Projects / Programmes
Pharmacology and pharmacogenomics
January 1, 2018
- December 31, 2027
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 3.03.00 |
Medical sciences |
Neurobiology |
|
| 1.05.00 |
Natural sciences and mathematics |
Biochemistry and molecular biology |
|
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| B007 |
Biomedical sciences |
Medicine (human and vertebrates) |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| 3.01 |
Medical and Health Sciences |
Basic medicine |
| 1.06 |
Natural Sciences |
Biological sciences |
pharmacology, drug targets, medicines, pharmacogenomics,
Data for the last 5 years (citations for the last 10 years) on
September 19, 2024;
A3 for period
2018-2022
| Database |
Linked records |
Citations |
Pure citations |
Average pure citations |
| WoS |
527 |
17,376 |
16,253 |
30.84 |
| Scopus |
512 |
18,000 |
16,784 |
32.78 |
Researchers (34)
Organisations (2)
Abstract
Pharmacology
Pharmacology is a scientific discipline dealing with the research of potential and established drug action on biological systems. Future of pharmacology research lies in identifying new drugs, which can target novel proteins involved in the pathogenesis of certain diseases. On the other hand, also the drug effects (beneficial, adverse) of the established and approved drugs must be investigated in detail for the potential drug-repurposing or safety issues. Drug targets can be changed due to various reasons, such as senescence, oxidative stress, hypoxia, chronic disease progression, and chronic exposure to drugs and environmental toxins. Changes in drug targets can lead to alteration of ligand-target interaction. The aim of our research is to investigate the role of drugs on i) release and uptake of mediators, neurotransmiters and other ligans; ii) to characterize the interaction between ligand and drugs, and the role of hydrogen bonding; iii) effects of drugs in proinflammatory and antiinflammatory processes, in oxidative stress and cell death (apoptosis, necroptosis, necrosis); iv) research oriented in pharmacological modulation of biomarkers in aging, degenerative diseases and cancer; v) drug-repurposing research oriented in the modulation of endogenous antioxidants in serum.
Pharmacogenomics
The aim of our proposed pharmacogenomics studies is to describe molecular mechanisms contributing to non-response to biological drugs in chronic immune diseases and cancer and to identify molecular genetic markers that could predict treatment response and could be used for personalized/precision medicine. Initially, we will focus on anti-TNF therapy in patients with Crohn's disease (CD) and Rheumatoid artthrirtis (RA). Integration of genetic (NGS, genotyping), gene expression (RNAseq), proteomic, epigenetic (DNA and histone modification) and gene regulation (non-coding RNA profiling, splice variants) data with bioinformatic tools (gene ontology - GO) will ensure identification and description of biological pathways important in treatment response.
Our study is fully feasible, as we have already developed a comprehensive biobank that includes one of the world's largest collections of combined DNA/RNA/protein samples for chronic immune diseases (600 Inflammatory bowel diseases, 300 RA, 200 Multiple sclerosis and 350 asthma) and cancers (breast cancer, head and neck cancer, colorectal cancer). Our biobank includes comprehensive clinical data, including treatment response. For example, part of our biobank represents RNA samples and response data from the subgroup of CD patients collected before and during anti-TNF treatment (weeks 0, 4, 12, 20, 30). Interesting new findings are expected from the comparison between gene expression profiles obtained from patients on anti-TNF therapy representing TNF inhibition in vivo and RNA samples obtained from treated cell cultures and cell lines, representing inhibition in vitro.
Significance for science
Research programme P3-067 is interdisciplinary built. Both areas of basic pharmacology and pharmacogenomics belong to non-clinical (bio) medical research (translational area T2). As it is seen from the publications, we are cooperating with the basic (translational area T1) as well as clinical researchers (translational area T3). Links within and outside research groups enable not only the rapid development of the both scientific disciplines but help in faster development of new drugs, biologics, new diagnostic tools and treatments, but also smoother transfer of results into clinical practice.
The results of the research program will explain the effects and mechanisms of action of endogenous and exogenous substances investigated: neurotransmitters (eg. histamine), modulators (bilirubin, cytokines) and toxins (ethanol) on the human body in various physiological and pathophysiological conditions. Some of the results will show new applications of known pharmacologically active substances in clinical practice (anti-inflammatory drugs, drugs acting on the central nervous system). On the other hand, the obtained results could reveal pathways to new medicines development. The senescing society needs in particular drugs with nootropic action and short-acting hypnotics, which do not cause tolerance and dependence.
Interdisciplinary integration of pharmacology and pharmacogenomics represents a new added value of research results in both areas. A significant part of pharmacological research is still focused on the study of sites of drug action in the central nervous system and drugs that affect the central nervous system (psychotropic, nootropic, hypnotics) and drugs or therapeutic procedures to prevent auto-oxidation and the consequent degeneration in the central nervous system and cardiovascular system, which is in line with European research priorities to overcome the burden of aging society and epidemic of dementia.
Significance for the country
A drug is a product used for the treatment, alleviation, prevention, or diagnosis of a disease. Rational use of drugs limits the outbreaks of certain diseases, improve survival and enhance the quality of life of patients with chronic diseases. Drugs, discovered and developed in the 20th century (antibiotics, heart failure drugs, anticancer drugs) significantly reduced the mortality and prolong the life period of people in the past century. In addition to that drugs represent the most affordable therapeutic approach in clinical medicine.
Exploring the characteristics of existing and potential new medicines, their sites of action and effects that appear during treatment increases the knowledge of researchers who as university teaching stuff are obliged to share the knowledge about drugs to students of medicine, dentistry, pharmacy and health sciences.
The broad knowledge of pharmacology make the researchers of this program also competent experts that participate in the evaluation procedures of drug quality, efficacy and safety at European Medicines Agency and Slovenian Medicines Agency.
Most important scientific results
Interim report
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
Interim report
