Centre for Molecular Research in Nephrology and Vascular Disease (MOL-NEPHRO-VASC)

The Centre for Molecular Research in Nephrology and Vascular Disease (MOL-NEPHRO-VASC) has been founded in 2021 (Contract nr. 5439-3/5.03.2021), through the internal competition for the foundation of research centres organized by „Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara and classified as Centre for Advanced Research on the 3rd place out of 10 centres, with a total score of 167.01 points. The centre consists of full members and associate members (doctoral students) affiliated to the four constitutive disciplines: Discipline of Nephrology, Discipline of Diabetes, Nutrition and Metabolic Diseases, Discipline of Endocrinology and Discipline of  Cardiology. In addition, the centre comprises internal collaborators within the confines of „Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara (Discipline of Pharmacology, Discipline of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Discipline of Pathophysiology, Discipline of Biochemistry, Discipline of Neurology and Discipline of Public Health), as well as external collaborators from universities of Timisoara (National Institute of Research and Development for Electrochemistry and Condensed Matter, Timisoara, Faculty of Physics, West University of Timisoara) and from universities of Romania (Dept. of Technical and Natural Sciences, Aurel Vlaicu University of Arad, Dept. Food Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, Department of Metabolomics, Center for Research-Development in Biotechnologies Applied in Diagnosis and Molecular Therapies – CCD BIODIATECH- Proplanta SRL, Cluj-Napoca).

Management structure of the centre:

Director: PETRICA LIGIA MD, PhD, Professor of Nephrology, dr. habil.

Treasurer: MILAȘ OANA LIVIA, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor

Objectives and Research Directions for Interdisciplinary Research (Nephrology, Diabetes, Nutrition and Metabolic Disorders, Endocrinology, Cardiology)

The research involves, apart from the disciplines included in the centre, other disciplines from „Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, such as Pharmacology, Cellular and Molecular Biology, Pathophysiology, Biochemistry, Neurology, and Public Health and Health Management.

The main research directions are:

1. The assessment of early diabetic kidney disease in type 2 diabetes mellitus through evaluation of miRNAs in urinary exosomes;
2. Evaluation of markers of vascular calcifications in patients with chronic kidney disease on haemodialysis;
3. Assessment of cognitiv impairment in patients with chronic kidney disease through evaluation of light neurofilaments and amyloid β;
4. The impact of comorbidities on the health condition and the quality of life in patients with acromegaly;
5. Factors which influence myocardial remodelling in the early and late stages of left ventricle dysfunction in hemodialysis patients.

Ongoing projects

1. Project for Experienced Researchers- 6EXP/2020:

TRANSLATIONAL INNOVATIVE STUDY FROM BASIC RESEARCH TO CLINICAL APPLICABILITY WITH REGARD TO MITOCHONDRIAL DYSFUNCTION AND INFLAMMATION IN DIABETIC KIDNEY DISEASE

 Acronim: MITO-DIAB

Project Director: Prof. Univ. Dr. Petrica Ligia

2. Project for doctoral students- 6DOC/2020:

IDENTIFICATION AND IMPLICATION OF MITOCHONDRIAL DYSFUNCTION AND OF PLASMA AND URINARY METABOLOMIC BIOMARKERS IN THE DIAGNOSIS AND PROGNOSIS OF CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE

Acronym: MET-MIT-CKD

Project Director: Dr. Patruica (Glavan) Mihaela Roxana

3. Project CNFIS-FDI-2021-0552:

ATTRIBUTION OF iPADS TO ROMANIAN STUDENTS ENROLLED IN UNIVERSITY LICENSE STUDIES, OF SHORT AND LONG DURATION, FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF MEDICINE AND PHARMACY „VICTOR BABES” OF TIMIȘOARA

Project Director: Prof. Univ. Dr. Timar Bogdan