Program of activities

Scientific research

Scientific research at University of Belgrade-Faculty of Pharmacy is conducted by teams of Faculty members (full time professors, associate professors, assistant professors and teaching assistants), PhD students, and researchers employed in other research institutions, health facilities or pharmaceutical industry. Research activities are carried out within the scientific projects funded by Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Serbia, as well as within bilateral and other international projects with institutions abroad.

Faculty professors lead Fundamental Research Projects (in the fields of chemistry, biology and medicine), Technological Development Projects and Integrated and Interdisciplinary Projects (in the fields of agriculture, food and biomedicine).

Research fields

University of Belgrade-Faculty of Pharmacy was accredited as a scientific research institution by the Decision of RS Ministry of Science and Environmental Protection No 021-01-61/8 of 19 February 2007.

Research activities of the majority of Faculty members are incorporated into the following topics: Biomedicine, Novel materials and nanoscience, Environment protection and climate changes, and Agriculture and food.

Based on the accepted application, the implementation of a new research projects cycle approved by the RS Ministry of Education and Science started in 2011 and will last until 2015. Faculty members are engaged in the implementation of 15 projects managed by the Faculty of Pharmacy and 32 projects managed by other scientific research organisations.

Faculty research agenda for the period of 2011-2015 includes the following topics: chemistry, biology and medicine.

In the field of chemistry, research focuses on:

• modelling different chromatographic systems used in pharmaceutical analysis by chemometric approach (Project No 172 052); • synthesis of pharmacologically active substances, their physical-chemical characterisation, investigations on quantitative structure–activity relationship and analysis of these substances (Project No 172 033); • development of molecules with anti-inflammatory and cardioprotective effects, their structural modifications, physicochemical characterisation and testing formulations (Project No 172041); • computer design, synthesis and biological evaluation of novel heterocyclic compounds-selective inhibitors of tumorigenesis (Project No 172009). Some of the Faculty members are involved in implementation of projects managed by other research institutions (Projects No 172002, 172014, 172015, 172016, 172017, 172018, and 172043).

In the field of biology, research focuses on:

• testing potency of medicinal plants and their characterisation in terms of genetic, metabolic and morphological diversity in order to assess different types of diversity in natural populations (Project No 173021). In addition to its scientific role, this research also plays a practical one – aiming to create conditions for selection and breeding for the purpose of monitoring and protecting natural populations (Project No 31089 under Technological Development Projects); • examination of cell cycle disturbance and impact of oxidative stress in neurodegenerative processes and malignant transformation of cells (Project No 173034). Some of the Faculty members are involved in implementation of projects managed by other research institutions (Projects No 173008, 173019, and 173027).

In the field of medicine, research focuses on:

• investigations of interactive role of dyslipidemia, oxidative stress and inflammation in development of atherosclerosis and other diseases through analysing genetic and biochemical markers (project No 175035) and biomarkers that indicate damage and organ dysfunction (Project No 175036); • investigations of the immune system in aging and investigations of immunomodulatory potential of oestrogen (Project No 175050); • investigations of mechanisms of action, interactions and toxic effects of adjuvant analgesics (Project No 175045); • investigations of behavioural effects of repeated application of newly synthesised GABA A receptor agonists and their comparison with standard psychopharmacological drugs (Project No 175076); • investigations of effects and mechanism of action of various vasodilator substances in human bypass grafts (Project No 175088); • fundamental and clinical pharmacological research of mechanisms of action and drug interactions in nervous and cardiovascular systems (Project No 175023).

Some of the Faculty members are involved in implementation of projects managed by other research institutions (Projects No 175017, 175039, 175041, and 175064).

Within Technological Development Projects and in collaboration with the national pharmaceutical industry, research focusing on the development of micro-and nanosystems as carriers for drugs with anti-inflammatory action and methods for their characterisation will be conducted (Project No 34031), as well as research related to the development of new products and technologies with improved biological availability and effectiveness (Project No 34007).

As for Integrated and Interdisciplinary Projects, the following research activities will be conducted: investigations into the mode of action of biologically active substances in food, assessment of their possible potential in disease prevention, and the development of their use in food products (Project No 46001), the development and validation of methods for the detection of allergens present in foodstuffs of animal origin, and the development of safe products intended for people intolerant to certain food ingredients, as well as studies on the mechanism of action and interactions between persistent organic pollutants and toxic metals necessary for a comprehensive risk characterisation (Project No 46009). Some of the Faculty members are involved in the implementation of Projects No 46002 and 46010.

With regard to Integrated and Interdisciplinary Projects in biomedicine, scientific researchers from the Faculty of Pharmacy are involved in the projects managed by other scientific research institutions, aiming to evaluate pharmacoepidemiological and pharmacological properties of xenobiotics (Project No 41012) and to investigate ethical and regulatory aspects of new therapeutic advances (Project No 41004). Furthermore, research related to quality indicators for pharmaceutical services will be conducted, and health-related quality of life will be assessed. Some of the Faculty members are involved in the implementation of Projects No 41022, 41025 and 41028.

In addition to these areas of research, some of the Faculty members have been involved in realisation of projects in the fields of Materials and Chemical Technology (34012), Biotechnology and Agriculture (31020), Environmental Protection (Project 43009), Mathematics (174012), Physics (171017), and Social Sciences (179034), where they have also achieved remarkable results.

 

PROCURING EQUIPMENT AND PROVIDING TECHNICAL AND MATERIAL CONDITIONS FOR SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH ACTIVITIES

Continual procurement of new analytical and measuring instruments and equipment, and upgrading of the existing ones, are prerequisites for efficiently conducting scientific research activities. For these purposes the funds allocated by the Republic f Serbia Ministry of Science and Technological Development will be used, as well as the funds of the Faculty and the available European Union funds.   In addition to the equipment, the necessary literature, software, chemicals and laboratory materials and instruments will also be procured. Circumstances permitting, the premises refitting and adaptation necessary for scientific research activities will also be undertaken.

ADVANCING INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC COOPERATION

Advancing international cooperation is one of the key segments in the strategy for scientific research activities. Accordingly, the plans made provide for establishing more intensive cooperation with scientific research institutions and/or research groups abroad, and preparing and applying for joint projects within the framework of bilateral cooperation projects and the European Union Framework Program (FP8) for scientific research cooperation. The activities aimed at promoting international cooperation include organising brief study visits of our teachers and associates to scientific research institutions abroad, as well as participation of visiting professors in teaching at doctoral academic studies. In addition, the plans also provide for scientific gatherings with participation of prominent experts and lecturers from abroad.

 

PROMOTING SCIENCE AND SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH

Publishing the results of scientific research and promoting scientific research represent an important segment of this Programme. In addition to presenting the results achieved at national and international scientific gatherings and publishing papers in national and international journals, one of the priorities in the five-year period to come would be promoting the activities on intellectual property protection, preparing technological solutions and patent applications.

 

This segment of activities will involve intensive work on strengthening connections between the University and economic operators, and on applying science in developing new products and technology, as well as including researchers employed with economic operators into scientific research.   Implementation of the activities aimed at promoting science and scientific research includes also activities focusing on development of youth scientific research, based on the Programme of developing the Faculty of Pharmacy youth scientific research.