Name of the research center: CENTER OF IMMUNO_PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGIES/ acronym CIFBIOTEH

Director of the research center: Professor MD PhD Carmen Panaitescu

Date of establishment/ acknowledgement: 05.03.2021

Research areas/ research opportunities:

Research topics and directions:

1. Development of biotechnologies for advanced immunotherapies in communicable and non-communicable diseases

Development of new technologies for SARS-CoV2 prevention

  • Identification of immunogenic peptides from the structure of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, specific for the immunophenotype of the Romanian population
  • Testing of different peptide combinations in vitro on cell cultures, and in vivo in animal models, in order to identify optimal combinations for inducing an adaptive immune response

Development of advanced immunotherapies in cancer

    • Fundamental research for the development of innovative therapies based on genetic engineering of immune cells
    • Optimization of in vivo tumor models by 3D printing in order to assess the feasibility and efficiency of different therapeutic products

Development of biotechnologies with applicability in the diagnosis, prevention and therapy of allergic diseases

    • Fundamental research for the development of advanced diagnostic methods, including molecular diagnosis in allergic diseases
      • Assessment of the clinical relevance of ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia) pollen peptides based on the basophil degranulation test and the ImmunoCAP test compared to ELISA detection of specific IgE titers
      • Experimental development of peptide-based immunotherapies derived from ragweed pollen allergens (in silico prediction of allergen-specific epitopes for B and T lymphocytes; design, synthesis and experimental validation of candidate peptides for allergen-specific immunotherapies
      • Pilot study in collaboration with the Medical University of Vienna which aims to develop the first diagnostic kit based on recombinant ragweed allergens (molecular diagnosis – microarray)
    • Assessment of exposure to outdoor allergens
      • Development of a biosensor based on recombinant allergens from ragweed pollen, which determines the level of allergens in the atmospheric air

2. Investigation of altered physiological mechanisms in cardiovascular and respiratory diseases and identification of strategies to restore normal tissue function

  • Investigation of the reactivity of tracheobronchial muscle in allergies – experimental animal models and studies in the isolated organ bath
  • Identification of circulating extracellular vesicles as biomarkers for experimental coronary atherosclerotic disease
  • Exploration of the therapeutic potential of extracellular vesicles in experimental models of cardiac hypertrophy and coronary atherosclerosis
Members list:

Titular members:

DISCIPLINE OF PHYSIOLOGY

Nr.

Name and surname of the titular member

Didactic research degree

1.

PANAITESCU CARMEN

Professor, MD, PhD

2.

TĂNASIE GABRIELA

Professor, MD, PhD

3.

TATU CARMEN

Professor, MD, PhD

4.

MĂRGINEANU BOGDAN MICHAEL

Senior Lecturer, PhD

5.

HAIDAR LAURA

Senior Lecturer, PhD

6.

GEORGESCU MARIUS

Senior Lecturer, PhD

7.

GOȚIA SMARANDA LAURA

Assistant Professor, MD, PhD

8.

COTARCĂ MONICA

Assistant Professor, MD, PhD

9.

CALMA CRENGUȚA

Assistant Professor, MD, PhD

 

DISCIPLINE OF IMMUNOLOGY

Nr.

Name and surname of the titular member

Didactic research degree

10.

PĂUNESCU VIRGIL

Prof. Univ. Dr.

11.

BOJIN FLORINA MARIA

Conf. Univ. Dr.

12.

ȚAȚU CĂLIN ADRIAN

Conf. Univ. Dr.

13.

IVAN ALEXANDRA

Senior Lecturer, PhD

14.

ZAMBORI CSILLA

Assistant Professor, MD, PhD

15.

GAVRILIUC OANA

Assistant Professor, MD, PhD

16.

BĂRBULESCU GRETA IONELA

Assistant Professor, MD, PhD

 

Associated members:

Nr.

Name and surname

Title

 

1.

Bănărescu Camelia-Felicia

medic rezident

cf.HCA nr.19/18400/25.07.2024

2.

Cotuna-Coste Anca-Daniela

medic rezident

cf.HCA nr.19/18400/25.07.2024

3.

Moldovan Sandra Iulia

medic rezident

cf.HCA nr.19/18400/25.07.2024

4.

Uța Cristina

medic rezident

cf.HCA nr.19/18400/25.07.2024