Projects

Duration of the project: 2025-2026.

Description of the project:

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MStroC) represent one of the most promising tools in regenerative medicine due to their regenerative and immunomodulatory properties. However, their clinical application is limited by significantly reduced survival and functionality after cryopreservation, which highlights the need to improve their storage strategies before transplantation. The main objective of this project is to develop an innovative, non-cryogenic method for MStroC preservation by using a hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) donor to induce a state of low metabolic activity similar to hibernation, thereby protecting cells from cold stress during short-term storage at 4°C, while preserving their viability, regenerative and immunomodulatory potential upon rewarming. Through the collaboration of a Serbian and French team, the project aims to create a new and efficient platform for short-term storage of MStroC at 4°C. This approach would enable better preparation, transport, and clinical application of MStroC as advanced therapeutic products (ATMPs) in regenerative medicine and cell therapies.

Description of the project:

Multiple myeloma (MM), an incurable cancer of the bone marrow plasma cells, is the second most frequent hematological malignancy. Despite growing number of approved therapeutics, proliferative clonal myeloma plasma cells (MPCs) persist in bone marrow, even in patients where minimal residual disease (MRD) is not evident. Existing treatment options are generalized, often ineffective, and highly toxic, emphasizing the urgency for personalized oncology development. However, no bone marrow in vitro drug testing system has been available for extensive drug response assessment. This project aims to develop a miniaturized, xeno-free platform that mimics the myeloma bone marrow microenvironment for the growth of patient-specific MPCs using human platelet-released factors, adjusted oxygen levels, and patient-derived mesenchymal stromal cells as feeder layers. MPC quality is monitored through immunophenotype, proliferation, clonality, and DNA index analyses. The platform targets high-throughput, low-cost anti-myeloma drug screening and personalized response prediction for use in biopharma, clinical research, and healthcare settings, with a defined commercialization strategy at local and global levels.

Project leader: Dr. Hristina Obradović

Project collaborators: Dr. Ivana Okić Đorđević, Dr. Sanja Momčilović, Dragana Aleksandrović, Dr. Ivana Gazikalović (external team member), Dr. Nikola Jeftić (external team member)

Project number: 11073

Duration of the project: 2024-2026.

Leading institution: Institute for Medical Research, University of Belgrade

Collaborating institutions: Innovation Center, Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy, University of Belgrade, Institute for Oncology and Radiology of Serbia

Description of the project:

Despite their safety and feasibility for patients, existing breast reconstruction techniques following mastectomy carry the risk of potential complications, and do not significantly alter the likelihood of disease recurrence compared to mastectomy alone. Hence, these factors must be considered when evaluating the available breast reconstruction options post-mastectomy. The field of tissue engineering has been intensively growing primarily focusing on crafting diverse scaffolds that act as templates for tissue regeneration. For nearly a century, the amniotic membrane (AM) of the placenta has been utilized in skin and cornea regeneration, and numerous studies have demonstrated its antitumor, antifibrotic, antiinflammatory, and immunomodulatory properties. AmnioPrintCare aims to develop the scaffold biomaterial using human AM homogenate that will preserve and exhibit its regenerative and antitumor effects over an extended period when applied. By establishing advanced 3D bioprinting techniques for scaffold fabrication, AmnioPrintCare will enable more accessible and personalized regenerative medicine practices in breast reconstruction. To achieve that, by using different technological methods and advanced 3D software and bioprinter, we will establish 3D printed bioscaffold based on hAM. Also, we will confirm its biocompatibility with the breast tissue niche cells and its regenerative potential in vitro related to adipogenesis and angiogenesis along with the antitumor effect towards breast cancer cell lines. We will further evaluate its regenerative and antitumor effect upon transplantation in mice. This interdisciplinary project will bring advancement in biotechnology that will lead to improvements in biomedicine and provide basis for better healthcare and survival rate among patients, novelties in the medical and biotechnological education, and improvement of biotech industry in Serbia as it could patent the new ‘’bioink’’ for commercially available bioprinters.

Project leader: Dr. Ivana Okić Đorđević

Project collaborators: Dr. Hristina Obradović, Dr. Drenka Trivanović, Dr. Ivana Drvenica, Dr. Sanja Momčilović

Project number: 337-00-110/2023-05/36

Duration of the project: Jul 2023-Jun 2025.

Leading institution: Institute for Medical Research, University of Belgrade

Collaborating institution: Institute of Cell Biology, University of Ljubljana

Description of the project:

Human amniotic membrane (hAM) is an available, inexpensive, and biocompatible collagen-based extracellular matrix with the cells derived from human placenta. hAM and its derivatives possess anti-inflammatory and regenerative properties. Until now, hAM has been used for post-operative and post-traumatic skin defects, intra-oral and genital reconstruction, and ophthalmologic disorders. In recent decades, the regenerative and modulatory properties of stem cells (SCs) have gained the attention of scientists indicating the possibility of their use in cell therapy. Periodontal ligament SCs (PDLSCs), obtained after tooth extraction for orthodontic reasons are recently discovered cells playing a crucial role in oral tissue homeostasis. Since the outcomes of currently available wound healing treatment approaches of oral tissues are expensive and sometimes not predictable, the search for new molecules with regenerative potential is an important goal in oral tissue regeneration. For this purpose, the objectives of this project include the influence of hAM on wound healing and regenerative potential of PDLSCs.

Project leader: Dr. Tamara Kukolj

Project collaborators: Dr. Jasmina Lazarević, Dr. Uroš Ralević, Dr. Nenad Lazarević from Institute of Physics, University of Belgrade

Project number: “Start up for science” 2019/2020 funded by Philip Morris Company

Duration of the project: 2019-2020.

Leading institution: Institute for Medical Research, University of Belgrade

Description of the project:

Analysis of the characteristics of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) at the level of individual cells using Raman spectroscopy with the aim of developing Raman spectroscopy as a fast, simple, and non-destructive Single Cell method for evaluating the regenerative potential of MSCs. Most biochemical changes, caused by physiological or pathological changes, are observed in the Raman spectrum under appropriate conditions, as a change in the intensity and/or position of the Raman mode. Therefore, the characteristics of MSCs originating from different tissues and donors will be investigated, as well as changes in age-related characteristics in MSCs populations. Changes in the Raman spectrum resulting from replicative age, i.e. prolonged cultivation in vitro, will be monitored, as well as changes in the spectrum caused by certain pharmacological substances used in the therapy of various diseases, which accelerate the aging process. Based on the obtained results, the correlation between the vibrational spectrum and the regenerative potential of primary MSCs will be determined, which will enable the establishment of Raman spectroscopy as a fast, simple, and non-invasive method for the qualitative analysis of the regenerative potential of a certain population of MSCs. This project will contribute to the detailed characterization of MSCs, to significantly speed up and facilitate their further application in cell therapy and tissue engineering.

Project leader: Dr. Drenka Trivanović

Project collaborators: Dr. Slavko Mojsilović, Dr. Ivana Okić Đorđević, Dr. Aleksandra Jauković, Dr. Tamara Kukolj, Dr. Hristina Obradović, Dr. Anđelija Petrović, Milena Živanović

Project number: Q422RSV70

Duration of the project: January 2023-December 2023.

Leading institution: Institute for Medical Research, University of Belgrade

Description of the project:

Project leader: Dr. Drenka Trivanović

Project collaborators: Dr. Ivana Okić Djordjević, Dr. Aleksandra Jauković, Dr. Marijana Kovačić, Dr. Sanja Momčilović, Milena Živanović

Project number:

Duration of the project: 2023-2024.

Leading institution: Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg – Department for Musculoskeletal Tissue Regeneration

Collaborating institution: Institute for Orthopedic Surgery “Banjica”

Description of the project:

Project leader: Dr. Jelena Krstić

Project collaborators: Dr. Drenka Trivanović, Dr. Hristina Obradović, Dr. Tamara Kukolj, Dr. Ivana Okić Đorđević

Project number: 451-03-01039/2015-09/31

Duration of the project: 2016-2017.

Leading institution: Institute for Medical Research, University of Belgrade

Description of the project: