Dr. Maša Ždralević – recipient of the annual award of the University of Montenegro
Dr. Maša Ždralević, a distinguished member of the scientific staff at the Institute for Advanced Studies of the University of Montenegro (UCG), was rightfully awarded the Annual Award for Outstanding Contribution to Scientific Research and the International Reputation of the University for the past year. The award was presented by UCG Rector, Prof. Dr. Vladimir Božović, during a ceremonial session of the UCG Senate, in the presence of colleagues and prominent members of the academic community.
During the course of 2023, Dr. Ždralević published four scientific papers in reputable international journals, notably including a study on selected microRNAs in the diagnosis of colorectal cancer in patients from Montenegro, where Dr. Ždralević was the lead author, as well as a pharmacogenetic study demonstrating a correlation of specific polymorphisms with an increased risk of muscle-related side effects in patients on atorvastatin therapy, published in the prestigious journal Scientific Reports (Nature portfolio). Dr. Ždralevićs research findings were also presented at several international scientific conferences.
In terms of project activity, Dr. Ždralević was hired as an active researcher on three international projects during 2023, two COST and one Erasmus+ CBHE. In both COST projects, she also served as a member of the management board.
Within the framework of the COST TRANSLACORE project (www.translacore.eu), as a grant recipient, she realized a short-term scientific mobility at the Center for Genomics and Biomedicine in Izmir, Turkey, where she actively participated in research contributing to the understanding of the integrity of biological samples and the functioning of cancer biobanks.
Dr. Ždralević stood out as a member of the Health Program Committee at the European Commission, where she, as a national representative, actively participated in the formulation of program acts in the field of health, achieving significant contributions in collaboration with relevant national stakeholders.
Moreover, Dr. Ždralević actively participated as a guest editor and reviewer in leading scientific journals, further contributing to the dissemination of scientific knowledge and the exchange of ideas in her field.
As part of her involvement in the Scientific Research Center of the Medical Faculty at UCG, Dr. Ždralević continuously works on improving the scientific research infrastructure, and thus the Center now boasts three fully equipped and functional laboratories – a molecular medicine laboratory, a cell culture laboratory, and a spectrophotometry and polarography laboratory. In April 2023, Dr. Ždralević was appointed as the Head of the Laboratory at the Scientific Research Center of the Medical Faculty at UCG.
Her academic journey is filled with achievements and exceptional engagement, both nationally and internationally. With a PhD from the University of Salento, Italy, and a wealth of experience at research institutions across Europe, Dr. Maša Ždralević, having also completed her undergraduate and master’s studies at the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics (Biology program), serves as a true inspiration for future generations of scientists and researchers in Montenegro and beyond.