GENERAL PART

THE TITLE OF THE PROGRAM: PhD Program in Neuroscience

In Croatia (at the level of Research Field Committee of the Ministry of Science, Education & Sports), the neuroscience is currently recognized as the research branch of the research field «Basic medical sciences» of the research area «Biomedicine & Health». However, such current status is in patent discrepancy with current international status of the neuroscience. Namely, the neuroscience is at present worldwide recognized as a separate research area, with the following research fields (and specialized research branches within these fields – for details, see encloseded Declaration on Neuroscience):

 basic neuroscience

 clinical neuroscience

 behavioural neuroscience

 cognitive neuroscience

 affective neuroscience

 molecular neuroscience

 computational neuroscience

 systems neuroscience

All that is quite evident even by cursory examination, for instance, research classification at the National Academy of Sciences of the U.S.A. and American Association for Advancement of Science; by browsing of leading journals such as «Science» and «Nature», as well as leading internet resources such as «ISI Web of Science». All that evidence clearly shows that neuroscience is a large (and by default interdisciplinary) research area, which deserves and requires a separate PhD program.

THE SEAT OF THE PROGRAM & COLLABORATIVE INSTITUTIONS

The seat of the PhD program in Neuroscience is at the School of Medicine, University of Zagreb. Collaborative institutions are as follows. Other University members: Faculty of Natural Sciences, Faculty of Philosophy, School of Education & Rehabilitation, School of Veterinary Medicine, School of Dentistry, School of Pharmacy; other public research institutes (especially the Institute «Ruđer Bošković») and clinical hospitals.

INSTITUTIONAL STRATEGY

Our institutional strategy is further development of PhD program «Biomedicine & Health» and the establishment of a combined MD-PhD program in neuroscience. University of Zagreb has accepted the neuroscience as a priority interdisciplinary program. Moreover, the current university program «Language Communication and Cognitive Science» is being transformed into PhD program, too.

INOVATIVE ASPECTS OF PhD PROGRAM

With respect to current situation in Croatia, the proposed PhD Program in Neuroscience represents a substantial novelty! This is evident in at least four aspects:
- interdisciplinarity: as the neuroscience is by default an interdisciplinary enterprise, the proposed program is of necessity interdisciplinary;
- collaborative enterprise: lecturers and researchers involved in the realization of the program represent the faculty of several University schools, several public research institutes, recognized experts from several foreign (both European and U.S.A.-Canada) universities and institutes, as well as esteemed members of our International Scientific Advisory Board;
- Partnership with business enterprises: the well-established collaboration with clinical hospitals should be pointed out, because with respect to neuroscience these hospitals represent an equivalent to business sector (by enabling the use of basic research findings in diagnostic and therapeutical procedures). Unfortunately, the pharmaceutical industry in Croatia is not involved in the production of neuropharmacological drugs.
- Business Needs: There is an obvious need for experts with PhD degree in neuropsychology in the business sector.

STUDENT'S COMPETENCES AT THE END OF THE PROGRAM

By completing the program, PhD student should be fully competent to continue scientific research: methodological knowledge in basic and cognitive neuroscience and neuroimaging; grant writing skills; skills required for independent preparation and submission of manuscripts for journals cited in «Current Contents» (impact factor above 1); ability to report and explain results of his research at scientific meetings.
Postdoctoral training and employment would be possible in one of 20 research units listed in this program proposal, as well as at other Universities in Croatia and in collaborative research institutions abroad (e.g., there are at present 5 postdoctoral fellows at Yale University School of Medicine, who completed their PhD education in Zagreb). Employment is envisioned in health institutions, public research institutes and university (research & teaching) institutions.
THE LIST OF COURSES AVAILABLE IN ENGLISH

All courses listed in this PhD program proposal are available in English.

CRITERIA AND TERMS FOR TRANSFER OF ECTS CREDITS

Students may select up to 30% of 30 ECTS credit points from other PhD program of School of Medicine University of Zagreb (courses from PhD program «Biomedicine & Health») and university program «Language Communication and Cognitive Neuroscience»).

THE COMPLETION OF THE PROGRAM AND REQUIREMENTS FOR THE
SUBMISSION OF THE COMPLETED PhD THESIS (SUBMISSION AND EVALUATION OF
THE COMPLETED PhD THESIS, VIVA)

After completing the required teaching program and accumulating the required sum of ECTS credits, students shall complete the program by successfully passing the viva and defending a completed PhD thesis. The requirements for the submission of the PhD thesis proposal are as follows:
- Positive evaluation by the tripartite committee,
- The selection of the competent laboratory,
- Letter of acceptance of the leader of the selected laboratory.
The requirements for the submission of the completed PhD thesis are as follows:
- at least one research article published/accepted for publication in journal listed in «Current Contents» with impact factor greater than 1 (the content of the article should be related to the PhD thesis research and student should be the first author);
- the authorship (or co-authorship) in at least two articles published in journals listed in other international indexes.
The evaluation of the completed PhD thesis shall be performed by a tripartite committee. If necessary, the committee shall be extended to include other experts, according to bylaws of the University of Zagreb. The key criterion for the evaluation of the PhD thesis shall be whether it represents an original contribution to science. The viva shall be open to a public attendance. Together with the completed PhD thesis, student shall submit an article published/accepted in the journal listed in «Current Contents» and/or two articles published/accepted in journals listed in other international indexes.

THE CONTINUATION OF THE PROGRAM AFTER THE BREAK

Student's participation in the program can be interrupted up to 3 years due to illness or professional specialization, with the approval of the Tripartite Committee and Program Assembly.

THE REQUIREMENTS FOR GETTING THE CERTIFICATE ON COMPLETED PhD PROGRAM COURSES (AS THE PART OF CONTINUED MEDICAL EDUCATION)

The proposed PhD Program is research-oriented. Therefore, students shall obtain CME Certificates exclusively for completed main and elective courses.

THE DEADLINE FOR COMPLETION THE PROGRAM

According to the bylaws of the School of Medicine (i.e., bylaws of the University of Zagreb), full-time students shall successfully complete the program and PhD thesis within the four year-period since the onset of the program study. The part-time students shall be able to extend the deadline for three years, i.e. shall successfully complete the program and PhD thesis within the seven year-period since the onset of the program study. Only students enrolled in clinical neuroscience residency programs shall be able to enroll in the proposed PhD Program in Neuroscience as part-time students.

INSTITUTIONAL LEADERSHIP FOR PhD PROGRAM

School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, is the institution responsible for realization of PhD Program in Neuroscience, through activities of its following bodies and committees: Committee for PhD Studies, Coordination Committe for PhD studies (including representatives of other institutions with which School has signed contracts related to PhD program, e.g. Institute Ruđer Bošković, Faculty of Natural Sciences, and other University members), and Committee of Course Leaders. With respect to the current reorganization of the University of Zagreb, the institutional leadership can be adaptively changed at the University level.

RESOURCES & FACILITIES

- LOCATIONS -

• SCHOOL OF MEDICINE UNIVERSITY OF ZAGREB
• CROATIAN INSTITUTE FOR BRAIN RESEARCH
• INSTITUTE «RUĐER BOŠKOVIĆ»
• SCHOOL OF MEDICINE UNIVERSITY OF LJUBLJANA
• FACULTY OF NATURAL SCIENCES
• FACULTY OF EDUCATION & REHABILITATION, CAMPUS BORONGAJ
• FACULTY OF PHILOSOPHY
• CLINICS AND LABORATORIES OF THE CLINICAL HOSPITAL CENTER ZAGREB

LABORATORIES & EQUIPMENT

Laboratories and equipment are located at 2 main institutions: School of Medicine/Croatian Institute for Brain Research and the Institute «Ruđer Bošković». The equipment includes 3Tesla MRI device, electron microscope and modern confocal microscope.
The Croatian Institute for Brain Research (CIBR) is one of major research and teaching units of the School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, recognized by the Statute of the School of Medicine as well as legally registered. The current director of the CIBR is Professor Miloš judaš, MD, PhD.
At present, the CIBR has the following active organizational units:
The following laboratories do have necessary space, equipment and human resources for the realization of the PhD program in neuroscience:

Department of Neuroscience (head: Professor Goran Šimić, MD, PhD):
Section of Developmental Neuroscience (head: Assist. Professor Goran Sedmak, MD, PhD)
Laboratory for Neurohistology and Chemical Neuroanatomy (Head: Professor Mario Vukšić, MD,PhD)
Laboratory for Developmental Neuropathology (Head: Professor Goran Šimić, MD, PhD)
Laboratory for Neuromorphometry (Head: Professor Zdravko Petanjek, MD, PhD)
Laboratory for Immunocitochemistry (Head: Professor Nataša Jovanov-Milošević, PhD)
Laboratory for Confocal Microscopy (Head: Professor Mario Vukšić, MD, PhD)
Laboratory for developmental molecular neurobiology (Heads: Professor Miloš Judaš, MD, PhD and Professor Nenad Šestan, MD, PhD)
Laboratory for neurogenomics and in situ hybridization (Head: Assist. Professor Željka Krsnik, PhD)
Section “Zagreb neuroembryological collection and tissue bank” (Head: Professor Zdravko Petanjek, MD, PhD)
Laboratory for digital processing of the preparation of the Zagreb Neuroembryological collection – (Head: Assist. Professor Željka Krsnik, PhD)
Section of brain imaging (Head Professor Marko Radoš, MD, PhD)
Laboratory for functional brain imaging (Head: Assist. Professor Milan Radoš, MD, PhD)
Section of Neurogenetics, Cytogenetics & Developmental Genetics (head: Professor Srećko Gajović, MD, PhD)
Laboratory for regenerative neuroscience Genetics (head: Professor Srećko Gajović, MD,PhD)
Laboratory for Medical genetics (Head: Martina Rinčić, PhD, Research Associate)
Laboratory for neurogenetics and developmental genetics (Head: Assist. Professor MArija Ćurlin, MD, PhD)
Laboratory for stem cells (Head: Assist. Professor Dinko Mitrečić, MD, PhD)
Section of Electron Microscopy (head: Assist. Professor Dinko Mitrečić, MD, PhD)
Section of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology (head: Professor Hrvoje Banfić, MD, PhD)
Laboratory for Second Messengers (head: Professor Hrvoje Banfić, MD, PhD)
Laboratory for Radioactive Nuclides (head: Assist. Professor Vladiana Crljen, MD, PhD)
Laboratory for Cell & Tissue Cultures (head: Professor Dora Višnjić, MD, PhD)
Laboratory for Neurochemistry (head: Professor Svjetlana Kalanj Bognar, MD, PhD)
Laboratory for Neurooncology (Head: Professor: Nives Pećina-Šlaus, MD, PhD)
Section of Neurophysiology (head: Professor Marijan Klarica, MD, PhD)
Laboratory for Neurophysiology (Head: Professor Aleksandra Dugandžić, MD, PhD)
Laboratory for Neuropathophysiology of the CSF (head: Professor Marijan Klarica, MD, PhD)
Laboratory for Experimental Neurosurgery (head: Assist. Professor Darko Chudy, MD,PhD)
Section for Neuropsychopharmacology and Pharmacology behavior (Head Professor Neven Henigsberg)
Laboratory of Neuropharmacology of behavior (Acting Head: Petra Kalember, MD)
Section of Clinical Research in Neuroscience (Head Professor Božo Krušlin, MD, PhD)
Section of Animal Breeding (Head Prof. Natasa Jovanov Milošević)
Associated laboratories to CIBR (representative Professor Melita Šalković-Petrišić - the status of Head of Department)
Section of Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience (Head Professor Neven Henigsberg)
Laboratory for research of child communication (Head: Assist. Professor Maja Cepanec)
Laboratory for Developmental Cognitive Psychology (Head: Mirna Kostović-Srzentić, PhD)
Laboratory of Developmental Neurology (Head: Professor Nina Barišić)
Laboratory for EEG and evoked potentials (acting head: Goran Ivkić, MD)

Other organizational units of the CIBR:
o Section of Neuroimaging & MRI Unit (deputy head: Assist. Professor Marko Radoš, MD, PhD)
o Section of Neuropsychopharmacology & Behavioral Pharmacology (head: Professor Neven Henigsberg, MD,PhD)
o Section of Clinical Research in Neuroscience (head: Professor Božo Krušlin, MD, PhD)
o Zagreb Neuroembryological Collection and Brain & Tissue Bank (head: Professor Zdravko Petanjek, MD, PhD)
o Section of Laboratory Animals Care & Use (head: Professor Nataša Jovanov Milošević, MD, PhD)
o Associated laboratories in Basic Science Building (representative: Professor Melita Šalković-Petrišić, MD, PhD)

Extramural laboratories:
Laboratory for Molecular Neuropharmacology, Institute Ruđer Bošković (head: Lipa Čičin-Šain, PhD)
Laboratory for Neurochemistry and Molecular Neurobiology, Institute Ruđer Bošković (Head: Darko Orešković, MD, DSc),
Laboratory for Genotocsic Agens (Head: Maja Osmak, Associate Professor),
Laboratory for Genetic Regulation (Head: Mary Sopta, MD, scientific assistant),
Faculty of Natural Science, Division of Biology/Dept. for Animal Physiology (Professor Dubravka Hranilović)