Dr. Jelena Brkljačić

SCOPUS ID: 54420835400

Education
2011: Ph.D. in Biology. Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
2004: M.Sc. in Biology. Faculty of Biology, Study programme Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
2000: B.Sc. in Biochemistry. Faculty of Chemistry, Study programme Biochemistry, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia

Appointments
2001 – present: Researcher (Principal Research Fellow since 2021), Department of Biochemistry, Institute for Biological Research “Siniša Stanković“ - National Institute of Republic of Serbia (IBISS), University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
2014-2015: Post-doctorate Fellow at the Molecular Endocrinology Programme, Institute of Biology, Medicinal Chemistry and Biotechnology, National Hellenic Research Foundation, Athens, Greece

Research interests:
Effects of modern lifestyle characterized by pervasive exposure to stressors and unhealthy dietary habits, on lipid and glucose metabolism, inflammatory and redox status.
Potential beneficial effects of fruits and natural products on ameliorating diet-induced metabolic disturbances.
Glucocorticoid signaling in different pathophysiological states (metabolic syndrome, PTSD, PCOS).

Recent research projects:
a) International funding:
• 2024- Strengthening Translational Research for Improved Metabolic Health (Twinning - European Commission)
• 2013-2017: Interactions between stress and dietary fructose in the development of the metabolic syndrome: role of glucocorticoids (SCOPES, Swiss National Science Foundation)
• 2004-2008: Psychobiology of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (FP6, European Commission)

b) National funding
• Currently engaged in the IBISS Work Program funded by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia.
• 2011-2019: The role of steroid hormones in the neuroendocrine adaptation to stress and the pathophysiology of the metabolic syndrome - molecular mechanisms and clinical implications.
• 2006-2010: Glucocorticoid receptor and heat shock proteins expression and function in pathophysiological states and stress.
• 2002-2005: Modulation of glucocorticoid receptor function during cellular stress response.

Members of Professional Societies:
• Serbian Biochemical Society
• Serbian Society for Molecular Biology
• Serbian Biological Society