Dr. Kasja Pavlović

I completed my undergraduate studies in Molecular Biology and Physiology in 2016 at the Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, and my master’s studies in Biophysics in 2017. After that, I enrolled in PhD studies of Molecular Medicine at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, and defended my PhD dissertation titled “Effects of metformin on energy status and mitochondrial function of muscle cells in vitro” in 2024. In the same year, I also completed specialist academic studies at the Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade (specialist thesis: “Evaluation of hsa-miR-146a levels and the rs2910164 gene variant in subjects with gestational diabetes”). From 2018 to 2026, I was employed at the Clinic for Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases, Clinical Center of Serbia. In my scientific work so far, I have mainly focused on mitochondrial physiology and energy metabolism in the context of metabolic diseases (type 2 diabetes, gestational diabetes) and mitochondrial diseases (Leber hereditary optic neuropathy). I have investigated mitochondrial respiratory function, signaling pathways regulating energy metabolism, and oxidative stress using cell lines and patient samples. I participated in the COST Action “Mitochondrial mapping: Evolution – Age – Gender – Lifestyle – Environment (MitoEAGLE)” (2016–2020), and in the bilateral scientific cooperation project with Slovenia “Blood biomarkers for evaluation of mitochondrial function in hereditary and acquired mitochondrial diseases affecting visual function” (2023–2025). I also participated in the Biology Seminar of the Petnica Research Station as a scientific associate, and have been involved in science communication through participation in and organization of events such as Brain Awareness Week, Science Festival, European Researchers’ Night, etc. I am a member of the Serbian Biochemical Society.