Voditelj laboratorija:
dr.sc. Mirna Kostović Srzentić, psiholog

Suradnik:
Branka Bartolić, prof. psihologije

Kontakt:
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O laboratoriju:
Neuropsihološko praćenje djece s ranim (peri/prenatalnim) oštećenjem mozga od rane dobi do adolescencije primjenom standardiziranih mjernih instrumenata u prilagođenoj prostoriji s jednosmjernim staklom uz digitalno snimanje
Povezivanje strukturnih promjena mozga oslikavanjem MR (naročito periventrikularnih križanja puteva) s intelektualnim i specifičnim kognitivnim sposobnostima: pažnja, izvršne funkcije, vidno-prostorna obrada, senzo-motorika i pamćenje
Interes za vrijeme nastanka oštećenja mozga i mehanizme plastičnosti
Utjecaj (ne)povoljnih socio-okolinskih čimbenika na kognitivni razvoj nakon ranog oštećenja
Prijedlog intervencijskih programa i savjetovanje roditelja

Suradnja:
Zavod za neonatologiju i intenzivno liječenje, KBC Zagreb
Akademija za razvojnu rehabilitaciju, Zagreb
Poliklinika Neuron, Zagreb

Znanost:
Suradnja na projektima (suradnik)
2002. - 2005. MZOŠ „Perinatalno oštećenje mozga u djece s patološkim fetoplacentarnim dopplerom” (voditelj projekta prof. dr. sc. Vlatka Mejaški Bošnjak).
2007. – 2013. MZOŠ „Kognitivni i jezični razvoj u djece s neurorazvojnim rizikom“ (voditelj projekta prof. dr.sc. Marta Ljubešić).
2013. Sveučilišni projekt „Perinatalna reorganizacija medijalnog (limbičkog) korteksa kod čovjeka” (voditelj prof.dr.sc. Mario Vukšić).
2014. „Microcircuitry of higher cognitive functions“, HRZZ (voditelj projekta prof.dr.sc. Zdravko Petanjek).

Head:
dr.sc. Mirna Kostović Srzentić, psychologist
Collaborator:
Branka Bartolić, prof., psychologist

About laboratory:
Neuropsychological follow up of children with early brain damage (peri/prenatal) from early age to adolescence with standardized measuring instruments in specially adapted room with one-way mirror system and digital recording
Relationship between structural brain changes on MR (especially periventricular crossroads) and general intellectual and specific cognitive functions: attention and executive functioning, visuospatial processing, sensorimotor and memory
Special focus on time of the lesion onset and plasticity
Socio- environmental influences on cognitive development after early brain lesion
Early intervention and parental counseling

Collaboration:
Department for neonatology and intensive care, KBC Zagreb
Academy for developmental rehabilitation, Zagreb
Neuron Polyclinic, Zagreb

Science:
Collaboration on projects (collaborator)
2002. - 2005. MZOŠ “Perinatal brain damage in children with pathological feto-placentar doppler” („Perinatalno oštećenje mozga u djece s patološkim fetoplacentarnim dopplerom”; project leader prof. dr. sc. Vlatka Mejaški Bošnjak).
2007. – 2013. MZOŠ “Cognitive and language development in children with neurodevelopmental risk” („Kognitivni i jezični razvoj u djece s neurorazvojnim rizikom“, project leader prof. dr.sc. Marta Ljubešić).
2013. Sveučilišni projekt „Perinatal reorganization of medial limbic cortex in human” („Perinatalna reorganizacija medijalnog (limbičkog) korteksa kod čovjeka”; project leader prof.dr.sc. Mario Vukšić).
2014. „Microcircuitry of higher cognitive functions“, HRZZ (project leader prof.dr.sc. Zdravko Petanjek).

 
  • IZABRANE PUBLIKACIJE / SELECTED PUBLICATIONS: Kostović, I., Jovanov-Milošević, N. Radoš, M., Sedmak, G., Benjak, V., Kostović-Srzentić, M., Vasung, L., Čuljat, M., Radoš, M., Hüppi, P., Judaš, M. (2014). Perinatal and early postnatal reorganization of the subplate and related cellular compartments in the human cerebral wall as revealed by histological and MRI approaches., Brain Structure and Function, 219, 231-253.
  • Kostovic, I., Kostović Srzentić, M., Benjak, V., Nataša Jovanov-Milošević & Rados, M. (2014). Developmental dynamics of radial vulnerability in the cerebral compartments in preterm infants and neonates". Frontiers in Neurology, 5, 139.
  • Kostović Srzentić, M., Pukljak Iričanin, Z. & Rukavina, M. (2013). Children cured in neonatal intensive care unit: Outcome in preschool age. EHPS Abstracts, Psychology & Health, 28: sup 1, p. 241.
  • Benjak, V., Čuljat, M., Pavlović, M. & Kostović Srzentić, M. (2008). Changes of corpus callosum in children who suffered perinatal injury of the periventricular crossroads of pathways. Collegium Antropologicum, 32 (82), 25-29.
  • Kostović Srzentić, M.; Brozović, B.; Radoš, M.; Gojmerac, T. (2005). Corpus callosum thinning and specific neurocognitive deficits: a case study of perinatal brain lesion. Cognitive Creier Comportament (Special issue: Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience), IX, 2; 403-422.
  • Kostović Srzentić, M. (2010). Priopćavanje roditeljima da je dijete rođeno s teškoćama u razvoju. U: Lučanin D. i Despot Lučanin J. (ur.), Komunikacijske vještine u zdravstvu (185-192). Zagreb: Zdravstveno veleučilište i Naklada Slap.
  • Kostović Srzentić M. (2009). Rana plastičnost mozga i kognitivni razvoj. Plavi fokus – časopis hrvatske komore medicinskih sestara, 1, V.
  • Kostović Srzentić, M. (2010). Priopćavanje roditeljima da je dijete rođeno s teškoćama u razvoju. U: Lučanin D. i Despot Lučanin J. (ur.), Komunikacijske vještine u zdravstvu (185-192). Zagreb: Zdravstveno veleučilište i Naklada Slap.

Voditelj:
Doc. dr. sc. Maja Cepanec (logoped),

Suradnici:
Prof. dr. sc. Draženka Blaži (logoped)
Dr.sc. Blaženka Brozović (logoped)
Doc. dr. sc. Jasmina Ivšac Pavliša (logoped)
Prof. dr. sc. Marta Ljubešić (psiholog)
Dr.sc. Sanja Šimleša (psiholog)

Laboratorij za istraživanje dječje komunikacije (LIDEK) osnovan je 2001. godine pod imenom Laboratorij za razvojnu neurolingvistiku i vodstvom prof.dr.sc. Marte Ljubešić. Laboratorij je nastao temeljem ugovora Edukacijsko-rehabilitacijskog fakulteta Sveučilišta u Zagrebu i Hrvatskog instituta za istraživanje mozga, a utemeljen je na dugogodišnjoj suradnji stručnjaka iz biomedicinskih i bihevioralnih znanosti uključenih u istraživanje ranog razvoja.

Ciljevi:
Istraživanje razvoja komunikacije, jezika i govora, te razvojnih odstupanja u navedenim područjima
Istraživanje uloge i međuodnosa viših kognitivnih funkcija u razvoju komunikacije, jezika i govora u različitim kliničkim populacijama
Istraživanje povezanosti neurobiološke osnove i bihevioralnih razvojnih pokazatelja u djece urednog i narušenog razvoja
Istraživanje utjecaja okolinskih čimbenika (roditeljski stilovi, različiti terapijski pristupi i sl.) na razvojne ishode
Razvoj dijagnostičkog instrumentarija za procjenu ranog dječjeg razvoja

Projekti:
Analiza ključnih bihevioralnih obilježja djece s autizmom u predškolskoj dobi kao pretpostavka kvantifikacije razvojnih profila (UNIZG)
Autism Diagnostic Observation with Robot Evaluator (ADORE) (HZZ)
Od rane komunikacije do pismenosti u djece s poremećajem iz autističnog spektra: uloga izvršnih funkcija (UNIZG)
Uvođenje sustava znanstveno utemeljene (rane) dijagnostike autizma u Republiku Hrvatsku (Zaklada Adris, HEP, HT)
Kognitivni i jezični razvoj u djece s neurorazvojnim rizikom (MZOŠ)
Rani komunikacijski i jezični razvoj u djece s ranim mozgovnim oštećenjima (MZOŠ)

Head:
Assistant Professor Maja Cepanec, PhD, SLP

Associates:
Professor Draženka Blaži, PhD, SLP
Blaženka Brozović, PhD, SLP
Assistant Professor Jasmina Ivšac Pavliša, PhD, SLP
Professor Marta Ljubešić, PhD, Psychologist
Sanja Šimleša, PhD, Psychologist

Child Communication Research Laboratory was founded in 2001 by professor Marta Ljubešić as Developmental Neurolinguistics Lab, based on the agreement between the Faculty of Education and Rehabilitation Sciences (University of Zagreb) and Croatian Institute for Brain Research. It was grounded on long-lasting cooperation between biomedical and behavioral scientists.

Goals:
To study development and developmental disabilities of communication, language and speech
To study the roles and interrelations of higher cognitive functions in the development of communication, language and speech in various clinical populations
To study interrelations between neurobiological and behavioral developmental indicators
To study the role of environmental factors (e.g. parenting styles, intervention programmes etc. on developmental outcomes
To develop various measuring instruments for the assessement of early child development

Projects:
Analysis of key developmental features in preschool children with autism as prerequisite of quantification (UNIZG)
Autism Diagnostic Observation with Robot Evaluator (ADORE) (HZZ)
From early communication to literacy in children with autism spectrum disorder: the role of executive functions (UNIZG) Implementation of science-based (early) assessment of autism in Croatia (Zaklada Adris, HEP, HT)
Cognitive and language development in children at neurodevelopmental risk (MZOŠ)
Early communication and language developmenet in children with early brain injury (MZOŠ)

 
IZABRANE PUBLIKACIJE / SELECTED PUBLICATIONS:
  • Šimleša, S., Cepanec, M. (2015). Development of executive functions during childhood. U: International Encyclopedia of Social and Behavioral Sciences, 2nd Edition. New York: Elsevier.
  • Kuvač-Kraljević, J., Cepanec, M., Šimleša, S. (2014). Gestural development and its relation to a child`s early vocabulary. Infant Behav Dev, 37, 192-202.
  • Cepanec, M., Lice, K., Šimleša, S. (2012). Mother-father differences in screening for developmental delay in infants and toddlers. J Commun Disord, 45(4), 255-262.
  • Polšek, D., Jagatić, M., Cepanec, M., Hof, P.R., Šimić, G. (2011). Recent developments in neuropathology of autism spectrum disorders. Transl Neurosci, 2(3), 256-264.
  • Ivšac Pavliša, J., Šimleša, S., Ljubešić, M. (2011). Cognitive abilities and language comprehension in preschool children with perinatal brain lesion. Collegium Antropol, 35, 31-38.
  • Cepanec, M., Gmajnić, I., Ljubešić, M. (2010). Early communication development in socially deprived children - similar to autism? Transl Neurosci, 1(3), 244-254.
  • Ivšac Pavliša, J. (2010). Atypical communicative development and socioadaptive functioning in the early age. Drus Istraz, 19 (1-2), 279-303.

Voditeljica:
prof. dr. sc. Svjetlana Kalanj Bognar, dr. med.

Istraživački tim:
dr. sc. Kristina Mlinac (postdoktorant),
Katarina Ilić, dr. med. (doktorand)

Suradnici:
dr. sc. Željka Vukelić,
dr. sc. Dragana Fabris,
dr. sc. Marija Heffer, dr. med. (Medicinski fakultet Osijek),
dr. sc. Koraljka Bačić Baronica,
dr. med. (neurolog, Odjel neurologije, Klinička bolnica “Sveti Duh”, Zagreb)

Dugoročni ciljevi naše grupe su istražiti:
ulogu membranskih lipida u razvoju središnjeg živčanog sustava i u neurodegenerativnim procesima.
utjecaj promjena sastava i strukture lipida na ekspresiju i specifičnu funkciju membranskih proteina.
ulogu specifičnih interakcija između membranskih lipida i proteina u organizaciji sinaptičke membrane.
Područje za koje smo posebno zainteresirani su membranski glikosfingolipidi/gangliozidi kojih se u izobilju mogu naći u središnjem živčanom sustavu sisavaca. Gangliozidi nisu ravnomjerno raspoređeni kroz staničnu membranu neurona, već koncentrirani u lipidnim nakupinama unutar membrane aksona gdje su uključeni u specifične interakcije s molekulama ekstracelularnog matriksa. Do sada je u životinjskim stanicama pokazano da gangliozidi imaju brojne uloge: uključeni su u proliferaciju, diferencijaciju stanica, apoptozu, prijenos signala, adheziju stanica i međustaničnu komunikaciju. Gangliozidi u središnjem živčanom sustavu omogućuju odgovarajuće interakcije aksona i glija stanica, te također sudjeluju u molekularnim mehanizmima učenja i pamćenja. Rezultati naših istraživanja dosad su pokazali određene promjene u količini i sastavu gangliozida u moždanom tkivu bolesnika s Alzheimerovom bolešću, kao i povećanu aktivnost lizosomalnih enzima uključenih u razgradnju sfingolipida u ekstraneuralnim stanicama (leukociti, kožni fibroblasti) u pacijenata s Alzheimerovom bolešću. Naši rezultati, zajedno s rezultatima ostalih skupina, potvrđuju da su promjene u koncentraciji, sastavu i metabolizmu, a posebno razgradnja glikosfingolipida, doprinosi složenoj patogenezi neurodegeneracije.
Naša posljednja istraživanja usmjerena su na analizu učinka promjene u sastavu i strukturi membranskih lipida na ekspresiju i specifičnu funkciju membranskih proteina u središnjem živčanom sustavu sisavaca. Lipidni okoliš i interakcije lipida i proteina unutar membrane su od ključne važnosti za pravilno pozicioniranje i funkciju membranskih proteina te stoga iznimno važni za organizaciju sinaptičkih membrana. Naši rezultati pokazuju da su u moždanom tkivu miša s promijenjenom biosintezom proteina (mišji model knocked out gena za diferencijaciju enzima za biosintezu gangliozida) prisutne različite modifikacije strukture gangliozida koje još nisu opisane u tkivu miša divljeg tipa, a mogu ulaziti u interakcije s drugim membranskim molekulama. Također smo uočili značajne promjene u ekspresiji gena i proteina na istim mišjim modelima. Promjene u ekspresiji su najistaknutije za gene koji kodiraju membranske proteine i koji su uključeni u interakcije s drugim proteinima. Od niza gena s promijenjenom ekspresijom posebno nas je zainteresirao gen za neuroplastin zbog poznatih ulogama neuroplastina u živčanom sustavu.
Neuroplastin je transmembranski protein koji pripada staničnim adhezijskim molekulama i uključen je u sinaptičku plastičnost te modulaciju neuritogeneze. Opisana je vrlo specifična raspodjela neuroplastina u središnjem živčanom sustavu, osobito u mozgu glodavaca. Međutim, lokalizacija i uloga neuroplastina u ljudskom mozgu nije sustavno istražena. Stoga je jedan od ciljeva naše grupe sistematično ispitati ekspresiju neuroplastina u ljudskom mozgu. Osim toga, cilj nam je potvrditi našu hipotezu na temelju preliminarnih rezultata koji pokazuju da je neuroplastin uključen u sinaptičku plastičnost tijekom kritičnih faza razvoja ljudskog mozga kao i u neurodegenerativnim procesima.
Projekti:
Uloga membranskih lipida u moždanom razvoju, starenju i neurodegeneraciji (MZOS, 2007.-2014., PI: S. Kalanj Bognar)
Neuroplastin i gangliozidi u organizaciji sinaptičke membrane (Hrvatsko-Njemački bilateralni projekt, 2014., PI: K. Mlinac)
Ekspresija neuroplastina u ljudskom hipokampusu (projekt financiran od strane Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, 2014., PI: S. Kalanj Bognar)

Međunarodna suradnja:
Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, Magdeburg, Germany - dr. Rodrigo Herrera Molina, dr. Karl-Heinz Smalla, dr. Dirk Montag

Head:
Associate Professor Svjetlana Kalanj Bognar; MD, PhD

Team:
Kristina Mlinac, PhD (postdoctoral researcher);
Katarina Ilić, MD (PhD student)

Collaborators:
Željka Vukelić, PhD;
Dragana Fabris, PhD;
Marija Heffer, MD, PhD (School of Medicine University of Osijek),
Koraljka Bačić Baronica, MD, PhD (neurologist; Department of Neurology, Clinical Hospital “Sveti Duh”, Zagreb)

Long-term interests of our group are to investigate:
The role of membrane lipids in the central nervous system development and neurodegeneration
The influence of changes in lipid composition and structure on the expression and specific functions of membrane proteins
The role of specific interactions between membrane lipids and membrane proteins in the organization of synaptic membrane.
We are particularly interested in membrane glycosphingolipids/gangliosides which are especially abundant in mammalian central nervous system. Gangliosides are not evenly distributed throughout the membrane, but rather more concentrated in lipid rafts within axonal membranes where they engage in specific interactions with molecules in the extracellular matrix. Gangliosides have numerous roles in animal cells: they are involved in proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, signal transduction, cell adhesion and intercellular communication. Gangliosides in the nervous system enable proper axon-glia interactions, as well as participate in the molecular mechanism of learning and memory. The results of our studies so far showed the specific changes in quantity and composition of gangliosides in brain tissue of patients with Alzheimer’s disease, as well as increased activity of lysosomal enzymes involved in the breakdown of sphingolipids in extraneural cells (leukocytes, skin fibroblasts) of patients with Alzheimer’s disease. Our results, in conjunction with the results of other groups, confirm that changes in concentration, composition and metabolism, especially degradation of glycosphingolipids, contribute to complex pathogenesis of neurodegeneration.
Our recent research is focused on the analysis of the effect of changes in membrane lipid composition and structure on the expression and specific functions of membrane proteins in mammalian central nervous system. Lipid environment and lipid-protein interactions within the membrane are crucial for proper positioning and function of membrane proteins and therefore exceptionally important for the organization of synaptic membranes. Our results show that in brain tissue of mice with altered ganglioside biosynthesis (mouse models with knocked out genes for different ganglioside biosynthetic enzymes) different modifications of ganglioside structures are present not yet described in tissue of wild-type mice which can influence the interactions with other membrane molecules. We also observed significant changes in gene and protein expression in the same mouse models, the changes in expression being most prominent for genes coding for membrane proteins involved in interactions with other proteins. From the array of genes with differential expression, we became especially interested in neuroplastin due to known roles of neuroplastin in the nervous system.
Neuroplastin is a transmembrane protein belonging to cell adhesion molecules and it is involved in synaptic plasticity and modulation of neuritogenesis. A very specific distribution of neuroplastin in the central nervous system has been described, especially in rodent brain. However, the localization and roles of neuroplastin in human brain have not been systematically investigated. Therefore, one of the goals of our group is to systematically examine the expression of neuroplastin in human brain. Additionally, we aim to confirm our hypothesis based on preliminary results that neuroplastin is involved in synaptic plasticity in critical phases in human brain development as well as in neurodegeneration.

Projects:
The role of membrane lipids in brain development, aging and neurodegeneration (MZOS, 2007.-2014., PI: S. Kalanj Bognar)
Neuroplastin and gangliosides in organization of synaptic membrane (Croatian-German bilateral project, 2014., PI: K. Mlinac)
Expression of neuroplastin in human hippocampus (project financed by the University of Zagreb, 2014., PI: S. Kalanj Bognar)

International collaboration:
Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, Magdeburg, Germany - dr. Rodrigo Herrera Molina, dr. Karl-Heinz Smalla, dr. Dirk Montag

 
IZABRANE PUBLIKACIJE / SELECTED PUBLICATIONS:
  • Bačić Baronica K, Mlinac K et al: Progression of multiple sclerosis is associated with gender differences in glutathione S-transferase P1 detoxification pathway. Acta Neurobiol Exp, 74(3):257-265, 2014.
  • Mlinac K, Fabris D, Vukelić Ž, Rožman M, Heffer M, Kalanj Bognar S: Structural analysis of brain ganglioside acetylation patterns in mice with altered ganglioside biosynthesis. Carbohydrate Res, 382:1-8, 2013.
  • Mlinac K, Jovanov Milošević N, Heffer M, Smalla KH, Schnaar RL, Kalanj Bognar S: Neuroplastin Expression in the Hippocampus of Mice Lacking Complex Gangliosides. J Mol Neurosci. 48(1);161-166, 2012.
  • Mlinac Kristina, Fon Tacer K, Heffer M, Rozman D, Kalanj Bognar S: Cholesterogenic genes expression in brain and liver of ganglioside-deficient mice. Molecular and cellular biochemistry, 369(1/2):127-133, 2012.
  • Mlinac K and Kalanj Bognar S: Role of gangliosides in brain aging and neurodegeneration. Translational Neuroscience, 1(4):300-307, 2010.
  • Vukelić Ž, Bognar SK, Froesch M, et al: Human gliosarcoma-associated ganglioside composition is complex and distinctive as evidenced by high-performance mass spectrometric determination and structural characterization.Glycobiology 17(5):504-15, 2007.
  • Kalanj Bognar S: Ganglioside catabolism is altered in fibroblasts and leukocytes from Alzheimer's disease patients. Neurobiol Aging. 27(9):1354-6, Sep 2006.
  • Kalanj Bognar S et al: Leukocyte Lysosomal Enzymes in Alzheimer's Disease and Down's Syndrome. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 57A (1):B16-B21, 2002.
  • Vukelić Ž and Kalanj Bognar S: Cell density-dependent changes of glycosphingolipid biosynthesis in cultured human skin fibroblasts. Glycoconjugate J, 18:429-437, 2001
  • Kračun I, Kalanj S, Talan-Hranilović J, Ćosović Č: Cortical distribution of gangliosides in Alzheimer's disease. Neurochem Int 20, 3:433-438, 1992.

Voditelj:
Prof. Nataša Jovanov Milošević,
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Osoblje
Nataša Kuretić, vet. tehničar, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Valentina Ban Lugarić, vet. tehničar, 6889, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Imenovani veterinar
Dr.sc. Jadranka Bubić Špoljar, dr.med.vet.
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Odsjek za laboratorijske životinje HIIM u suradnji sa nastavnim i istraživačkim timovima HIIM-a i MF-a, doprinositi izvrsnosti istraživanja koja se provode, osiguravajući kvalitetan uzgoj, držanje i njegu laboratorijskih životinja. Primarni cilj odsjeka je da uz osiguravanje najviših standarda držanja i korištenja laboratorijskih životinjama zaštiti zdravlje ljudi koji rade sa ili oko životinja.
Vjerujemo da su najviši standardi u korištenju i dobrobit životinja, preduvjet za izvrsnost u znanosti i edukaciji koja koristi animalne modele.
Životinje koje koristimo u edukaciji i istraživanjima na HIIM-a su u programu zaštite dobrobiti životinja koji je osmišljen tako da se zadovolje svi kriteriji definirani hrvatskom zakonskom regulativom (Zakon o zaštiti životinja NN 135/06 i 37/13, Pravilnik o zaštiti životinja koje se koriste u znanstvene svrhe NN55/13, te pravni akti javnog zdravstva .
Odsjek za laboratorijske životinje HIIM-a je registriran i odobren za uzgoj držanje i korištenje laboratorijskih glodavaca za edukativne i istraživačke svrhe od strane Uprave za veterinarstvo i sigurnost hrane pri Ministarstva poljoprivrede RH od 2013. godine (HR- POK006).

Head:
Assoc. prof. Natasa Jovanov Milosevic, Head
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Personnel
Nataša Kuretić, vet. technician
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Valentina Ban Lugarić, vet. technician
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Attending Veterinarian
Dr.sc. Jadranka Bubić Špoljar, dr.med.vet. 6889, 6893
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The LAS works cooperatively and collaboratively with research and educational teams enhancing research excellence providing highest quality animal care. Our overarching goals are to assure laboratory animal’s quality care while protect the health of people who work with and around animals.
We believe that excellence in research and teaching requires excellence in animal care and use program.
Animals that are used in research and teaching at LAS CIBR are covered by our Animal Care and Use Program. The LAS CIBR program is designed to assure that it is in compliance with the EU Directive 63/10 and Croatian Animal Welfare Regulation Acts (NN135/06; NN 37/13; NN55/13) and Public Health Policy. The LAS CIBR maintains accreditation for laboratory animals care and use for educational and research purposes by Croatian Ministry of Agriculture, Veterinary and Food Safety Directorate (HR-POK006).
In general, Guide to the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (NIH, Ed. 8th, 2011) serves as the primary source for standards in procedures used in the LAS CIBR. Additional detailed information regarding policies and guidance may be found through links from the Animal Welfare Committee of the UZMF website.

LAS CIBR covers animal housing and care, veterinary medical care, facilities management, training, occupational health, and assurance of compliance with EU and Croatian laws and policies that govern use of animals in research and teaching.

Services provided include: animal procurement, animal housing space assignment, maintenance of genetically altered colonies, animal health surveillance, day-to-day care and oversight, procurement of appropriate feed, bedding, cages, other supplies and equipment, animal cage sanitation, monitoring of animal room environment, sanitation of animal facilities, maintenance of facility and equipment, waste and carcass disposal, maintenance of facility security system, human termination of animals. The veterinary microbiological monitoring and pathology services are performed by the outsourced accredited laboratories. Researchers also may have training, consultation on animal model selection and assistance in animal use protocol development.
Animal Housing Availability
Any investigator who wishes to conduct research with animals should contact the Attending Veterinarian by email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , as soon as possible to determine the availability of space required to perform your animal subject-based research.

Voditelj:
Doc.dr.sc. Dinko Mitrečić, dr.med.
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Djelatnici, doktorandi i suradnici:
Ivan Alić, dr.vet.

Prof.dr.sc. Ervina Bilić, dr.med.
Prof.dr.sc. Srećko Gajović, dr.med.
Dunja Gorup, dr.med.
Sandra Grgić, bacc.lab.med.
dr.sc. Katarina Kapuralin
Nina Kosi, dr.med.
Prof.dr.sc. Roland Pochet
Dora Polšek, dr.med.
dr.sc. Marija Renić, dr.med.
dr.sc. Tamara Stipčević

Laboratorij za matične stanice provodi istraživanja temeljena na regenerativnom potencijalu matičnih stanica. Idući u korak s brzim razvojem ovog novonastalog biomedicinskog područja, Laboratorij je uspostavio postupke izolacije stanica iz različitih izvora: u radu se koriste živčane matične stanice podrijetla telencefalona mišjeg zametka, mezenhimske matične stanice podrijetla koštane srži miša, te matične stanica iz subventrikularne zone i hipokampusa odraslih miševa. Istovremeno se razvijaju protokoli uzgoja ljudskih stanica podrijetla pulpe zuba i njušne sluznice te ljudskih induciranih pluripotentnih matičnih stanica. Osnovni smjerovi istraživanja obuhvaćaju in vitro i in vivo analize. In vitro analizama se proučava diferencijacijski i regenerativni potencijal stanica u ovisnosti od egzogenih čimbenika (npr. in vitro model ishemije, ko-kultivacije), opažena se svojstva modificiraju transfekcijom - genetskim manipulacijama, te uzgojem stanica uz potporu biomaterijala (npr. alginat, biopolimeri). Jedan od osnovnih smjerova in vivo istraživanja je analiza regenerativnog potencijala matičnih stanica transplantiranih u mozak miša zahvaćen ishemijskim moždanim udarom. Koristeći brojne egzogene (razni stanični označivači, nanočestice) i endogene biljege (genetski modificirane stanice označene flourescentnim bojama) Laboratorij se specijalizirao za praćenje sudbine stanica nakon transplantacije.

Head: 
Assistant Professor Dinko Mitrečić, MD, PhD
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Members, PhD students and main collaborators:
Ivan Alić, DVM
Prof. Ervina Bilić, MD, PhD
Prof. Srećko Gajović, MD, PhD
Dunja Gorup, MD
Sandra Grgić, Bacc.lab.med.
Katarina Kapuralin, PhD
Nina Kosi, MD
Prof. Roland Pochet, PhD
Dora Polšek, MD
Marija Renić, MD, PhD
Tamara Stipčević, PhD

Laboratory for Stem Cells is involved in research activities based on a regenerative potential of stem cells. Keeping the pace with a fast development of this new biomedical field, the Laboratory has established protocols for isolation of cells from various sources: we use neural stem cells from the telencephalon of mouse embryos, mesenchymal stem cells from the mouse bone marrow and stem cells from the adult mouse subventricular zone and hippocampus. Also, we are developing protocols for isolation of human stem cells from the tooth pulp and olfactory mucosa and human induced pluripotent stem cells. The basic directions of research include in vitro and in vivo analyses. In vitro analyses are used to get insight into differentiation and regenerative potential of stem cells in relation to exogenous factors (e.g. in vitro model of ischemia, co-cultivations) and observed features are improved by transfection-genetic manipulations and cultivation of cells using biomaterials (e.g. alginat, biopolymers). One of the major directions of in vivo research is analyses of regenerative potential of stem cells transplanted into the brain of mouse affected by ischemic stroke. Using various exogenous (cell markers, nanoparticles) or endogenous markers (genetically modified cells and fluorescent markers) the Laboratory has been specialized in cell tracing and analyses of cell fates after transplantation.

Using specific cell lines we can recognize differentiation stages (e.g. Nestin-GFP for multipotent stem cells or Thy1-YFP for neurons) or we can recognize some important events, like axonogenesis (Gap43-GFP). Using highly specific equipment for cell transfection (Magnefect Nano II, Nanotherics) and cell tracing equipment (bioluminescence IVIS Spectrum, Perkin Elmer; magnet resonance BIOSPEC 70/20 7T, Bruker) in combination with a whole battery of established morphological and behavioral analyses (morphology, histology, animal behavioral tests) the Laboratory is fully equipped for cell biology research and analyses of the impact of stem cell transplantation on experimental animals. Based on international collaborations with centers which are performing clinical trials, the Laboratory is involved in development and improvement of technology of stem cells for therapeutic applications in ischemic and neurodegenerative diseases. In the period 2009 – 2015 members of the Laboratory have been coordinators of several projects (EU FP7 Regpot, HRZZ, Adris, Bilateral projects with Sweden, Austria and Germany) and in that period 12 CC publications based on stem cells have been published.

 
IZABRANE PUBLIKACIJE / SELECTED PUBLICATIONS:
  • Kosi, N; Alić, I; Kolačević, M; Vrsaljko, N; Jovanov Milošević, N; Sobol, M; Philimonenko, A; Hozák, P; Gajović, S; Pochet, R; Mitrečić, D. Nop2 is expressed during proliferation of neural stem cells and in adult mouse and human brain. Brain Res 2014;1597:65-76.
  • Konig, N; Trolle, C; Kapuralin, K; Adamejko, I; Mitrečić, D; Aldskogius, H; Shortland, PJ; Kozlova, E. Murine neural crest stem cells and embryonic stem cell derived neuron precursors survive and differentiate after transplantation in a model of dorsal root avulsion J Tissue Eng Regen Med. 2014 Apr 21.
  • Winters, L; Winters, T; Gorup, D; Mitrečić, D; Križ, J; Gajović, S. Expression analysis of genes involved in TLR2-related signaling pathway, inflammation and apoptosis after ischemic brain injury. Neuroscience. 2013 Feb 10;238:87-96.
  • Nicaise, C; Mitrečić, D; Pochet, R. Brain and spinal cord affected by amyotrophic lateral sclerosis induce differential growth factors expression in rat mesenchymal and neural stem cells. Neropath Appl Neuro: 2011 Feb;37(2):179-88.
  • Mitrečić, D; Nicaise, C; Gajovic, S; Pochet, R. Distribution, differentiation and survival of intravenously administered neural stem cells in a rat model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Cell Transplantation 2010;19(5):537-48.

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