New scientific publications within WP2
2. Marinkovic M, Stojanovic-Rundic S, Stanojevic A, Tomasevic A, Jankovic R, Zoidakis J, Castellví-Bel S, Fijneman RJA, Cavic M, Radulovic M. Performance and Dimensionality of Pretreatment MRI Radiomics in Rectal Carcinoma Chemoradiotherapy Prediction. Journal of Clinical Medicine. 2024; 13(2):421. doi.org/10.3390/jcm13020421.
3. Stanojevic A, Spasic J, Marinkovic M, Stojanovic-Rundic S, Jankovic R, Djuric A, Zoidakis J, Fijneman RJA, Castellvi-Bel S and Cavic M (2024) Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase polymorphic variants C677T and A1298C in rectal cancer in Slavic population: significance for cancer risk and response to chemoradiotherapy. Front. Genet. 14:1299599. doi: 10.3389/fgene.2023.1299599
https://www.frontiersin.org/
IORS Training and Strategic Visit to NKI-AVL
Annual Stakeholder Meeting
At the end of the year, we hosted a gathering for our partners and friends in a joyful and festive environment. We discussed the events and accomplishments that marked the year 2023 as well as the future plans of the STEPUPIORS team. We were delighted to hear the opinions and suggestions of exceptional professionals from various fields. We appreciate the constructive criticisms and suggestions that were given, and we will take them into account while implementing our development plan. As a result, we are even more confident in achieving joint success in the future.
Participation at the 73rd conference of the Hellenic Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (HSBMB)
Dr Julie Courraud received an honorable mention for her lecture on the MS-based diagnostic typing of amyloid protein, the first clinical application of proteomics in Greece. Dr Guillaume Médard, the Award winner of the Srpsko društvo istraživača raka SDIR-6 congress, gave a short talk on expanding chemoproteomics toolbox and the advantages of MS-based proteomics in studying the biochemical effect of small molecules. Dr Ana Đurić presented the establishment of the first Rectal Cancer Biobank at the Institute for Oncology and Radiology of Serbia highlighting the importance of good biobanking practice for translational cancer research in Serbia.
HSBMB2023 included topics of modern Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. In a pleasant and inspiring atmosphere, driven by the energy of young scientists, interesting discussions followed each lecture and opened the door to new ideas and scientific collaborations. Metabolomics experiments soon to start in Athens within the project framework.
Lectures at the regional 60th Oncology Congress of the Serbian Medical Society
STEPUPIORS project participants Miljana Tanic, Radmila Jankovic, Jelena Spasic, Suzana Stojanovic-Rundic, Mladen Marinkovic, Ana Krivokuca, Fedja Djordjevic and Milena Cavic presented highly relevant results at the regional 60th Oncology Congress of the Serbian Medical Society and discussed on:
– Application of artificial intelligence in oncology
– Application of radiomics in predicting the response of locally advanced rectal cancer
– Immunotherapy
– Profiling new biomarkers in rectal cancer using omics approaches
– NGS testing of biomarkers
– MRI diagnostics for rectal cancer
– Watch & wait strategy in rectal cancer
– Malnutrition – significance for therapy decision making in oncology
Looking forward to exciting discussions next year!
STEPUPIORS participation at Cancer Patient Forum at the 60th Oncology Congress of the Serbian Medical Society
During the 60th Oncology Congress of the Serbian Medical Society STEPUPIORS participants Dr Suzana Stojanovic-Rundic, radiation oncologist, Dr Milan Kocic, oncological surgeon, Dr Mladen Marinkovic, radiation oncologist, Dr Jelena Spasic, medical oncologist and Dr Marija Djordjic Crnogorac, molecular biologist, had useful discussions with patients and patient advocates at the Forum for Cancer Patients held on November 29, 2023. The covered topics included details on surgical treatment of colorectal cancer and colostomy, as well as radiotherapy combined with chemotherapy. A special section was dedicated to the logistics of patient flow within the Genetic Counseling for Hereditary Cancers Department at the Institute for Oncology and Radiology of Serbia, covering genetic testing for the presence of Lynch Syndrome and other associated diseases.
For further information, please contact Dr Marija Djordjic Crnogorac and Dr Ana Krivokuca at geneticko.savetovanje.iors@
STEPUPIORS team visited the secondary school “Miloš Crnjanski” in Kikinda
As autumn arrives, the STEPUPIORS team returns to school. In November, we visited the secondary school “Miloš Crnjanski” in Kikinda as part of the ScienceSCool European Researchers’ Night project. Dr. Milena Čavić, Dr. Ana Đurić, and Dr. Ana Damjanović spoke to the students about malignant diseases and how to prevent them through healthy lifestyle habits. They also discussed the latest research in oncology and molecular genetics. Since the students we visited are studying to become laboratory technicians, we emphasized the importance of laboratory procedures and the role of laboratory technicians in research and diagnostic laboratories.
IORS acquired the first Luminex® MAGPIX® system in Serbia
Within the framework of the STEPUPIORS project, an excellent example of collaboration between academia and industry for the benefit of Serbian cancer patients took place in November 2023.
Company Novos d.o.o. kindly enabled the Institute for Oncology and Radiology of Serbia to acquire the first Luminex® MAGPIX® system in our country and try out simple, cost-effective medium-throughput multiplexing of @Merck MILLIPLEX® immunoassays on plasma samples of patients with locally advanced rectal cancer. Profiling of predictive biomarkers for the purpose of selection of patients who might benefit from the watch and wait approach enabling their higher quality of life will be performed. Validation of the results is planned on prospectively collected samples from the first Serbian rectal cancer biobank in 2024. Exciting times ahead!
STEPUPIOR webinar on Preparing Future Faculty for Teaching by Prof. Dr Ieronymos “Makis” Zoidakis
SAVE THE DATE
STEPUPIORS webinar on Preparing Future Faculty for Teaching by
Prof. Dr Ieronymos “Makis” Zoidakis, December 13th 2023 at 10:00 AM (CET)
STEPUPIORS is delighted to invite you to its free webinar on Preparing Future Faculty for Teaching organized by BRFAA and Prof. Dr Ieronymos “Makis” Zoidakis.
Webinar will take place on Wednesday, December 13th, 2023, from 10:00 to 11:00 AM (CET).
SPEAKER
Prof. Dr Ieronymos “Makis” Zoidakis is Assistant Professor of Biochemistry at the Biology Department of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) and Associated Faculty at the Proteomics Facility of the Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens (BRFAA).
He was born in Belgium and grew up in Athens, Greece. Prof Zoidakis studied Biochemistry at the University of Liege in Belgium and then moved to UCLA where he obtained his PhD on Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. He worked at the BRFAA Proteomics Facility as a senior research scientist and has expertise in proteomics and enzymology. He has extensive experience in the implementation of EU research projects and has designed training activities related to omics data generation and integration.
JOIN US ON 13 DECEMBER at 10:00 AM (CET)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85024031742?pwd=8PoypraRcdyXvMk2OVXJUQKoUbrhf8.1
Meeting ID: 850 2403 1742
Passcode: 402545
October 2023 Project Activities
STEPUPIORS project members were engaged in various activities related to cancer research, science communication, science diplomacy and networking, leading to an increased excellence of the project output:
– Dr Radmila Jankovic gave a lecture at the 6th AROME – MONTENEGRO COURSE and 5th AROME – ESO Joint Consensus Conference
– Dr Miljana Tanic gave a lecture at the BioTechX Europe 2023 Congress
– Dr Suzana Stojanovic-Rundic gave a lecture at the 12th International Symposium of Coloproctology
– Dr Mladen Marinkovic gave a lecture at the Užice Oncology Symposium, Serbian Medical Society Užice Affiliate “LIV Užički dani” 2023
– Dr Ieronymos Zoidakis participated at the Stand Up Science event in Athens, Greece
– Dr Milena Cavic gave a lecture at the Horizon Europe project BIOLAWEB BgF Summer School organized by Miloš Ćirić
– Aleksandra Stanojević and Katarina Živić attended the MedILS Summer School in Bioinformatics in Split, Croatia
– Dr Jelena Spasic attended the ESMO2023 congress as the National UMOS respresentative organized by the European Society for Medical Oncology and gave a lecture at the 1st Palliative Medicine Congress of Serbia
– Dr Ana Đurić presented the first IORS RMO webinar on Personnel engagement on Horizon projects
– Dr Milena Cavic attended the Trends in Single Cell Analysis webinar organized by dr Nikolas Stoecklein
– Dr Milena Cavic gave a lecture at the Horizon Europe Greenelit Project Stakeholder meeting organized by Goran Stojanovic
