Projects

Project leader: Aleksandra Uzelac

Project collaborators:

Katarina Breka, Jelena Karanović, Nikola Betić, Milica Kuručki, Tijana Kukurić

Project number: 10841

Duration of the project: 2024-2026

Leading Institution:

Institute for Medical Research, University of Belgrade

COLLABORATING INSTITUTIONS:
Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade; Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering, University of Belgrade; Institute of Meat Hygiene and Technology; Faculty of Agriculture, University of Novi Sad

Description of the project:

Analysis of the population genetics of Echinococcus is an ongoing effort in some parts of Europe, while the Balkans represent a significant knowledge gap. This project proposes to comprehensively survey the entire transmission cycle consisting of intermediate and definitive animal hosts and the environment using sample processing and analytical methods which have been standardized, validated and harmonized at the EU level to obtain high quality population genetics data via mitochondrial gene (cox1 and nad1) sequencing and characterization of the EmsB microsatellite from single eggs, larvae and adults. Specifically, this approach allows for the survey of as of yet underexplored reservoirs with a potentially high transmission capacity to humans. The population genetics data along with GPS coordinates of identified infected hosts will be systematized and graphically displayed through an interactive bioinformatics database, WormProfiler, to help identify transmission foci and ultimately model transmission dynamics. WormProfiler’s user interface will be specifically tailored to veterinarians and physicians, who are key stakeholders for transmission prevention, in order to facilitate education of the public and raise awareness of echinococcosis. Ultimately, the project’s goal is to create a software supported framework for systematic surveillance of Echinococcus to aid in the development of targeted transmission control actions to reduce echinococcosis case burden.

Project number: CA22146

WG Nutrition leader: Marija Knez

Project collaborator: Jelena Milešević, Petar Jovanović

Duration of the project: October 2023-September2027

Leading institution: University College Dublin, Ireland

Description of the project:

With population growing rapidly and within the context of agro-climatic changes, there is an increased demand to sustainably produce nutritious food. In Europe, many nutrient-dense foods are not widely grown and consumed, despite their suitability to European climates and environments, and viability for sustainable production with lower inputs. Underutilised crops that are stress resilient such as rye and legumes, have the potential to supply key nutrients and improve diets and risk of diet-related diseases. Such crops have a long history of cultivation across the continent and are part of the national historic food identity of different European countries yet are underutilised due to several complex reasons. DIVERSICROP addresses these challenges using an innovative, cross-sectoral and multidisciplinary approach by analysing the deep history of underutilised crops in Europe, understanding the genetic diversity and adaptation to climate change of crop germplasm, analysing current regional trends in the consumption of food products and by involving national and EU policymakers and key stakeholders to revive diverse crop production and maximise the impact of Europe’s agricultural sustainability. DIVERSICROP aims to harmonise fragmented data and develop strategies for the sustainable cultivation of target crops, striking a balance between agricultural sustainability and human nutritional value. DIVERSICROP brings together a skilled and interdisciplinary network to identify climate-resilient crop lines, and potential nutritional and health benefits of their consumption to rethink our food systems. DIVERSICROP will strengthen the Farm to Fork and the Biodiversity strategies under the European Green Deal to contribute to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Project leader: Jelena Milešević, coordinator for IMR team

Project number: 101136361

Duration of the project: 2024-2026

Leading institution: AGENCE NATIONALE DE LA RECHERCHE (PIC: 998711613, located in PARIS, FR)

Abstract

The vision of FutureFoodS is to collectively achieve environmentally friendly, socially secure, fair and economically viable healthy and safe Food Systems (FS) for Europe. FutureFoodS gather 87 partners from 22 EU Member States, 6 Associated Countries and 1 third country. FutureFoodS includes public and private actors, policy makers, foundations, locally, sub-nationally, nationally, EU-widely. All these FutureFoodS partners are fully aligned on the vision for the Partnership and the methodology for its implementation in line with SDG17 and EU Green Deal components. This vision has been broken down into general (GO), specific (SO) and operational (OO) objectives applying across the 4 R&I areas and 4 transversal activities identified by the FutureFoods consortium in its stable draft Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA) which constitutes the strategic backbone of the project. The four GO cover: GO1 – Functioning of FS; GO2 – System approaches; GO3 – Inclusive government; GO4 – Co-creation cases. These GO have then been translated into SO prioritised in line with the timescale and resources of the Partnership: SO1 – Change the way we eat; SO2- Change the way we process and supply food, SO3 – Change the way we connect with FSs and SO4 – Change the way we govern FS. In addition, 6 interconnected OO have been set: OO1- Pooling R&I resources and programming; OO2 – Operational FS Observatory; OO3 – Active FS knowledge Hub of FS Labs; OO4 – Functioning knowledge sharing and scaling mechanisms; OO5- Revisiting the SRIA; OO6 – Promoting, supporting, widening & gathering FS various communities. The objectives implemented in the 8 WPs of FutureFoodS will exert impact directly or indirectly in most of the destinations of Horizon Europe’s Cluster 6 2023-2024 work programme and particularly for the topic destination ‘Fair, healthy and environment-friendly FS from primary production to consumption’ echoing to the main EU and World FS policies & strategies.

Project leader: Jelena Milešević, coordinator for IMR team

Project collaborators: Marija Knez, Ivana Šarac

Project number: 101137127

Duration of the project: January 2024-December 2028

Leading Institution: UNIVERSITY COLLEGE CORK – NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF IRELAND, CORK – UCC

Project description

Micronutrient (MN) deficiency is a form of malnutrition that occurs due to low intake and/or absorption of minerals and vitamins, with adverse consequences for human development and health. Children, adolescents, women of reproductive age (including pregnancy) and older adults (representing ~70% of European society) as well as immigrant/ethnic minority groups and those affected by social inequality or poverty, are at risk of MN deficiencies. While addressing this public health problem is a priority, it is not possible until data on the prevalence of MN deficiencies across the EU population and the causes for these deficiencies is available to predict and identify those most at risk. Without this information, discussions on how to meet dietary requirements for the priority MNs of public health concern, and improve their status, take place in a vacuum. The Zero_HiddenHunger_EU project aims to 1) provide estimates of the true prevalence of MN deficiencies, based on priority biomarker and MN intake data in European populations and their associated health costs, focused on high-risk population subgroups, and 2) provide the best possible evidence to develop context-specific, tailored food-focused solutions to ensure adequate supply of vitamins and minerals from diets from sustainable sources. The consortium will focus the research effort around existing high-quality data resources and biobanks from diverse and representative population groups around Europe, supplemented by targeted studies in under-represented groups, maximizing research investment and adding value. Using high-throughput biomarker and advanced data analytical and modelling techniques, Zero_HiddenHunger_EU will deliver credible evidence enabling policymakers and food system actors to deliver food-focused strategies to eradicate MN deficiencies from Europe.

Project leader: Snežana Tomanović, PhD, Research Professor

Project collaborators: Ratko Sukara, PhD, Research associate, Darko Mihaljica, PhD, Research associate, Gorana Veinović, PhD, Research associate, Velantina Ćirković, PhD, Research associate.

Duration of the project: 2023-2026

Leading institution: Institute for Medical Research, National Institute for Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade

Description:

TalkToTick is a project that answers the question of to what extent ticks and tick-borne pathogens present in a specific region pose a risk to human health. Climate change, intensification of transport, and migration undoubtedly lead to changes in the epidemiology of vector-borne diseases. Globally, and in our region, there has been a discrepancy between the registered number and diversity of ticks, the pathogens they transmit, and confirmed clinical cases of the disease. It is believed that many cases of tick-borne diseases remain unrecognized or misdiagnosed. The main objective of our project is to develop adequate approaches for diagnosis, therapy, and prevention of tick-borne diseases based on the knowledge of local ecology, epidemiology, and geographic distribution of ticks and tick-borne pathogens. Although the TalkToTick project is conceived in Serbia as a model for the region, our ambition goes beyond the local interest. The knowledge and results we generate during the project implementation are extremely important for all regions with a similar eco-epidemiological situation (Southern Europe, neighboring countries), and as a conceptual approach, our model can be applied anywhere. The project is largely focused on citizens too. The most important and economical form of prevention of tick-borne diseases in humans are personal protection measures and to increase the effectiveness of these measures, it is necessary to inform, educate, and actively involve citizens.

Leader : Andrea Vranić

Collaborators on the project:

Project number: HR-1504-03-2223

Project duration: 2020-2024

Leading Institution: University of Graz, Institute of Psychology; University of Klagenfurt, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Cultural Sciences; University of Sarajevo, Faculty of Philosophy in Sarajevo; University of Rijeka, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Department of Psychology; Masaryk University, Faculty of Medicine; University of Miskolc, Professional Centre for Methodology and Healthcare, Department of Physiotherapy; University of Montenegro, Faculty of Philosophy; Jagiellonian University in Kraków, Institute of Psychology; University of Belgrade, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Philosophy; University of Belgrade, Institute for Medical Research; University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Philosophy – Department of Psychology; University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Arts;

Project Description:

Project leader : Sharon Armon-Lotem

Project collaborators:

Project number: IS0804

Duration of the project: 2012-2015

Leading Institution:

Bar Ilan University, University of Amsterdam, University of Zagreb, University of Cyprus, Cyprus university of technology, Aalborg University, University of Oulu, University of Helsinki, University of Tours, François Rabelais University, Goethe-University, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Hungarian Research Centre for Linguistics, University College Cork, Tel Aviv University, University of Siena, University of Padova, Vytautas Magnus University, University of Luxembourg Campus Walferdange, University of Malta, University of Bergen, Bredtvet Resource Centre, University of Warsaw, Institute of Psychology – Jagiellonian University, Faculdade de Ciências Sociais e Humanas – Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Ministério da Educação /Gabinete do Secretário de Estado Adjunto e da Educação, Intercommunitary Development Association EURONEST / Asociatia de Dezvoltare Intercomunitara EURONEST, University „Al.I. Cuza”, Institute of Medical Research – University of Belgrade, Faculty of Education Bratislava, Presov University in Presov – Philosophical Faculty, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, University Jaume I Riu Sec, Lund University, Stockholm University, Bogazici university, Newcastle University, Istanbul Medipol University, University of Reading – Department of Clinical Language Sciences, School of Psychology & Clinical Language Sciences, University of Zagreb, Universitaire du Pont de Bois, Universite de tours, University of Education Heidelberg, University of Bremen, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, National University of Ireland Galway, Vytautas Magnus University, Afdeling Neerlandistiek, Faculty of Psychology – Warsaw University, Skane University Hospital, St.Petersburg State Pediatric Medical University, Universite Saint Joseph, Academy of Albanian Studies – Institute of Linguistics and Literature, University of Minnesota, Arizona State University, Stellenbosch University, University of Alberta, The Promise Foundation

Description of the project:

Project leader: Stefan Lautenbacher

Project collaborators:

Project number: TD1005

Duration of the project: 2011-2015

Leading Institution:

University of Bamberg, LUMC, Cyclotron Research CentrenUniversite de Liege, Ghent University Hospital, University of Nicosia, Charles University Third Faculty of Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital, Clermont-Ferrand, France, University of Bamberg, National University of Ireland, Tel-Aviv University, Health Sciences Faculty, Israel, University of Turin and National Institute of Neuroscience, Academic Centre for Dentistry, University of BergenDepartment of Public Health and Primary Health Care, Clinical Hospital of Psychiatry, Medicine and Pharmacy University “Carol Davila”, Institute for Medical Research – University of Belgrade, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, University Hospital Geneva, University College London Research, University of Greenwich Centre of Positive Ageing, University of Liège, Aalborg University, University of Bamberg, Malteser Hospital, Tel aviv University, University of Torino, University of Turin, University of Bergen, University of Belgrade Faculty of Medicine, National Ageing Research Institute, RMIT University.

Description of the project: