Ivan Pilipović started his career at the Immunology Research Centre “Branislav Janković”. Working in a research group of Professor Gordana Leposavić, he graduated in molecular biology and physiology from University of Belgrade-Faculty of Biology in 2004, and subsequently acquired a PhD degree in the field of neuroendocrine immunology in 2012. Over the career course, his research interests have mainly been focused on the β- and α-adrenoceptor-mediated influence of catecholamines on the T-cell immune compartment, ranging from the thymic T-cell development, to the primary immune responses in the secondary lymphoid organs, to the effector immune responses in the target tissues. His research has generally been directed towards elucidating the contribution of catecholaminergic mechanisms to sex specificities in age-related changes affecting the immune system. Ivan Pilipović is a member of Immunological Society of Serbia; Serbian Society for Molecular Biology and Serbian Biochemical Society. Thus far, he has co-authored one book chapter and seventy full-length papers in relevant scientific journals. Since 2022. he has been in charge of flow cytometry cell sorting unit at the Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković".

Bachelor's degree - Faculty of Biology University of Belgrade (2022), Master's degree - Faculty of Biology University of Belgrade (2023), Ph.D. - in progress. Member of the Serbian biological society, the Serbian water pollution control society and the Serbian genetic society. Research areas - ichthyology, hydroecology and water protection, genetics, phylogeny.

Undergraduate studies (Faculty of Science and Mathematics, University of Pristina. Completed 07.05.2022)
Master's studies (Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade. Completed on September 21, 2023)

Ph.D. (Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, present)
M.Sc. (Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, 2023)
B.Sc. (Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, 2022)

Research interests: Allelopathy, in vitro culture, plant physiology
Member of Serbian Plant Physiology Society

Education:
Ph.D. (2023 - ) - Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, Biology (module: Cellular and Molecular Oncology)
M.Sc. (2022 – 2023) - Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, Molecular Biology and Physiology (module: Cell and Tissue Biology)
B.Sc. ( 2016 – 2022) - Faculty of Chemistry, University of Belgrade, Biochemistry

Employment:
2023 –
Junior Research Assistant, Department of Physiology, IBISS, University of Belgrade

Interests:
Molecular mechanisms of redox regulation of vital cell processes in adipose tissuein physiological and pathophysiological conditions (obesity, diabetes and cancer) and during adaptation to specific environmental conditions.

Memberships in scientific societies:
 European Society for Mitochondrial Research and Medicine (E-mit)

Ivona Gizdović, junior research assistant, is a PhD student at the Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade. Since December 2023, she has been employed at the Department of Cytology, Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković" - National Institute of the Republic of Serbia (IBISS). Her scientific research work is directed towards histology and experimental endocrinology, using models of naturally aged rats of both sexes. The subject of her current research is the effects of liraglutide and physical exercise on the endocrine axes, with a special focus on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in an animal model of andropause and menopause. She is a member of the Organizing committee of the 4th Regional Symposium of Young Endocrinologists 2024.

EDUCATION
2023 - PhD student, module Physiology, submodule Animal and Human Physiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade
2023. MSc in biology, module Experimental biomedicine, Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade
Master thesis: “The effect of bioflavonoid eriocitrin on pituitary-adrenal system in old aged rats - morphofunctional study", mentors: dr Svetlana Trifunović, Principal Research Fellow (IBISS) and dr Iva Lakić, assistant professor (Faculty of Biology).
2022. BSc in biology, module Molecular Biology and Physiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade,

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
2023 – Junior Research Assistant, Department of Cytology, IBISS
2022-2023. Master thesis done at the Department of Cytology, IBISS

RESEARCH INTEREST
neuroendocrinology
neurobiology
biology of aging
menopause and andropause

Dragana Vlahović is a PhD student at the Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade. Since December 2023, she has been employed as a junior research assistant in the Department of Cytology, Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković" - National Institute of the Republic of Serbia. Her primary areas of study involve experimental endocrinology and histology, utilizing naturally aged rat models of both sexes for her research. She is currently investigating the effects of liraglutide and physical exercise on the pituitary-thyroid axis, skeletal muscles and metabolic status in an animal model of menopause and andropause.
She is a member of the Оrganizing committee of the 4th Regional Symposium of Young Endocrinologists in 2024.

EDUCATION
2023 – PhD student, module Physiology, submodule Animal and Human Physiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade
2023. MSc in biology, module Animal and Human Experimental Physiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade
Master thesis: "The effect of bioflavonoid eriocitrin on cholesterol metabolism and the expression of cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase in the liver of old-aged rats" mentors: dr Branka Šošić-Jurjević, Principle Research Fellow (IBISS) and dr Nebojša Jasnić, Associate Professor (Faculty of Biology)
2022. BSc in biology, Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE:
2023 – Junior Research Assistant, Department of Cytology, IBISS
2022-2023. - Master thesis done at the Department of Cytology, IBISS

RESEARCH INTEREST:
- neuroendocrinology
- biology of skeletal muscles
- biology of aging
- menopause and andropause

Sofija Ignjatović completed her B.Sc. degree at the Faculty of Biology at the University of Belgrade in 2022, with an average grade of 9.00. In the same year, she enrolled in the Master’s program of Experimental biomedicine, and her Master thesis was done in the Group for Gene Regulation in Tumors at the Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering. Sofija defended her Master thesis, “The expression analysis of transcript PHF19-207 in colon cancer cell lines” in September of 2023, and completed her M.Sc. degree with an average grade of 9.83. In October of 2023, she enrolled in the Ph.D. program of Molecular Biomedicine and obtained the title Junior Research Assistant. In December of 2023, Sofija got employed at the Institute for biological research “Siniša Stanković” in the Department of Biochemistry where she will complete her doctoral dissertation. Ph.D. thesis will be completed within the STRIMHealth project (HORIZON-WIDERA-2023-ACCESS-02-01, proposal number: 101159400) and the aim is to find new, non-invasive biomarkers, as well as potential drugs in the fight against Metabolic dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD).