Category Archive for : ‘Ongoing Projects’

Project title: UNIRI PROJECTS BY EXPERIENCED RESEARCHERS – Optimizing immunization strategies using MCMV-based vaccine vectors

Funding source: University of Rijeka

Project code: uniri-iz-25-105

Coordinator: Asst. prof. Maja Cokarić Brdovčak, PhD

Research Team:

Assoc. prof. Ilija Brizić, PhD
Jelena Železnjak, PhD
Assoc. prof. Berislav Lisnić, PhD
Magdalena Medved
Lucija Šakota

Total funding: 47.560,16 €

Project implementation period: 01.10.2025. – 30.09.2029.

Brief description: The development of effective vaccines against emerging viral pathogens, such as SARS-CoV-2, is a global priority. An effective vaccine should provide systemic immunity to

Call title: Research Projects / Swiss – Croatian research projects

Call code: IPCH-2023-10

Competent authority:  Croatian Science Foundation

Project title: The role of kynurenine metabolism in immune-mediated neurodevelopmental pathology after cytomegalovirus infection

Applicant name: University of Rijeka Faculty of Medicine

Coordinator: Prof. Stipan Jonjic, MD, PhD

Research Team, University of Rijeka Faculty of Medicine:

Prof. Astrid Krmpotic, MD, PhD
Prof. Ilija Brizić, PhD
Tina Ruzic, PhD
Marko Sustic, PhD
Jelena Materljan, PhD student

Project implementation period: 01.10.2024 – 30.09.2028

Total project value: 198.245,00

Brief description:

Congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is the most common intrauterine viral infection in the world. Approximately one-third of symptomatic infants, and to a

Call title: Targeted scientific research

Call code: NPOO.C3.2.R3-I1.04

Competent authority: Ministry of Science, Education and Youth and Croatian Science Foundation

Project title: Targeted research towards the establishment of a platform for the development of viral vector vaccines for poultry – NPOO.C3.2.R3-I1.04.0182

Applicant name: University of Rijeka Faculty of Medicine

Partner name: Genera Inc. for development and production of pharmaceuticals

Coordinator: Assoc. Prof. dr. Ilija Brizić, Head of the Center for Proteomics

Research Team, University of Rijeka Faculty of Medicine:

Project title: Characterizing innate immune responses to cytomegalovirus in the ovaries

Grantor: Croatian Science Foundation

Grantor’s website: www.hrzz.hr

Grant number: HRZZ-IP-2022-10-2324

Coordinator: Assoc. prof. dr. Vanda Juranic Lisnic

Research team:

Prof. dr. Jelena Tomac
Assoc. prof. dr. Berislav Lisnic
Dr. Marija Mazor
Dr. Jelena Zeleznjak
Magdalena Medved, biol. exp.

Total funding: EUR 199.064,31

Brief description:

Viral infections strongly influence our lives and health, and there is hardly any better proof of this claim than the recent COVID-19 pandemic. But pandemic viruses come and go while herpesviruses, latent viruses with impressive immunoevasive abilities, remain with us for life. Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a widespread virus

Project title: Cytomegalovirus latency in the central nervous system

Grantor: Croatian Science Foundation

Grantor’s website: www.hrzz.hr

Grant number: HRZZ-IP-2022-10-3371

Coordinator: Assoc. prof. dr. Ilija Brizic

Research team:

Prof. dr. Stipan Jonjic
Dr. Marina Pribanic Matesic
Dr. Carmen Rozmanic
Fran Krstanovic, mag. biochem.
Andrea Mihalic, mag. biotech. in med.

Total funding: EUR 198.984,67

Brief description:

Many viruses can cause persistent or latent infections and/or inflammation in the CNS. Congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is a major cause of trans-placentally transmitted congenital infections and may result in a wide range of structural and functional disabilities and permanent neurological sequelae. Our data suggests that mouse CMV (MCMV) becomes

Full title: Scientific Center of Excellence in Viral Immunology and Development of Vaccines

Coordinator of Center’s activities: Professor Stipan Jonjić, Head of the Department for Histology and Embryology and Center for Proteomics of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka

Website:https://zcicervirvac.hr//

Brief description:

Following domestic and international selection and evaluation procedure, on 10th of November 2014 the assembly of the National Committee for Science, High Education and Technological Development of the Republic of Croatia proclaimed the founding of the Scientific Center of Excellence in Viral Immunology and Development of Vaccines.

Activities of