Gregor Majdič and young researcher Katerina Čeh have developed a new method for healing arthritis and other joint problems in dog. As far as we know, Gregor Majdič's research group is the third in the world and second in Europe that will offer such treatment commercially to dog owners. This is a new, highly technological medical method (developed purely by our own knowledge) with potentially huge market. Therefore, we established a new spin-off company called Animacel, ltd at the beginning of 2011 for commercialization of this method. For this innovation, Gregor Majdič was awarded two awards for best innovations in public sector in Slovenia in 2011. During award ceremony for the best innovation at University of Ljubljana, this innovation was described with following words: »Company Animacel with business plan »Regenerative treatment of domestic animals« has pretty much everything that perspective, highly technological company should have – important, even revolutionary innovation, huge potential market, well prepared business strategy, investor and references from the first satisfied patients. The company has even more than that. The company works in the field of stem cells, where the team behind this project has, with its innovative process for use of stem cells, opened very large area for further studies as well as applications, not just in veterinary medicine, where they are currently active, but also in human medicine. We sincerely hope that their contribution will have important impact on health and better quality of life for animals in humans.” Animacel ltd. was established in February 2011. The company provides stem cell treatments for animals, what is completely novel treatment paradigm for joint and ligament problems that were until now incurable. Similar problems in dogs and horses were until now treated only with pain alleviation while our original procedure offers the healing of the pathological process for the first time. According to our experiences so far, with more than 90 dogs already treated, majority of dogs do not need any pain alleviating treatment three months after our procedure. The treatment is therefore also cost effective for the owner since the price is similar to one year supply of pain alleviating medicine. The procedure was developed autonomously in the laboratory of Professor Gregor Majdič at the Veterinary Faculty, University of Ljubljana. By the middle of 2013, we have treated more than 90 dogs and 7 horses with different problems with locomotor apparatus (arthritis, joint dysplasia, tendonitis). All patients are still regularly monitored and in all there was a marked improvement of their health/ability to walk without pain. Our aim is for Veterinary Faculty at University of Ljubljana and Animacel to become a leading European institution/company in the field of stem cell treatments in animals within 5 years, and to spread to other markets beyond EU.
F.20 Company spin off
Preclinical studies have shown that the EGT with gene encoding IL-12 is effective treatment for different tumors. In 2010, we acquired the license for work with the GMOs in the open system (license No: 35419-1/2009/17) that allow us carry out the clinical study "Intratumorall injection of the naked DNA encoding human IL-12 and electrically-assisted delivery of the same amount of DNA into dogs cells". This enables us to transfer results of preclinical trials conducted on laboratory animals into clinical practice, i.e. to perform highly-specialized treatment of certain tumor diseases in dogs. Since 2010 30 dogs have been treated. Monitoring of treated dogs further confirmed effectiveness of this method. It was showed that intramuscular EGT in dogs induced systemic secretion of IL-12 and IFN-γ production, without clinically significant side effects. At the local level, structural changes in tumor tissue were detected at the histological level as shown by reduced number of malignant cells and tissue infiltration with inflammatory cells resulting in at least partially reduced size of some tumors and increased survival of treated dogs.
F.17 Transfer of existing technologies, know-how, methods and procedures into practice
COBISS.SI-ID: 3271802Ana Nemec was a recipient of The Robert Wiggs AVDC Outstanding Candidate Award in 2013. This is an annual award given to a young outstanding professional to honor Dr. Robert Wiggs, who has contributed selflessly to AVDC and veterinary dentistry. Nominees must have successfully completed the Credentials process of the AVDC within the past three years, and either has not yet completed the examination process or are recent Diplomates of the College. Letters of support from Mentors or Residency Directors are evaluated and criteria may include presentations, seminars, publications, research, promotion of veterinary dentistry, and contributions to veterinary dentistry in general. Ana Nemec completed her credentials process in 2012 and passed the Board examination in 2013 and become a Diplomate of the AVDC. Ana Nemec has contributed significantly to the field of veterinary dentistry as evident by several peer-reviewed publications published in international well-renown journals in the field, several presentations on international, national and internal scientific and professional meetings, and she is also considered a role model in clinical and teaching activities. The Award is the result of an excellent implementation of experience and knowledge obtained during Ana Nemec’s previous and ongoing experimental basic research work in the field of periodontal medicine, to clinical research and practice. Further evidence of excellence in the field of periodontal medicine of small animals is the FECAVA award presented to Professor Zlatko Pavlica for his committed long-term clinical and research work as well as cutting-edge expertise as well as the University of California-Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital Gerald V. Ling Award - recognizing research in small animal medicine (Periodontal disease, periodontal treatment and systemic nitric oxide in dogs) presented to Ana Nemec in year 2012.
E.02 International awards
Research group member Primož Klinc has in colaboration with Darinka Juvan developed a patented device for atraumatic introduction of a means of tubular organ of a living being (patent: SI 22782 A). Device is intended for atraumatic introduction of a means, preferably of a tubular, flexible means like a catheter, e.g. a catheter for artificial insemination, transfer of embryos, sterile taking and application of samples into a tubular organ of a living being. A technical problem solved by the present invention is how to design a device that would allow for atraumatic introduction of a means to a predefined distant spot in a tubular organ, preferably reproductive tract, that would also i) exclude a possibility of an infection and/or damage of the interior of a tubular organ, ii) allow for a simple and uncomplicated introduction of an optional active agent into the interior of said tubular organ, e.g. seminal fluid in minimal quantities in the method of artificial insemination and iii) enable to perform procedures in the interior of said tubular organ.
F.33 Slovenian patent
COBISS.SI-ID: 3653754Milka Vrecl was at first guest-associated editor and in year 2012 she became an associate editor of Frontiers in Molecular and Structural Endocrinology. Frontiers in Molecular and Structural Endocrinology is a special section of Frontiers in Endocrinology. It publishes significant basic research findings on molecular and mechanistic aspects of hormone, growth factor and cytokine action and secretion, with special emphasis on the link between structure and function and is indexed among others in PubMed. Frontiers is an online platform for the scientific community to publish open-access articles and in 2013 Frontiers has joined Nature Publishing Group (NPG) in a strategic alliance to advance the global open science movement. In 2013 Milka Vrecl was also elected as a national basic science ambassador by the European Society for Endocrinology.
C.04 Editorial board of an international magazine