Contribution to Common European Research and Educationa Area (EREA). Project leader is actively involved in international cooperation, and creation of common EREA. She is a co-organizer of the International Summer School at the University of Bern, and of Postgraduate Radiopharmacy Course in collaboration with ETH Zurich, and Imi –suported Pharmatrain- Medicine Development Course. She was a Faculty Coordinator for International collaboration responsible for development of very successful ERSMUS exchange progems (100 exchanges/ year). Currently she is a Vice-dean of research at the UL FFA. She is also a Member of the European strategic forum for Research infrastructure and other initiatives. IMR has initiated activities for organization of Slovenian Translational Research Initiative (STRI), which would become an active partner of EATRIS (European Advanced Translational Research InfraStructure in Medicine). The initiative has recently been accepted in the National Roadmap. The aim of such activities is to inforce the translation of genomic, transcriptomic and metabolomic methodologies in into clinical practice with the goal to improve both diagnosis and treatment of patients. All of this indicates a high scientific and socio-economic relevance of her work.
B.01 Organiser of a scientific meeting
COBISS.SI-ID: 3508337The research on pharmacogentetics has the direct impact on the economy and society and is demonstrated by an improved quality of life of patients undergoing the therapy and by favourable pharmacoeconomic indicators. Severe side effects are observed in patients due to the differential response of individuals to therapy and due to the conventional drugs prescribing philosophy that all individuals of the same age group need the same dose of the drug, i.e. »one size fits all«. Pharmacogenetic testing enables individualized approach leading to the rationalization of therapy and improved life quality of patients. Based on the pharmacogenetic findings we are able to explain the inter-individual differences to 6-mercaptopurine treatment and the onset of toxicity. We have successfully transferred the basic research practice to clinical environment. By genotyping the pediatric patients with life-threatening toxicity we have enabled the basis for individualization of therapy, and therefore eliminated toxicity, and overall contributed to quality of their life. Implementaion of our basic research into clinical practice has been enabled by our clinical partner Prof. dr. Janez Jazbec. We have summarized our contribution to the field pharmacogenetics of hiopurine S-methyltransferase (TPMT) in a recent book chapter. Title:S-Adenosylmethionine: A Novel Factor in the Individualization of Thiopurine Therapy
F.14 Improvements to existing production methods and tools or processes
COBISS.SI-ID: 3230577Biologic drugs – Public awareness and the development of a novel diagnostic method. Public awareness of the principles of the use of biological targeted drugs that act directed at a type of cancer cells is of paramount importance, as this contributes to the understanding of the use in targeted patient population. Hence, it contributes to appreciation of the public and patients towards often hard-to–accept therapeutic decisions of physicians and pharmacist. Modern pharmacotherapy requires the active participation of patients, who need to understand the mode of drug action, the basis for genetic diagnostic testing and consequent choice of drugs. Communication with the public strengthen individual awareness about the specificities of disease and use of targeted drugs. The project proposer, Prof. Mlinarič-Raščan have contributed to the development of an imaging agent for detection of CD-20 positive lymphoma. Developed methodology has enabled a production of stable photoreduced rituximab which can be stored for longer period of time allowing clinical usage and immediate radiolabelling with (99mTc) pertechnetate, prior to application into patient. We have confirmed that radiopharmaceutical is suitable for imaging agent for early detection, staging, subsequent remission assessment and monitoring for metastatic spread and tumour recurrence of non Hodkin Lymphoma.
F.25 Development of new organisational structures and managerial solutions
COBISS.SI-ID: 3220081Awardees of the Year 2012 graduates/students 1. MARTINA GOBEC recipient of the Dean's award of the Faculty of Pharmacy, for her outstanding research achievements and her paper published in Plos One. 2. ŽIGA URLEP student’s Prešern Faculty of Pharmacy award 3. Dunja Urbančič outstanding poster award on Genetic Society of SloveniaConference, 4. Matevž Prijatelj was selected as most perspective young gradute on Sandoz's recrutment and gained a prestigeous position in pharmaceutical industry.
D.09 Tutoring for postgraduate students
COBISS.SI-ID: 253955072