicer is the author of 7 scientific papers in impacted journals, 1 technical innovation and more than 20 papers presented at national and international scientific conferences. She has been participating in 4 international projects, 2 national projects and has been PI of 1 collaborative project with industry supported by the Innovation fund of the Republic of Serbia. Currently, she is participating in the national project BioengineeredTumor (GA 7503) funded by the Science Fund of the Republic of Serbia, as a work package leader. She was part of the team winning 3rd place at the national competition The Best Technological Innovation 2018 for innovation Single-used perfusion bioreactor (“3D Perfuse”, the Innovation Center of FTM, Belgrade). As PhD student, she was awarded 2 times: for the best student presentation at the Young Researcher Conference in Belgrade in 2013 and for the best student conference paper at the IEEE BIBE in Belgrade in 2015. She is a member of several professional societies: the Tissue Engineering & Regenerative Medicine International Society, TERMIS, The European Society for Biomaterials, ESB, The European Ceramic Society, ECerS, Serbian Society for Ceramic Materials, SSCerM, and Association of Chemical Engineers of Serbia. ORCID 0000-0002-5163-8368, Scopus Author ID: 55550542100. H-Index:4 and 40 hetero-citation.

Dr Sofija Jovanović Stojanov

admin — Tue, 30 Apr 2024 08:04:34 +0000

Dr. Sofija Jovanović Stojanov

Research Associate

Biography

Dr. Sofija Jovanović Stojanov, Research Associate, obtained her BSc degree in Molecular Biology and Physiology at the Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, Serbia in 2011. In 2018 she obtained the PhD degree in molecular biology at the Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade. Since the year 2012, Sofija Jovanović Stojanov is employed at Institute for Biological Research “Siniša Stanković” National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade. Scientific interests of Dr Jovanović Stojanov comprise In vitro models of cancer multidrug resistance, combination strategies for overcoming cancer multidrug resistance, preclinical testing of natural and synthetic compounds – mechanistic studies, developing new cell models and assays for preclinical testing of antitumor agents. Dr Jovanović Stojanov is author of 17 peer-reviewed articles, a number of papers presented at national and international scientific conferences. Her research articles have been cited over 160 times without self-citations. ORCID 0000-0003-4348-6453, Scopus Author ID 56388634400. She is a member of several national professional societies as well as of the European Association for Cancer Research and Federation of European Neuroscience Societies.

Dr Radmila Janković

admin — Tue, 30 Apr 2024 07:59:59 +0000

Dr. Radmila Janković

Associate Professor

Biography

Dr. Radmila Janković is an Associate Professor at the Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade. She completed her undergraduate studies at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade in 2002. She obtained her master’s degree from the same institution in 2007 in the field of Forensic Pathology and Expert Diagnostic. She defended her doctoral thesis titled “Analysis of glial index and Cajal cells in colon biopsies in children with Hirschsprung’s disease and related conditions” in 2016, also at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade. She has been a specialist in anatomical pathology since January 2011 and has been employed at the Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade since 2004. In October 2021, she was elected as the head of the Department of Pathology. Dr. Janković has been a member of the Consultative Board for Digestive Tumors at the Clinical Center “Dr. Dragiša Mišović” since 2019. She was a research associate on two projects of the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia (2005-2010: “Morphometric, immunohistochemical, and molecular biological research of myocardial changes in cardiomyopathies” and 2011-2023: “Acute coronary syndrome: vulnerability research (plaque, blood, and myocardium), optimal treatment, and determination of prognostic factors” – subproject “Myocardial bridges: contemporary controversies”). Since 2024, she has been involved in the project “Myocardial fibrosis spread index – prediction of left ventricular reverse remodeling after LVAD implantation.” She participated in the UNITED study analyzing the tumor-stroma relationship in colorectal cancer from 2017 to 2019. Since 2021, she has been a participant in the COST Action CA20117 (“Converting molecular profiles of myeloid cells into biomarkers for inflammation and cancer”). Dr. Janković has been a member of the organizing committee for several pathology courses – Belgrade University Teaching Courses in Pathology (BEGUTECOP) in 2009-10, EScoP Belgrade courses from 2011-19, as well as the congresses of the Association of Pathologists and Cytologists of Serbia in 2022 and 2024. She is a member of the European Society of Pathology (ESP), European Society of Digital and Integrative Pathology (ESDIP), Association of Pathologists and Cytologists of Serbia, Serbian Medical Society, and Medical Chamber of Serbia. Within ESP, she is a member of the working groups for digestive pathology, pediatric pathology, and autopsy pathology.

Dr. Radmila Janković specializes in various fields of pathology, with notable expertise in gastrointestinal pathology, neurogastropathology, cardiovascular pathology, oncological pathology, and autopsy pathology.

Dr Ivan Jančić

admin — Tue, 30 Apr 2024 07:56:00 +0000

Dr. Ivan Jančić

Assistant Professor

Biography

Dr. Ivan Jančić graduated in 2005 at the Faculty of Biology in Belgrade, in the study group Molecular Biology and Physiology. In 2014, he defended his doctoral dissertation and obtained the professional title “Doctor of Medical Sciences – Pharmacy”. In 2020, he completed the specialist academic studies “Biological Medicines” at the Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Belgrade, earning the academic title of “Pharmacy Specialist”.

He has been employed at the Faculty of Pharmacy since 2005 at the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, and since 2017 he has been an assistant professor.

He participates in practical and theoretical teaching in the courses of Immunology and Immunology with immunochemistry and the elective course Laboratory diagnostics of immune system disorders, as well as in theoretical teaching in the specialist academic studies Biological drugs at the Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Belgrade. He also participates in teaching in English – on the subjects Immunology and Immunology with immunochemistry.

He was the mentor of 3 final theses on integrated academic studies, and a committee member in about 150 final theses. He is the mentor of 4 final theses on specialist academic studies Biological drugs.

He is involved in the implementation of several domestic and foreign projects, the project “Neurotoxicity De-Risking in Preclinical Drug Discovery” within the Horizon 2020 program (id. 821582) and Ideje – Neuroimmune aspects of mood, anxiety and cognitive effects of leads/drug candidates acting stand out. at GABAA and/or sigma 2 receptors: In vitro/in vivo delineation by nano- and hiPSC-based platforms.

Participated in the establishment and operation of the laboratory for molecular diagnostics (PCR) of SARS CoV 2 within the Directorate for National Reference Laboratories.

For his engagement in the fight against the SARS CoV2 pandemic (diagnostics and work on the establishment of diagnostic laboratories throughout Serbia), he received acknowledgments from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management, the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development and the University of Belgrade – Faculty of Pharmacy.

Dr Jasmina Stojkovska

admin — Tue, 30 Apr 2024 07:50:58 +0000

Dr. Jasmina Stojkovska

Senior Research Associate

Biography

Dr. Jasmina Stojkovska, senior Research Associate at FTM, obtained her BSc degree in molecular biology and physiology at the Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade. The MSc and PhD degrees she received at the Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy (FTM). The main focus of her research is the development of biomimetic systems for tissue and tumor engineering, as well as development and characterization of biomaterials for biomedical application, especially nanocomposite biomaterials. In the period 2012-2014, she was a cofounder and the research manager at KreativTeh L.L.C., a spin-off company of FTM with the intention of transferring innovative ideas and knowledge from scientific research to industrial exploitation primarily in the areas of biomedicine and pharmacy. Dr. Stojkovska has attended numerous schools and trainings in different fields, from biotechnology, characterization of nanomaterials, tissue engineering, to marketing, intellectual property protection, transfer of technology, entrepreneurship, business models, etc. Dr. Stojkovska is/has been participating in 7 international and 5 national projects. Currently, she is participating in the 2 international projects within the Doctoral Network program under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, namely PREMUROSA (GA 860462) in which her task is to co-mentor a PhD student on cellular stress adaptation during healing process together with Prof. Corazzari from the University of Eastern Piedmont “Amedeo Avogadro”, and ReBone (GA 101119884), as well as international project ExcellMater (GA 952033) within the Horizon 2020 program, as a work package leader and national project BioengineeredTumor (GA 7503) funded by the Science Fund of the Republic of Serbia, also as a work package leader. Dr. Stojkovska is author and co-author of 1 scientific chapter, 21 peer-reviewed articles, more than 80 papers presented at national and international scientific conferences, 1 patent and 3 technical innovations. She was part of the team winning 3rd place at the national competition The Best Technological Innovation 2018 for innovation Single-used perfusion bioreactor (“3D Perfuse”, the Innovation Center of FTM, Belgrade). She is a member of several professional societies: the Tissue Engineering & Regenerative Medicine International Society, TERMIS, The European Society for Biomaterials, ESB, The European Association for Cancer Research, EACR, and Association of Chemical Engineers of Serbia. ORCID 0000-0002-6732-3037, Scopus Author ID 36337971800. H-Index:11 and 295 hetero-citation.

Dr Miodrag Dragoj

admin — Tue, 30 Apr 2024 07:45:45 +0000

Dr. Miodrag Dragoj

Research Associate

Biography

Dr. Miodrag Dragoj graduated in 2013 from the Faculty of Biology at the University of Belgrade in the study group Molecular Biology and Physiology. He conducted the experimental part of his graduation thesis at the Neurobiology Department of the Institute for Biological Research ‘Siniša Stanković.’ He enrolled in the doctoral academic studies in Molecular Biology, specializing in the Molecular Biology of Eukaryotes, during the academic year 2013/2014 at the University of Belgrade – Faculty of Biology. Since July 2014, he has been employed at the Neurobiology Department of the ‘Siniša Stanković’ Institute for Biological Research at the University of Belgrade.

During the preparation of his doctoral studies, he conducted his scientific research through the project ‘Identification of molecular markers for predicting tumor progression, response to therapy, and disease outcome’ (III41031), funded by the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia. Within this project, he completed his doctoral thesis titled ‘Effects of CXCR4 receptor and focal adhesion kinase inhibition in invasion suppression and overcoming resistance in non-small cell lung cancer,’ obtaining the academic title of Doctor of Biological Sciences on October 9, 2018. He is the recipient of the ‘Goran Ljubijankić’ Foundation award for the best doctoral thesis in molecular biology, defended in 2018 in Serbia. He earned his first scientific title as a research associate on November 18, 2019.

Following his doctorate, he participated as one of the representatives from Serbia in two international interdisciplinary projects: ‘Optimization of glioblastoma therapy’ (a project funded by the American James S. McDonnell Foundation) and ‘Development of thioredoxin reductase inhibitors as new anti-cancer agents’ (ERA.Net RUS+ project). Additionally, Dr. Dragoj currently manages a project work package as part of the IDEJE program, supported by the Science Fund of the Republic of Serbia, titled ‘Functional diagnostics of non-small cell lung cancer – a new concept for improving personalized therapy in Serbia’ (TargetedResponse).

Dr. Miodrag Dragoj is the lead author on six out of 17 publications from the ‘SCI’ list, while he is the last author on one publication.

Dr Milena Milivojević

admin — Tue, 30 Apr 2024 07:40:34 +0000

Dr. Milena Milivojević

Assistant Research Professor

Biography

Dr. Milena Milivojevic obtained her BSc degree in molecular biology and physiology at the Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, 2005. She obtained her PhD degrees at Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, in 2014. Dr Milivojevic has been employed in Laboratory for human molecular genetics at the Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering (IMGGE), University of Belgrade, since 2006.Currently she works at the position assistant research professor at IMGGE. Her main research interests are understanding molecular mechanisms that regulate tumor development and metastasis as well as optimization and implementation of 3D model systems for cancer research.

Dr Milivojevic has been participating in 7 national and international scientific projects. Her research articles have been cited 99 times without self-citations. ORCID 0000-0002-1938-8020, Scopus Author ID 6603352868. She is a member of Serbian Society for Molecular Biology (MolBios).