Projects / Programmes
Molekulske simulacije karcinogeneze (Slovene)
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 1.04.02 |
Natural sciences and mathematics |
Chemistry |
Structural chemistry |
Researchers (1)
| no. |
Code |
Name and surname |
Research area |
Role |
Period |
No. of publicationsNo. of publications |
| 1. |
25434 |
PhD Urban Bren |
Chemistry |
Head |
2009 - 2011 |
365 |
Organisations (1)
| no. |
Code |
Research organisation |
City |
Registration number |
No. of publicationsNo. of publications |
| 1. |
0104 |
National Institute of Chemistry |
Ljubljana |
5051592000 |
21,007 |
Significance for science
Postdoc project Z1-2000 Molecular Simulations of Carcinogenesis mainly concerns food safety (in the context of possible carcinogens that are present either in raw or in thermally processed food), which represents the first-priority research field of the 2008 call for the research projects as directed by the Slovenian Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology. Our goal is to advance a novel area of research called Computational Carcinogenesis by taking the already developed and validated simulation methods from Computational Enzymology and applying them to urgent problems related to Toxicology and Carcinogenesis. This scientific field with great potential is unfortunately nonexistent in Slovenia and relatively empty throughout the World. Simultaneously, we intend to elucidate the physical mechanism of microwave catalysis, which is poorly understood despite much speculation in the scientific literature. The results of our work were published as six original scientific papers in high ranking international journals and presented at ten international scientific conferences as well as in four invited lectures at foreign universities. Finally, we would like to point out that the Principle Investigator was in a worldwide competition selected as one of the thirteen young scientists contributing most to the research of Planetary Emergencies and was in 2011 awarded the prestigious Best Fellow Prize of the World Federation of Scientists – a society joining over 10000 researchers from 110 countries. He was also selected as the most recognized Slovenian young scientist and obtained the related Jožef Stefan Golden Emblem Award in March 2010.
Significance for the country
Postdoc project Z1-2000 Molecular Simulations of Carcinogenesis has a direct impact on the areas of Health Protection and Development of Healthcare. Although cancer (together with the coronary diseases) claims the most human lives, its frontline treatment with chemotherapy and radiotherapy remains largely ineffective as well as very toxic, while its prevention is unjustifiably overlooked. However, a significant shift from this general trend has been observed lately through advocacy of a healthy life style and through introduction of vaccine against the human papillomavirus. In the current research project we intend to advance the field of cancer prevention by discerning physico-chemical aspects of carcinogenesis. Simultaneously, we wish to elucidate the nature of microwave catalysis, which remains poorly understood despite much speculation in the scientific literature. In a wider context this contribution opens new perspectives concerning the exposure of living organisms to microwave irradiation from mobile telephony, radars, satellites, or microwave ovens, since altered biochemical reactivity could lead to carcinogenesis. Consequently, current microwave irradiation exposure limits based exclusively on equilibrium tissue heating may need to be reconsidered. Access to foreign expertise is provided through collaboration with Professors Frederick Peter Guengerich (Director of Center in Molecular Toxicology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and 2009-Awardee for Outstanding Achievement in Chemistry in Cancer Research of American Association for Cancer Research), Christian Oliver Kappe (Head of Christian Doppler Laboratory for Microwave Chemistry, Karl-Franzens-University Graz), Chris Oostenbrink (Head of Institute for Molecular Modeling and Simulation, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna), Jan Florian (Department of Chemistry, Loyola University Chicago), and Stanislav Miertus (United Nations Industrial Development Organization). We promoted Slovenia and Slovenian science in the capacity of a visiting assistant professor at the Department of Chemistry, Loyola University Chicago and of a United Nations Expert Consultant in Combinatorial Chemistry and Molecular Design. Our findings were disseminated to interested public through publication of popular articles in the supplement Znanost of the leading Slovenian newspaper Delo and in the monthly magazine Novice IJS as well as through interviews for leading Slovenian newspapers Delo and Dnevnik and for radio Val 202. Finally, the Principal Investigator is involved in the creation of scientific policy, having been elected as one of the two internal members of the Board of Governors – the highest managing body of the Slovenian National Institute of Chemistry – in June 2010. As an Expert Evaluator of the Slovenian Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education the Principal Investigator is included in assuring the quality of higher-education study-programs and institutions.
Most important scientific results
Annual report
2009,
2010,
final report,
complete report on dLib.si
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
Annual report
2009,
2010,
final report,
complete report on dLib.si
