About Us

History

SABIgroup is associated with the Cancer Project in the Institute for Biological Research “Sinisa Stankovic”, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia.

Institute for Biological Research
"Sinisa Stankovic" (IBISS) is located at:

Despot Stefan Boulevard 142
11060 Belgrade, Serbia
Phone: +381-11-2078-340
Fax: +381-11-2761-433
http://www.ibiss.bg.ac.rs/en/

Contact person:

Dr. Nikola Tanic
Chief Project Scientist in MindUp Bioresearch
Phone: +381-11-2078-410 & +381-11-2078-406

Institute for Biological Research "Sinisa Stankovic" (IBISS), University of Belgrade, founded in 1956, represents the largest research institution in the field of biological sciences in Serbia. IBISS conducts multidisciplinary research in diverse fields of biology from molecular biology to ecology and is fully financially supported by the Ministry of Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia. Today IBISS comprises more than 150 researchers organized in 12 departments (neurobiology, immunology, molecular biology, biochemistry, ecology, environmental protection, animal and plant physiology, cytology, genetics, etc). Among 60 national long-term projects supported by Ministry of Science of Serbia, 24 are led by researchers from IBISS thus confirming its leading role in Biological Sciences in Serbia. As a part of Belgrade University, IBISS also represents scientific base for graduate and post-graduate programs at Faculty of Biology. Researchers of the Institute take part in teaching activities and supervise the execution of graduate, master and doctoral theses.

Department of Neurobiology within IBISS is composed of the following laboratories: Laboratory for Molecular Neurobiology, Laboratory for Neurochemistry and Laboratory for Neurophysiology and represents the scientific ground for undergraduate and PhD programs. Presently, there are 35 members of Department (25 staff members). Members of the Department are lecturers at undergraduate and PhD studies (programmes: Molecular Biology and Neurosciences) at the Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade.

Department of Neurobiology has been formed through networking of Laboratories for Molecular Neurobiology, Electrophysiology, Neurochemistry and Behaviour with the idea to introduce multilevel approach – from gene to behaviour- in brain research. It continues the tradition of the Department of Neurophysiology and Neurochemistry founded in the early ‘60s by Acad. Prof. Ljubisav Rakic and today, with its human and material resources, represents a scientific incubator for dissemination of high quality research in neuroscience in Serbia. During the last 50 years, the investigations at the Department of Neurobiology have contributed to the examination of fundamental nervous system processes.

The areas of research that are covered within the Department of Neurobiology can be divided into several fields:

• behavioral and electrophysiological studies of the central nervous system (CNS);
• studies of biological rhythms in the brain;
• investigation of the biochemical organization of the CNS;
• neuroimmunology;
• evolutionary biochemistry and brain physiology during early embryogenesis;
• molecular and behavioral studies of brain plasticity;
• neurodegenerative diseases of the CNS;
• biochemical and molecular basis of brain injury and repair;
• therapeutical and pharmaceutical approaches in the treatment of CNS disorders;
• development of cancer gene therapy.

Head of Department of Neurobiology is Professor Dr. Sanja Pekovic, who is also acting as Chief Project Scientist and Chief Strategy Officer of HTDSmedical.

SABIgroup is associated with the Cancer Project within the Department of Neurobiology in IBISS. Principal scientist and head of the SABIgroup is dr Sabera Ruzdijic, who also acts as Medical Advisor of HTDS Medical.

Equipment

Within IBISS there are many high-tech facilities:

• animal unit;
• cell culture and cell imaging unit;
• proteomics unit;
• instrument room facility with spectrophotometers, microscopes for light and fluorescent microscopy and scanning confocal microscope, STORM phosphorimager/fluorimager system, ultracentrifuges, PCR and Real Time PCR, automated sequencer;
• behavioral unit with computerized equipment package – Radial and Y-Maze, Rota-Rod Treadmills, Passive/Active Avoidance Box, Open Field Auto-Track System.

Which together with IBISS's human potential represent an inspiring academic and research environment for development of Serbian science in diverse fields of biology.

Staff

Name	Position in SABIgroup	Position in MindUp BioResearch
Sabera Ruzdijic, PhD	Group leader – Principal Investigator	Scientific Advisor
Nikola Tanic, PhD	Scientist	Chief Project Scientist
Milica Pesic, PhD	Scientist	Leader of MDR project
Jasna Bankovic, MD, PhD	Scientist	Leader of Biomarkers project
Tijana Andjelkovic, MSc	PhD student	Team member
Ana Podolski-Renic, BSc	PhD student	Team member
Vedrana Milinkovic, BSc	PhD student	Team member
Ljubisav Rakic, MD, PhD, full professor, academician of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts	scientific advisor	Chief Executive Officer (CEO)