Place and date of birth
Bjelovar, 17 April 1971
Education
- 2002 PhD in Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb
- 1997 MSc in Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb
- 1994 BSc in Biotechnology, Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology, University of Zagreb
Work Experience
- Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health (IMROH), Zagreb, Croatia: since 2017 scientific advisor with tenure; 2012-2017 scientific advisor; 2007-2012 senior research associate; 2005-2007 research associate; 1995-2002 scientific novice
- Department of Pharmacology, UCSD, La Jolla, USA: 1999-2000 pre-doctoral fellow, 2004 postdoctoral fellow
Fields of interest
Biochemistry, toxicology, enzyme kinetics, reactions of cholinesterases with various substrates and inhibitors, antidotes for treatment of organophosphorus poisoning
Awards
- FEBS Israel Pecht Award 2025, FEBS Recognition Award for Outstanding Contribution to Biomolecular Sciences Community
- National Annual Award in Science, Chemistry, Republic of Croatia, Parliament (2019)
- Panel Excellence Award in 2019, NATO, Science and Technology Organisation
- Excellence in Science Award in 2019, Croatian Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
- Annual Award for scientific achievements in 2016 IMROH, Zagreb
- Annual Award for scientific achievements in 2013, IMROH, Zagreb
- Annual Award for scientific achievements in 2010, IMROH, Zagreb
- Annual Award for scientific achievements in 2006, IMROH, Zagreb
- Annual Award for Young Scientists in 2004, the Croatian Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
- Annual Award for Young Scientists in 2003, the Society of University Teachers and Scientists – Zagreb
- Wood-Whelan Research Fellowship in 2000, International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
- Annual pre-doctoral fellowship in 1998, Ministry of Science and Technology, Republic of Croatia
- Student Annual Award of the University of Zagreb in 1992
On-going scientific grants
- 2024-2027 Next generation of reactivators of cholinesterases against nerve agent intoxication (REAC, SP6, PI Prof Rashid Baati, CNRS, France; RESILIENCE EU project), coordinator of WP20
Select Publications
- Maček Hrvat N, Puljko B, Sit RK, Ilić K, Kolić D, Mlinac-Jerkovic K, Kalanj-Bognar S, Radić Z, Sharpless BK, Taylor P, Kovarik Z. The ionizing zwitterionic oxime antidote attenuates gliosis in mice exposed to sarin.Chem Biol Interact. 2025 Nov 1;421:111767. doi: 10.1016/j.cbi.2025.111767.
- Kovarik Z, Kolić D, Čadež T, Šinko G, Tuksar P, Zorbaz T, Curty C, Maček Hrvat N.Outlining the A-series of organophosphorus compounds: Cholinesterase inhibition, reactivation, cytotoxicity, and acute toxicity in mice. Chem Biol Interact. 2025 Nov 1;421:111762. doi: 10.1016/j.cbi.2025.111762.
- Škorić I, Sviben M, Mlakić M, Čadež T, Maček Hrvat N, Kovarik Z. Photochemistry-driven design of small molecule cholinesterase ligands. Chem Biol Interact. 2025 Oct 22;420:111703. doi: 10.1016/j.cbi.2025.111703
- Zhu R, Liu Y, Ma Y, Xu T, Yang G, Zandona A, Čadež T, Kovarik Z, Xie HQ, Xu L, Zhao B.Simplified assessment of acetylcholinesterase inhibition by environmental organophosphorus pesticides. Chem Biol Interact. 2025 Nov 1;421:111722.
- Čadež T, Maček Hrvat N, Šinko G, Kalisiak J, Radić Z, Fokin VV, Sharpless KB, Taylor P, Kovarik Z. Click-chemistry-derived oxime library reveals efficient reactivators of nerve agent-inhibited butyrylcholinesterase suitable for pseudo-catalytic bioscavenging. Arch Toxicol. 2025 May;99(5):2107-2131. doi: 10.1007/s00204-025-03985-6
- Kolić D, Kovarik Z. N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors: Structure, function, and role in organophosphorus compound poisoning. Biofactors. 2024 Sep-Oct;50(5):868-884. doi: 10.1002/biof.2048.
- Kovarik Z, Moshitzky G, Maček Hrvat N, Soreq H. Recent advances in cholinergic mechanisms as reactions to toxicity, stress, and neuroimmune insults. J Neurochem. 2024 Apr;168(4):355-369. doi: 10.1111/jnc.15887.
Memberships
- Council of the Doctoral Study Program, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, since the academic year 2025/2026
- Croatian Science Foundation, The Board member, since 2024
- Chemistry Board, Croatian Agency for Science and Higher Education, member of since 2017
- Croatian Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology: 2007-2016 secretary, 2013-2017 president, 2019-2021 vice-president, Advisory Board member (since 2021)
- Croatian Society of Natural Sciences, 2017-2022 president, 2015-2017 vice-president, advisory board member (since 2022)
- Croatian Chemical Society, member of Executive Board (2022-2025)
- Croatian Toxicological Society, member of Executive Board (2010-2013)
- International Society for Neurochemistry, member
Editorial experience
- Associate editor, Biofactors, since 2023
- Section editor, Periodicum biologorum, since 2020
- Member of Editorial Board, Archives of Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology (since 2012)