Project leader: Diana Bugarski
Project collaborators:
Aleksandra Jauković, Slavko Mojsilović, Drenka Trivanović, Ivana Okić Đorđević, Tamara Kukolj, Hristina Obradović, Jelena Krstić, Juan F. Santibañez, Sanja Vignjević Petrinović, Sanja Momčilović, Irina Maslovarić
Project number: OI 175062
Duration of the project: January 2011 – December 2020
Leading Institution: Институт за медицинска истраживања, Универзитет у Београду
Description of the project:
This project aimed to investigate the cellular and molecular aspects of the biology and function of multipotent adult stem cells, specifically hematopoietic stem cells and mesenchymal stromal cells. At the beginning of the project period, mesenchymal stromal cells were isolated and characterized (phenotypically and functionally) from various tissues of human and animal origin, including bone marrow, adipose tissue, umbilical cord, dental pulp, and periodontal ligament. In the following phase, the role and mode of action of various factors, primarily the inflammatory microenvironment, on the functional properties of adult stem cells were investigated, as well as the interaction of mesenchymal stromal cells with hematopoietic, immune, and tumor cells, with a particular focus on their role in immunoregulation and tumorigenesis. This project resulted in over 60 publications and presentations at scientific conferences (including 35 in JCI-indexed journals).