Ivana Vrhovac Madunić

Zagreb, 12 May 1984

• 2015. PhD (natural sciences, field of biology – molecular biology), Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
• 2009. Bachelor of Science (module: molecular biology), Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Croatia

• 2022-present Senior Scientific Associate, Molecular Toxicology Unit, Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health (IMROH), Zagreb, Croatia                
• 2017-2022 Scientific Associate, Molecular Toxicology Unit, Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health (IMROH), Zagreb, Croatia     
• 2019-2020 University Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Reconstructive Sciences, Center for Regenerative Medicine and Skeletal Development, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, Connecticut, USA
• 2015-2017 Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Molecular Toxicology Unit, Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health (IMROH), Zagreb, Croatia
• 2010-2015 PhD student, Molecular Toxicology Unit, Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health (IMROH), Zagreb, Croatia

• Research in the field of biomedicine (physiology) of membrane transporters of organic anions, cations, glucose, protons and water in vitro and in vivo
• Discovering new cellular localizations of sodium and glucose membrane transporters (SGLT1, SGLT2, SGLT3) and understanding their regulation in type 2 diabetes as well as other diseases (e.g. cancers)
• Studying the effects of natural and synthetic bioactive compounds in tumor cells

• September 2019-September 2020 University Postdoctoral Fellow – Department of Reconstructive Sciences, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, Connecticut, USA (host: Prof.  Ivo Kalajzic)
• January/February 2022 Visiting Researcher – Department of Genetic Toxicology and Cancer Biology, National Institute of Biology (NIB), Ljubljana, Slovenija (host: Prof. Bojana Žegura)

• 2019   Award for Scientific Achievements (3 first authorships) in 2018 by the Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Zagreb, Croatia
• 2019   Grant by International Centre for Genetics Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Trieste, Italy
• 2018   The “Željko Trgovčević” Award for Scientific Achievements in 2017 by the Croatian Genetic Society
• 2018   Grant by Federation of the European Biochemical Societies (FEBS), Prague, Czech Republic
• 2016   Annual Award to Young Scientists for Scientific Achievements in 2015 by the Croatian Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (HDBMB)
• 2016   Grant by International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (IUBMB), Vancouver, Canada
• 2014   Travel Grant Award by The International Society for Ethnopharmacology (ISE), Puerto Varas, Chile
• 2014   Grant by World Sciences Forum for Young Researchers, Baku, Azerbaijan
• 2012   Grant by Federation of the European Biochemical Societies (FEBS), Opatija, Croatia
• 2007   Award “Student of the year” by European Federation of Food Science and Technology (EFFoST) for Scientific Research, Lisbon, Portugal
• 2006   Rector’s Award by University of Zagreb, Croatia

• Croatian Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
• Croatian Association for Cancer Research

Principal Investigator on Scientific Projects

• 2022-2023 Identifying Interactions of Renal and Hepatic Organic Cation Transporters (OCTs) with Oximes, Antidotes in Treatment of Organophosphate Poisoning, Ministry of Science and Education of the Republic of Croatia and the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). PIs: Ivana Vrhovac Madunić (Croatia) and Mladen V. Tzvetkov (Germany)
• 2021-2022 Oximes as Potential Inhibitors of Glucose Transfer in Prostate Cancer Cells, Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts. PI: Ivana Vrhovac Madunić

Scientific Projects (associate)

• 2022-2026    Evidence Driven Indoor Air Quality Improvement (EDIAQI), HORIZON (HLTH-2021-ENVHLTH-02-02), PI: Francesco Mureddu
• 2022-2026    Personalized Medicine in Chronic Kidney Disease: Improved Outcome Based on Big Data (PerMediK), COST EU project CA21165, PI: Joachim Jankowski
• 2022-2026    3Rs Concepts to Improve the Quality of Biomedical Science (IMPROVE), COST EU project CA21139, PI:  Winfried Neuhaus
• 2022-2024    On Science Through Sport – STEMSPORT, EU project, PI: Croatian Judo Federation, Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, IMROH (partner)
• 2020-2023    Molecular Mechanisms Underlying the Toxicity of Antidotes and Potential Drugs (CellToxTargets), Croatian Science Foundation (UIP-2017-05-7260), PI: Maja Katalinić
• 2019-2022    Changes in the Muscle Cell Viability Under the Influence of Oxime Analogue, Croatian-Slovenian project, Ministry of Science and Education in Croatia, PIs: Maja Katalinić and Sergej Pirkmajer
• 2019-2020    Mechanisms Underlying Commitment and Differentiation of Progenitor Cells During Bone Healing, National Institutes of Health (NIH, 5R01AR055607-04) i National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), PI: Ivo Kalajzic, UConn Health, Farmington, Connecticut, USA
• 2019-2020    Generating New RGS5 Mouse Model for Lineage Tracing, Research Excellence Program funds, University of Connecticut, UConn Health, USA, PI: Ivo Kalajzic
• 2018-2022    Correlated Multimodal Imaging in Life Sciences (COMULIS), COST EU project CA17121, PI: Andreas Walter
• 2018-2019    SAFEFOOD – Toxicological Safety Assessment of Foodborne Toxicants, Croatian-Slovenian Project, Ministry of Science and Education in Croatia, PIs: Goran Gajski and Bojana Žegura
• 2014-2019 Aging-Related Expression of Membrane Transporters in Rat (AGEMETAR), Croatian Science Foundation (IP-2013-11-1481), PIs: Ivan Sabolić (2014-2016) and Davorka Breljak (2016-2019)
• 2010-2013    Mammalian Renal Transporters; Gender Differences and Effects of Toxic metals, Ministry of Science and Education in Croatia (022-0222148-2146). PI: Ivan Sabolić

Teaching

• 2017-present  Teaching Assistant – Methods in Immunology, Programme: Experimental Biology (module: Immunology and Physiology), Faculty of Science, Zagreb, Croatia

 Organizational Skills and Other                

• 2022-2026    Management Committee Member for COST Action CA21139 3Rs concepts to improve the quality of biomedical science (IMPROVE), COST European Union
• 2022-2026    Management Committee Member for COST Action CA21165 Personalized medicine in chronic kidney disease: improved outcome based on Big Data (PerMediK), COST European Union
• 2021-2022    Member of the Organizing Committee for Organizing International Conference of the Croatian Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (Brela, Croatia)
• 2021   Program Committee Member of the Workshop Better skills for better jobs: Excellent Lab Book for an Excellent Career  (by FEBS and Croatian Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology)
• 2021-2022    Grant Awarding Coordinator for COST Action CA17121 COMULIS
• 2020-present           Member of the Executive Committee, Croatian Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
• 2018-2022    Management Committee Member for COST Action CA17121 Correlated Multimodal Imaging in Life Sciences (COMULIS), COST European Union
• 2018-2022    Coordinator for Inclusiveness Target Countries (ITC) grants for COST Action CA17121 COMULIS, COST European Union
• 2011-2013    Member of the Scientific Council (representing PhD students and Postdocs), Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Zagreb
• 2014-2019    Member of the Sciene and Society Committee, Croatian Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
• 2014-2017    Member of the Scientific Committee, International Society for Ethnopharmacology (ISE)
• 2008   Member of Technical Support in Organization of 38th International Conference: European Environmental Mutagen Society (EEMS), Cavtat, Croatia

Mentorships

• 2021 – Diploma Thesis – student Dunja Kureljak: Cytotoxic Effect of Imidazolium Compounds on Prostate Cancer Cells, Faculty of Science University Zagreb, Croatia