Nutritional Biochemistry And Dietology

Group Leader - Principal research fellow

Vesna Vučić

Dr Vesna Vučić is a Principal Research Fellow at the Institute for Medical Research, Head of the Department for Nutritional Biochemistry and Dietology, and Head of the Centre of Research Excellence in Nutrition and Metabolism. Her primary area of interest is the research of relationships between nutrition and health, with an emphasis on lipids and low-grade inflammation. She works towards evidence-based research and developing personalized dietary protocols. Dr Vucic was a PI or a co-investigator in several projects and clinical trials investigating the effects of fatty acids and herbal bioactives in inflammatory diseases and supervised 6 doctoral dissertations.

Principal research fellow

Danijela Ristić-Medić

Danijela Ristic-Medic is medical doctor, specialist in internal medicine and diet therapy, with MSc and PhD in nutrition and metabolism and certified training in sports nutrition and supplementation in Nutritional Biochemistry and Dietology group which is part of CENM. She has more than 25 years of experience in basic, clinical and epidemiology nutrition–research, evidence-based research, and meta-analyses, with the primary area of interest in dietary intake, obesity and nutrition assessment. She has been involved in several national and EU projects in nutrition as a head of work tasks and projects of bilateral cooperation. She is a teacher on continuous medical education in the field of diet therapy. Danijela has expertise with organizing and performing nutritional trials. She is a member of the Executive Board of the Nutrition Society of Serbia, and member of Federation of European Nutrition Societies working groups dedicated to “Improved Standards in the Science of Nutrition”.

Principal research fellow

Aleksandra Arsić

Aleksandra Arsić is a Principal Research Fellow at the Institute for Medical Research, National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade. She has Ph.D. in biochemistry and physiology from the Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade. She is actively engaged in the investigation of nutrition and metabolism and the role of lipids, fatty acids, reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, as well as pro- and anti-inflammatory molecules, in a healthy population and different pathological conditions. Aleksandra Arsić has a great experience in lipids investigations, and she was involved in or conducted several intervention studies on the effect of fatty acid supplementation on lipid metabolism, oxidative stress, and systemic inflammation in different chronic non-communicable diseases. In addition, the protective and preventive role of bioactive food components in human health is also a field of interest. She has participated in work packages and tasks in several national and EU-funded projects. More recently, she investigates plasma lipidomic profiles in different pathological states.

Senior research associate

Snježana Petrović

Snježana Petrović is a doctor of biological sciences in the Group for Nutritional Biochemistry and Dietology, Center of Research Excellence in Nutrition and Metabolism, Institute for Medical Research, University of Belgrade. Her research area includes examining of the impact of specific diets, nutritional supplements and intensive physical activity on anthropometric characteristics, biochemical parameters, lipid profile, oxidative stress, histopathological status, and inflammation in different human and animal tissues samples. The special focus of her research activities is the development of an animal model of obesity and metabolic syndrome, as well as the application of that model in studies investigating the effects and mechanisms of action of selected supplements/nutrients in the prevention and therapy of metabolic syndrome.

Senior research associate

Milica Kojadinović PhD

Milica Kojadinović has a Ph.D. in biological sciences in the group for Nutritional Biochemistry and Dietology. Her research is focused on the examination of the metabolism of lipids and fatty acids in different pathological conditions. He deals with this research within the framework of clinical but also in vitro studies, in which he works on different cell lines. In addition, the examination of the influence of antioxidants from food on the parameters of oxidative stress and lipid metabolism is the focus of her research in recent years. She also studies the interactions of secondary metabolites of polyphenolic compounds from food with proteins using biophysical methods of fluorimetry, spectrophotometry, and infrared spectroscopy.

Research associate

Biljana Pokimica

Biljana Pokimica is a Doctor of Biological Sciences in the Group for Nutritional Biochemistry and Dietology. Her research focuses on the influence of nutrition on biochemical parameters and fatty acids, in human and animal studies. She studied the effects of chokeberry juice polyphenols on cardiovascular risk factors in rats and humans. She participated in studies that analyzed the association between diet and lung cancer. Her research also included the influence of dietary bioactive components on gene expression. She is interested in nutrigenetic analyses.

Research assistant

Marija Paunovic

Marija Paunovic is a PhD student who works in the Group for Nutritional Biochemistry and Dietology. Her research focuses on studying the influence of nutrition and changes in metabolic parameters in various physiological and pathological conditions, primarily metabolic syndrome and different types of cancers.

Nikola Prvulović

Nikola Prvulović is a PhD student at the Faculty of Sports and Physical Education, University of Niš who works in the Group for Nutritional Biochemistry and Dietology. He is a state record holder and multiple state champion in athletics in the discipline of javelin throwing. After a successful career in sports he focused his interests and research in the field of sports especially in obesity in children.

Milena Žuža Praštalo

Milena Žuža Praštalo holds a Doctorate in Science with a specialization in Chemistry and Chemical Technology and works as a research associate within the Nutritional Biochemistry and Dietology group at the Institute for Medical Research, University of Belgrade. With over 15 years of extensive research experience in biotechnology, biochemical engineering, and sustainable development, she also possesses teaching expertise across various subjects and faculties. Currently, her research concentrates on bioactive food compounds, emphasizing their isolation, stabilization, and incorporation into the formulation of functional foods. She has actively contributed to several international and domestic scientific research projects, participated in international development programs, and served as a supervisor for a doctoral dissertation.