Friday, 19 May 2023 Two Newly Acquired International Postdoctoral Projects at UP FAMNIT
UP FAMNIT has received a notice on the selection of applications for funding projects and programmes to strengthen the international mobility of Slovenian researchers and research organisations and to promote the international participation of Slovenian applicants within the framework of the Recovery and Resilience Plan.
The application to funding the research project number MN-0002, titled "New food product with enhanced bioactivity to minimize food byproducts from Brassica vegetables," led by doc. Dr. Ana Miklavčič Višnjevec, from the Department of Applied Natural Sciences UP FAMNIT, has been accepted into the funding process and will run from 30. 6. 2023 to 30. 6. 2026.
Postdoctoral researcher doc. Dr. Ana Miklavčič Višnjevec fulfilled all the conditions of the public call, including in the review process of the highly rated Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Postdoctoral Fellowships (MSCA-PF) project since it was not accepted for funding by the European Commission due to budgetary constraints. As the application for the project was given the Seal of Excellence, the European Commission recommended it for funding from other sources.
The international postdoctoral project will consist of two actions. Firstly, the research activity of two years will be carried out at the University of Udine under the mentorship of Prof. Sabrina Moret. Secondly, one-year reintegration activity at UP FAMNIT will follow.
Assistant Professor Dr. Ana Miklavčič Višnjevec will investigate discards of brassicas rich in bioactive compounds that can be used as natural antioxidants, and preservatives in food and cosmetics and the pharmaceutical industry. The main objective of the project is to develop a new fermented sustainable food product using discards of cabbage, cauliflower and broccoli with increased bioactivity. Together with the advanced training, support and interdisciplinary expertise offered by the University of Udine and the food industry involved in the project, the accepted project will have a significant impact on the further academic and research career of the researcher doc. Dr. Ana Miklavčič Višnjevec. In addition, the project is crucial for further understanding the modification of bioactive compounds by the fermentation of lactic acid bacteria.
The public call for (co)funding of projects also accepted the project number MN-0003 entitled "Neuromuscular impairment and transcriptomic profiles of sarcopenic muscle in humans," led by assist. Dr. Felicita Urzi from UP FAMNIT Department of Biodiversity.
Part of the project entitled "Neurosotic disorders and transcription profile of sarcoptic muscles in humans" is an assist. Dr. Felicita Urzi devoted a thorough study of sarcopenia syndrome. 'Sarcopenia is a condition where 'reduced muscle strength, low muscle volume/quality and impaired physical performance' are observed. It is one of the health conditions that older adults face and is recognized as an age-related and/or related disease. Sarcopenia has a strong impact on ensuring independence, disability, the need for long-term care and even mortality. Given its impact on the lives of older adults, limiting their ability to care for themselves and participate in social life, the study, which aims to investigate the molecular causes of the neurogenic contribution to sarcopenia, is extremely important.
In this study, the researcher will focus on the biological changes that influence the extent of neuromuscular impairments in sarcopenia. Using molecular analyzes and electrophysiological measurements, the functional integrity of the neuromuscular junction will be examined to determine the factors that lead to muscle dysfunction. To better understand these changes, they will use single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq), which enables obtaining information about the transcriptomic network of genes that influence muscle function at the level of individual cells. Given the current lack of information on the transcriptomic profile of individual cells in skeletal muscle, this ambitious work is key to a better understanding of cell dynamics, intrinsic factors, and new markers related to muscle and its environment under pathophysiological conditions. The molecular understanding of this condition and the ability to modulate cellular dysfunction will open a new window for pharmacological approaches using mRNA/miRNA technology in the coming decades.
The postdoctoral researcher met all the conditions for co-financing projects and programs to strengthen the international mobility of Slovenian applicants within the framework of the Recovery and Resilience Plan. The intended start of the project is October 1, 2023.
