Teodora Komazec completed her undergraduate studies at the Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade on the module "Molecular Biology and Physiology" in 2019. At the same faculty, in 2020 she completed her Master's studies in the module "Immunobiology" under the title "Examination of the antiproliferative potential of selected pyridone derivatives on HCT-116 and MDA-MB-231 cell lines", and in 2021 she enrolled in doctoral studies on the module "Cellular and molecular oncology". Since April 2022, she has been employed in the Department of Immunology at the Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković" – National Institute of the Republic of Serbia.
Teodora is part of the project team of the PRISMA (ADVANCED) program funded by the Science Fund of the Republic of Serbia, as well as the bilateral cooperation project with the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).
She is a member of several national and international societies including: the Serbian Society of Cancer Researchers (SDIR), the European Association for Cancer Research (EARC), the Serbian Society for Molecular Biology (MolBioS), the Club of Serbian Young Immunologists (KMIS), Young European Federation of Immunologists of societies (yEFIS), Serbian Biochemical Society (BDS), Federation of European Biochemical Societies (FEBS) and Serbian Society for Immunology, Molecular Oncology and Regenerative Medicine (SDIOR).
Her research interests are: tumor biology, experimental oncology, testing the antitumor activity of newly synthesized compounds in vitro and in vivo, tumor immunology, monitoring the response of tumors and the tumor microenvironment to the application of potential therapeutics, research on the molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways involved in cancer regulation.
Understanding the physiological and functional characteristics of cancer cells at the individual level, and the tumor tissue as a highly orchestrated multicellular formation, by whose activity the tumor expands, invades and disseminates, is the main goal of cancer biology research today. Defining the causes of abnormal behavior of neoplastic cells individually and in the context of the tumor microenvironment, including the histological, metabolic and immunological specificities of this tissue, represents a platform for designing new approaches in cancer treatment. Investigating the phenomenon of initial or acquired tumor resistance helps to gain deeper insights into the reasons for limited effects of the conventional treatments, enabling the improvement of existing protocols.
Inflammation is a response to damage and danger in organisms and is an integral part of research in immunology, but also in other scientific disciplines, since inflammation occurs in numerous pathological conditions like diabetes or cancer. Immunology studies body’s defence mechanisms at cellular and molecular level in infective diseases, as well as immune system malfunctions in autoimmune diseases and allergies Modification of body’s immune system is useful in treatment of these diseases, and can be performed through pharmacological modulation or immunotherapy, where immune cells or their parts are used. Acute-phase proteins and potential biological markers of inflammation involved in the modification and integration of signalling pathways are being investigated in order to predict and intervene in diseases.
Education
• Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade
2020 - PhD in Immunobiology
2019 – 2020 MSc in Immunobiology
2015 – 2019 BSc in Molecular biology & physiology
Volunteer work and workshop attendance
• European Researchers' Night, FENS, The Science Fair, conference ‘Forever curious – with science for the future’, Science Day (in Serbia), Brain Awareness Week
• Workshop held by the Center for the Promotion of Science (CPN): How to communicate modern science?
Research interests
Autoimmune diseases, type 1 diabetes, regulatory T cells, aryl hydrocarbon receptor and its modulation with newly synthesized ligands, innate lymphoid cells, intestinal immunity and its associated lymphoid tissue (GALT), as well as the immunological importance of the intestinal microenvironment
Membership
• Immunological Society of Serbia (ISOS)
• Young European Federation of Imunological Societies (yEFIS)
- Club of Serbian Young Immunologists (KMIS)
• Serbian Society for Molecular Biology (MolBioS)
• Serbian Biochemical Society (SBS)
Inflammation is a response to damage and danger in organisms and is an integral part of research in immunology, but also in other scientific disciplines, since inflammation occurs in numerous pathological conditions like diabetes or cancer. Immunology studies body’s defence mechanisms at cellular and molecular level in infective diseases, as well as immune system malfunctions in autoimmune diseases and allergies Modification of body’s immune system is useful in treatment of these diseases, and can be performed through pharmacological modulation or immunotherapy, where immune cells or their parts are used. Acute-phase proteins and potential biological markers of inflammation involved in the modification and integration of signalling pathways are being investigated in order to predict and intervene in diseases.
Education:
2020- Molecular biology, Physiology, Translational research in neurobiology and biomedicine, Phd student in the fourth year, Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade
2018-2019 Biology, Experimental Physiology of Animals and Humans, Master of Science, Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade. Master thesis: „Expression of AKT 1/2/3 and ERK 1/2 in rat hypothalamus through the initial phase of fasting“. The experimental part of master’s thesis finished in the laboratory for comparative physiology and ecophysiology, Chair of comparative physiology and ecophysiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade
2014-2018 Biology, Bachelor degree, Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade
Professional experience:
2023- Research assistant at Institute for Biological Research ‘Sinisa Stankovic’, Department for Immunology
2021-2023 Research trainee at Institute for Biological Research ‘Sinisa Stankovic’, Department for Immunology
2020 Volunteer at Institute for Biological Research ‘Sinisa Stankovic’, Department for Immunology
2019 Volunteer work at the Environment Protection Institute of Serbia
2018 Volunteer lab assistant, Chair of Comparative Physiology and Ecophysiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade
Field of research:
Neuroimmunology, with a focus on multiple sclerosis, chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease of the central nervous system (CNS), and animal model of this disease, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). The role of the gut and lung immune system in the development, propagation, and regulation of autoimmune responses directed against the CNS.
Memberships:
Immunological Society of Serbia
Serbian Biochemical Society
Serbian Society for Molecular Biology
Serbian Neuroscience Society
Young European Federation of Immunological Societies
Inflammation is a response to damage and danger in organisms and is an integral part of research in immunology, but also in other scientific disciplines, since inflammation occurs in numerous pathological conditions like diabetes or cancer. Immunology studies body’s defence mechanisms at cellular and molecular level in infective diseases, as well as immune system malfunctions in autoimmune diseases and allergies Modification of body’s immune system is useful in treatment of these diseases, and can be performed through pharmacological modulation or immunotherapy, where immune cells or their parts are used. Acute-phase proteins and potential biological markers of inflammation involved in the modification and integration of signalling pathways are being investigated in order to predict and intervene in diseases.
Neurobiology studies the anatomy, physiology, and pathology of the nervous system. From the molecular and biochemical basis of this system, to the study of behavioral plasticity, to understanding the driving forces of neurodegenerative diseases and how they can be treated. Electrophysiology studies biophysical properties in vertebrate neurons and links morphofunctional features of the brain to observed animal behavior. The ultimate goal is to identify active substances that may have a protective effect in neurological and psychiatric diseases.
Ekatarina Mihajlović graduated from the Faculty of Pharmacy at the University of Belgrade in 2017 and obtained a Master of Pharmacy degree. The experimental part of her master's thesis entitled "The mechanism of arterial graft relaxation induced by procyanidin B2" was carried out at the Department of Pharmacology. After completing an internship in a pharmacy and passing a professional exam, she worked in the pharmaceutical industry, as a Product Development Associate at the Research and Development Institute of Galenika A.D. and as an Expert Associate in the STADA Packaging Coordination Team of Hemofarm A.D. In 2020, she enrolled in doctoral studies at the Faculty of Biology at the University of Belgrade, in the module Cellular and Molecular Oncology. In April 2021, she obtained the title Junior Research Assistant and since July of the same year, she has been employed at the Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković" - National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, at the Department of Immunology. In December 2023, she obtained the title Research Assistant. She is currently involved in two research projects: the ADVANCED project within the PRISMA program of the Science Fund of the Republic of Serbia and the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) project. She is an active member of the Serbian Society of Cancer Researchers (SDIR), the European Association for Cancer Research (EARC), the Serbian Society for Molecular Biology (MolBioS), the Club of Young Immunologists of Serbia (KMIS), the Young European Federation of Immunological Societies (yEFIS), the Serbian Society for Immunology, Molecular Oncology and Regenerative Medicine (SDIOR), the Biochemical Society of Serbia (BDS) and the European Federation of Biochemical Societies (FEBS). Her research interests are experimental oncology, immuno-oncology, oncopharmacology, and experimental therapeutics.
Understanding the physiological and functional characteristics of cancer cells at the individual level, and the tumor tissue as a highly orchestrated multicellular formation, by whose activity the tumor expands, invades and disseminates, is the main goal of cancer biology research today. Defining the causes of abnormal behavior of neoplastic cells individually and in the context of the tumor microenvironment, including the histological, metabolic and immunological specificities of this tissue, represents a platform for designing new approaches in cancer treatment. Investigating the phenomenon of initial or acquired tumor resistance helps to gain deeper insights into the reasons for limited effects of the conventional treatments, enabling the improvement of existing protocols.
Inflammation is a response to damage and danger in organisms and is an integral part of research in immunology, but also in other scientific disciplines, since inflammation occurs in numerous pathological conditions like diabetes or cancer. Immunology studies body’s defence mechanisms at cellular and molecular level in infective diseases, as well as immune system malfunctions in autoimmune diseases and allergies Modification of body’s immune system is useful in treatment of these diseases, and can be performed through pharmacological modulation or immunotherapy, where immune cells or their parts are used. Acute-phase proteins and potential biological markers of inflammation involved in the modification and integration of signalling pathways are being investigated in order to predict and intervene in diseases.
Natural products are complex chemical compounds synthesised by living organisms through biochemical processes, with a specific physiological or ecological function. Researchers at the Institute study the chemical characterization and isolation of natural products, metabolic engineering, as well as the assessment of the possibility of their application in industry (as medicaments, dietary supplements and functional food, biopesticides).
Inflammation is a response to damage and danger in organisms and is an integral part of research in immunology, but also in other scientific disciplines, since inflammation occurs in numerous pathological conditions like diabetes or cancer. Immunology studies body’s defence mechanisms at cellular and molecular level in infective diseases, as well as immune system malfunctions in autoimmune diseases and allergies Modification of body’s immune system is useful in treatment of these diseases, and can be performed through pharmacological modulation or immunotherapy, where immune cells or their parts are used. Acute-phase proteins and potential biological markers of inflammation involved in the modification and integration of signalling pathways are being investigated in order to predict and intervene in diseases.
Dr. Saksida graduated from Biochemistry and obtained her master’s degree at the Faculty of Chemistry. The PhD thesis was defended in 2011 at the Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade. Since 2021, Dr. Saksida has been leading the Inflammation group. The research will examine immune cells in the gastrointestinal and pulmonary systems, their involvement in inflammatory illnesses, and the potential for physiological and pharmacological modifications. Thanks to the extensive research experience in autoimmune type 1 diabetes, the group has established models for autoimmune myocarditis and acute respiratory distress syndrome with the mission to advance understanding and treatments for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Dr. Saksida has engaged in three national projects funded by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development, two funded by the Science Fund of the Republic of Serbia, and four international projects. She was the leader of project ‘Compound A as a new candidate to rescue beta cells from cell death’ and was awarded a laboratory exchange grant for a collaborative initiative with the Oxford Vaccine Group. She has supervised six master's theses and three doctoral dissertations. Dr. Saksida is ‘For Women in Science’ Alumnae. She participates actively in the Serbian Biochemical Society, the Serbian Society for Molecular Biology, and the Society of Immunologists of Serbia. She is a member of the EFIS working group for gender equality and diversity.
Inflammation is a response to damage and danger in organisms and is an integral part of research in immunology, but also in other scientific disciplines, since inflammation occurs in numerous pathological conditions like diabetes or cancer. Immunology studies body’s defence mechanisms at cellular and molecular level in infective diseases, as well as immune system malfunctions in autoimmune diseases and allergies Modification of body’s immune system is useful in treatment of these diseases, and can be performed through pharmacological modulation or immunotherapy, where immune cells or their parts are used. Acute-phase proteins and potential biological markers of inflammation involved in the modification and integration of signalling pathways are being investigated in order to predict and intervene in diseases.
Nutrition is the process by which the body uses food to produce energy and sustain life. The science of nutrition studies the role of nutrients and other food components in the growth, reproduction, health and disease of the organism. Food ingredients with medicinal properties are called nutriceuticals and can be used to treat or prevent disease. There are more and more alternative sources of food, such as edible insects, which should limit the negative impact of food production on the environment.
Natural products are complex chemical compounds synthesised by living organisms through biochemical processes, with a specific physiological or ecological function. Researchers at the Institute study the chemical characterization and isolation of natural products, metabolic engineering, as well as the assessment of the possibility of their application in industry (as medicaments, dietary supplements and functional food, biopesticides).
Tamara Krajnović has been working in the Department of Immunology since 2014. She obtained her MSc degree in Molecular Biology and Physiology at the Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade in 2013. In 2021, she obtained a Ph.D. in Biology at the same faculty. In the same year, she was awarded by the "Goran Ljubijankić" Foundation for the best doctoral thesis in the field of molecular biology. As an exchange student within the framework of three bilateral DAAD projects with Germany (2014-2018), she spent one month each year at the Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry, Martin-Luther University, Halle. As part of the Erasmus+ international credit mobility for higher education students and staff, she stayed at the Saxon Incubator for Clinical Translation, Leipzig University in 2018. She participated in a national project (2014-2019), a bilateral project with the Republic of China (2018-2021) and three projects with industry (2019-2023). She is the coordinator of the work package of the ADVANCED project funded by the Prisma program of the Science Fund of the Republic of Serbia (2024-2027). She is an active member of Serbian Association for Cancer Research (SDIR), European Association for Cancer Research (EARC), Serbian Society for Molecular Biology (MolBioS), Immunological Society of Serbia (ISoS), European Federation of Immunological Societies (EFIS), Club of Serbian Young Immunologists (KMIS), Young European Federation of Immunological Societies (yEFIS), Serbian Society for Immunology, Molecular Oncology and Regenerative Medicine (SDIOR), Serbian Biochemical Society (SBS) and Serbian Society for Mitochondrial and Free Radical Physiology (SSMFRP). Her research interests concern the field of experimental oncology and tumor immunology, assesment of the efficacy of potential new therapeutics of natural and synthetic origin or their modifications in the treatment of various animal and human tumor and/or transformed cell lines in vitro or tumor animal models in vivo, investigating various aspects of immuno- and chemosensitization of malignant cells, studying the molecular mechanisms involved in cancer regulation and the signaling pathways mediating carcinogenesis, evaluating the antitumor potential of newly designed and modified forms of conventional chemotherapeutics, and application of nanotechnology in designing of novel therapeutic approaches.
Understanding the physiological and functional characteristics of cancer cells at the individual level, and the tumor tissue as a highly orchestrated multicellular formation, by whose activity the tumor expands, invades and disseminates, is the main goal of cancer biology research today. Defining the causes of abnormal behavior of neoplastic cells individually and in the context of the tumor microenvironment, including the histological, metabolic and immunological specificities of this tissue, represents a platform for designing new approaches in cancer treatment. Investigating the phenomenon of initial or acquired tumor resistance helps to gain deeper insights into the reasons for limited effects of the conventional treatments, enabling the improvement of existing protocols.
Inflammation is a response to damage and danger in organisms and is an integral part of research in immunology, but also in other scientific disciplines, since inflammation occurs in numerous pathological conditions like diabetes or cancer. Immunology studies body’s defence mechanisms at cellular and molecular level in infective diseases, as well as immune system malfunctions in autoimmune diseases and allergies Modification of body’s immune system is useful in treatment of these diseases, and can be performed through pharmacological modulation or immunotherapy, where immune cells or their parts are used. Acute-phase proteins and potential biological markers of inflammation involved in the modification and integration of signalling pathways are being investigated in order to predict and intervene in diseases.
Nutrition is the process by which the body uses food to produce energy and sustain life. The science of nutrition studies the role of nutrients and other food components in the growth, reproduction, health and disease of the organism. Food ingredients with medicinal properties are called nutriceuticals and can be used to treat or prevent disease. There are more and more alternative sources of food, such as edible insects, which should limit the negative impact of food production on the environment.
Natural products are complex chemical compounds synthesised by living organisms through biochemical processes, with a specific physiological or ecological function. Researchers at the Institute study the chemical characterization and isolation of natural products, metabolic engineering, as well as the assessment of the possibility of their application in industry (as medicaments, dietary supplements and functional food, biopesticides).
EDUCATION
2014 - 2018 PhD in Immunobiology, Faculty of Biology (FB), University of Belgrade (UB), Serbia. Field of training: cellular and molecular immunology
“Role of gut microbiota and gut-associated lymphoid tissue in resistance of Albino Oxford rats to experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis induction”
2013 - 2014 MSc in Immunobiology, UB, FB
“Immunomodulatory Effects of Ethyl Pyruvate on BV2 Microglial Cells”
2008 - 2013 BSc in Molecular biology and Physiology, UB, FB
RESEARCH CAREER
2018 - Research Associate, Department of Immunology, Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković" (IBISS), UB
2017 – 2018 Research Assistant, Department of Immunology, IBISS, UB
2016 – 2017 Junior Research Assistant, Department of Immunology, IBISS, UB
2014 – 2016 PhD student, Department of Immunology, IBISS, UB
2013 – 2014 Master student, Department of Immunology, IBISS, UB
RESEARCH INTEREST
Relationship between gut microbiota and mucosal immune system and autoimmune diseases; pathogenic mechanisms of experimental models of autoimmune diseases, including experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis and type 1 diabetes; interaction of sepsis and autoimmune diseases, bioinformatics
SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES MEMBERSHIP
Immunological Society of Serbia
European Federation of Immunological Societies
Serbian Neuroscience Society
Federation of European Neuroscience Societies
Serbian Biochemical Society
Federation of European Biochemical Societies
Serbian Society for Molecular Biology
2024 - Representative of Club of Young Immunologists
AWARDS
FEBS Collaborative and Experimental Scholarship for Central & Eastern Europe, 2017. (Research Group Transplantation, Edificio IdiPaz – Instituto de Investigacion Hospital Universitario La Paz, Madrid, Spain)
The Best Theme for Day of Immunology Award. International Union of Immunological Societies (IUIS) Day of Immunology Award, Best 2016 Theme Award, 2016. (member of the team)
Inflammation is a response to damage and danger in organisms and is an integral part of research in immunology, but also in other scientific disciplines, since inflammation occurs in numerous pathological conditions like diabetes or cancer. Immunology studies body’s defence mechanisms at cellular and molecular level in infective diseases, as well as immune system malfunctions in autoimmune diseases and allergies Modification of body’s immune system is useful in treatment of these diseases, and can be performed through pharmacological modulation or immunotherapy, where immune cells or their parts are used. Acute-phase proteins and potential biological markers of inflammation involved in the modification and integration of signalling pathways are being investigated in order to predict and intervene in diseases.
Neurobiology studies the anatomy, physiology, and pathology of the nervous system. From the molecular and biochemical basis of this system, to the study of behavioral plasticity, to understanding the driving forces of neurodegenerative diseases and how they can be treated. Electrophysiology studies biophysical properties in vertebrate neurons and links morphofunctional features of the brain to observed animal behavior. The ultimate goal is to identify active substances that may have a protective effect in neurological and psychiatric diseases.
Sanja Mijatovic graduated in Molecular Biology and Physiology at the Faculty of Biology at the University of Belgrade in 1994. She completed her Master's degree in Immunology at the Faculty of Biology in 1999 and her PhD in Immunology at the same faculty in 2005. She is currently employed as a principal research fellow at the Department of Immunology. She participated in four national and four bilateral projects funded by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia, two projects funded by the Fund for Innovation Activities of the Republic of Serbia and two projects on cooperation with industry. Dr. Sanja Mijatović was the leader of one innovative and three bilateral projects financed by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia. She is currently involved in the project: "Cancer repopulation caused by inflammation: seeds of progression and a platform for therapy", funded by the Science Fund of the Republic of Serbia within the Prizma programme. Dr. Sanja Mijatović was the mentor of two master's theses and two doctoral theses. Sanja Mijatović is part of the team of the group dealing with tumour biology and is a lecturer in the doctoral programme at the Faculty of Biology of the University of Belgrade and the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Belgrade. The focus of her research is the fundamental aspects of the tumor microenvironment, the complex interactions of cellular and non-cellular components that lead to the cross-talk between inflammation and regeneration, and, thereby, the development of new therapeutic platforms based on the acquired knowledge. The development of innovative approaches is currently based on the study of the antitumor properties of potential chemotherapeutic agents of synthetic or natural origin, as well as drugs of different original purpose in free form or in the context of nanotechnology application. The research is carried out on experimental models in vitro and in vivo, supported by a methodology that should make it possible to define the molecular processes underlying the observed phenomena. Dr. Sanja Mijatović is author or co-author of more than 120 original papers. At the moment, her h-index is 29 and the total number of citations (without self-citations) is 3800.
Understanding the physiological and functional characteristics of cancer cells at the individual level, and the tumor tissue as a highly orchestrated multicellular formation, by whose activity the tumor expands, invades and disseminates, is the main goal of cancer biology research today. Defining the causes of abnormal behavior of neoplastic cells individually and in the context of the tumor microenvironment, including the histological, metabolic and immunological specificities of this tissue, represents a platform for designing new approaches in cancer treatment. Investigating the phenomenon of initial or acquired tumor resistance helps to gain deeper insights into the reasons for limited effects of the conventional treatments, enabling the improvement of existing protocols.
Inflammation is a response to damage and danger in organisms and is an integral part of research in immunology, but also in other scientific disciplines, since inflammation occurs in numerous pathological conditions like diabetes or cancer. Immunology studies body’s defence mechanisms at cellular and molecular level in infective diseases, as well as immune system malfunctions in autoimmune diseases and allergies Modification of body’s immune system is useful in treatment of these diseases, and can be performed through pharmacological modulation or immunotherapy, where immune cells or their parts are used. Acute-phase proteins and potential biological markers of inflammation involved in the modification and integration of signalling pathways are being investigated in order to predict and intervene in diseases.
Natural products are complex chemical compounds synthesised by living organisms through biochemical processes, with a specific physiological or ecological function. Researchers at the Institute study the chemical characterization and isolation of natural products, metabolic engineering, as well as the assessment of the possibility of their application in industry (as medicaments, dietary supplements and functional food, biopesticides).
Inflammation is a response to damage and danger in organisms and is an integral part of research in immunology, but also in other scientific disciplines, since inflammation occurs in numerous pathological conditions like diabetes or cancer. Immunology studies body’s defence mechanisms at cellular and molecular level in infective diseases, as well as immune system malfunctions in autoimmune diseases and allergies Modification of body’s immune system is useful in treatment of these diseases, and can be performed through pharmacological modulation or immunotherapy, where immune cells or their parts are used. Acute-phase proteins and potential biological markers of inflammation involved in the modification and integration of signalling pathways are being investigated in order to predict and intervene in diseases.
IBISS uses analytical cookies to analyze the use of the site in order to improve the user experience, by clicking "Accept" you consent to the use of cookies.