Centre for translational research and systems medicine (CERT-MEDS)

Within the Advanced Research Center (ARC), the translational and exploratory research activity conducted in preclinical-clinical partnership, within the framework of intra- and inter-institutional multidisciplinary collaborations, with partners from the country and abroad, addresses the following directions:

1. Characterization the mitochondrial dysfunction associated with acute diseases (cardiac pathology with indication for open heart surgery, sepsis, complications of pregnancy), chronic diseases (cardio-metabolic, renal, hepatic) and senescence – studies of high-resolution respirometry, and assessment of respiratory function & glycolysis using the extracellular flux analyzer in peripheral blood cells and tissue samples;
2. Assessment the endothelial dysfunction in the context of the above mentioned pathologies and of innovative therapeutic approaches, with emphasis on drug repurposing – organ bath studies (endothelial-dependent and independent relaxation) and molecular biology (qPCR, immune fluorescence) in isolated vascular rings;
3. Evaluation of the oxidative stress, the central pathomechanism of chronic diseases occurrence and progression, with a major interest for the monoamine oxidase (MAO)-mediated oxidative stress – spectrophotometry, and confocal microscopy techniques;
4. Translational studies of tissue protection in non-communicable diseases: focus on drug repurposing – all the above mentioned techniques;
5. In vitro assessment of drug toxicity and pharmacological approaches to mitigate it – all the above mentioned techniques;
6. Study of the mechanisms of phytochemicals-related tissue protection – focus on the alleviation of the endothelial and mitochondrial dysfunctions – all the above mentioned techniques;
7. Assessment of inflammation as major pathogenic link in the pathophysiology of chronic non-communicable diseases – correlations of the inflammatory biomarkers, laboratory parameters, and other investigations with the evolution and prognostic of the disease;
8. Characterization of changes in the arterial stiffness in chronic pathologies (cardiometabolic, malignancy) – studies using the non-invasive arteriography technique;
9. Assessment the risk behaviours through individual, group and population-based approaches – ultrasound studies of  the body composition, questionnaires, communication in medicine;
10. Meta-analyses and systematic reviews of chronic diseases with major impact on health status;
11. Perspectives on the history of medicine – from traditional to modernity.

The support of the research activity has been achieved both through the internal funding allocated to the Advanced Research Center (ARC) over the last 4 years by the university and the funds priorly attracted by the research projects/grants in which the members of the center have participated as coordinators or members – international (> 5), national (> 20) and internal (> 5), which allowed the development of the infrastructure of the 5 laboratories within the center (described on the site EERTIS).

The relevance of the research activity of the ARC is demonstrated by the:

– increase in the number and quality of scientific papers published by the members of the Centre (as lead author or co-author) in journals with an impact factor (> 75 since the recognition of the center as a ARC);

– finalization of PhDs (3 with Summa cum laude distinction out of the 6 theses defended between 2020-2024);

– inclusion of the center members in the Management Committees for Romania of European networking projects COST (Cooperation in Science and Technology):

• „EUropean Network to Tackle METAbolic Alterations in HEART Failure – EU-METAHEART”, code CA22169, 2023-2027 – Prof. Dr. Danina M. Muntean
• ”Realising the Therapeutic Potential of Novel Cardioprotective Therapies” – COST Innovation Grant” code CIG16225, 2022-2023 – Prof. Danina M. Muntean
• ”Network for Research in Vascular Ageing” code CA 18216, 2019-2023 – Prof. Ioana Mozoș

which has allowed the participation of the PhD students in STSM (Short Term Scientific Mission) mobility, thus increasing the research expertise;

– awarding the title of Visiting Professor and DHC of our university to internationally renowned researchers:

• Doctor Honoris Causa:

1. Prof. Roberto Bolli (Louisville, USA) – 2025
2. Prof. Fabio Di Lisa (Padova, Italia) – 2023

• Visiting Professor:

1. Prof. Istvan Baczkó (Szeged, Ungaria) – 2024
2. Prof. Norbert Jost (Szeged, Ungaria) – 2024
3. Prof. Derek J. Hausenloy (Londra, UK) – 2023
4. Prof. Vladimir Jakovljevic (Kragujevac, Serbia) – 2023
5. Prof. Mariana Roșca (Michigan, USA) – 2022

– organisation of research workshops (on-site and on-line) and national/international scientific events, the most relevant being:

• The National Congress of the Romanian Society of Pathophysiology with international participation, October 2-5, 2024, Timișoara
  The Congress report is available on the site of the International Society of Pathophysiology: click here.
• The 9^th European Section Meeting of the International Academy of Cardiovascular Sciences, October 4-7 2023, Timișoara

The ultimate aim of the research activity is to meet the objectives of the university Research Strategy, by: i) continuously stimulating the development of human resources competitive in international research, ii) initiating and sustain effective regional, national and international collaborations and long-term partnerships with individual institutions and throughout research networks financed on a competitive basis, and iii) increasing the international visibility of the university in both research and education.