Pregl award for excellent achievements was awarded to dr. Iva Hafner Bratkovič for her work on molecular mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases, particularly on the mechanisms of prion protein conversion and the mechanisms of neuroinflammation in neurodegenerative diseases. Iva Hafner Bratkovič also engages into work with youth. She coordinated extremely successful project: Life sciences researchers:the next generation.
E.01 National awards
COBISS.SI-ID: 5843226Cell-based therapy is emerging as the next pillar of therapeutic intervention as it mimics natural regenerative processes with reduced systemic side effects in comparison to conventional therapy. Elderly, diabetics, patients with venous leg and pressure ulcers can develop chronic wounds. The aim of our study is to test the wound healing capacity of a therapeutic device based on cells secreting bioactive molecules, confined within the sealed semi¬permeable container. We identified growth factors and other bioactive molecules secreted by stem cells that have a positive impact on wound healing. Murine cell lines NIH3T3 stably expressing bioactive molecules were prepared. We demonstrated that a combination of six bioactive molecules had the greatest effect on the gap closure in fibroblast culture in vitro. Cells confined to the semi-permeable container remained viable and functional for at least 20 days in vitro and in vivo. The wound healing effect of engineered cells was confirmed in vivo using dorsal splinted excisional wound model on C57BL/6J mice. Reepithelization of wound with implanted therapeutic cell device was significantly faster compared to control with carrier cells. In the presence of soluble factors wound area was filled with granulation tissue that restored skin barrier in only 7 days. Similar cell-based devices could be used in treatment of a variety of diseases, including neurodegenerative diseases and vascular pathologies.
B.03 Paper at an international scientific conference
COBISS.SI-ID: 5711642The idea about cell-based device for therapy of chronic wounds, which is being developed and implemented in the scope of this project, was presented to lay public in the national television business-oriented show ''Prava ideja'' (The right idea) dedicated to stem cell therapy and the company Animacel.
F.21 Development of new health/diagnostic methods/procedures
COBISS.SI-ID: 5844250