CURRICULUM VITAE

LEJLA FERHATOVIC HAMZIC

h-index: 10

Work experience 

  • June 2021- Professional advisor at the IRI project “Individualized approach in the prediction of type 2 diabetes onset and development“; Laboratory for Chemical Analytics at the Centre for Applied Bioanthropology; Institute for Anthropological Research
  • January 2019–April 2021 Postdoctoral Fellow at the project “Centre of Excellence for Regenerative and Reproductive Medicine”; Department of Proteomics at the Center for Translational and Clinical Research; University of Zagreb School of Medicine, Croatia
  • March 2018-December 2018 Postdoctoral Fellow at the Croatian Scientific Foundation Project BMP1-IsoFor; Department of Proteomics at the Center for Translational and Clinical Research; University of Zagreb School of Medicine, Croatia
  • January 2019-present Postdoctoral Fellow at the Centre of Excellence for Regenerative and Reproductive Medicine; University of Zagreb School of Medicine, Croatia
  • September 20 16-October 2017  Maternity leave
  • November 2015-September 2016 Postdoctoral Fellow at the Croatian Scientific Foundation Project OSCITON; Ruder Boskovic Institute, Zagreb, Croatia
  • March 2013-October 2015 Postdoctoral Fellow at the EU FP7 Project GLOWBRAIN; University of Zagreb School of Medicine, Croatia
  • Septembar 2010-February 2013  Research Fellow at the Croatian Scientific Foundation Project MEMODIN; University of Split School of Medicine, Croatia

 Education

  • April 2013 PhD program: Translational Research in Biomedicine (TRIBE) at the University of Split School of Medicine, Croatia.
  • October 2009 MSc program: Chemical Engineering in Environmental Protection at the University of Split, Faculty of Chemistry and Technology

Training 

  1. Scientific training in molecular biology methods: phage display, DNA extraction, Southern blot, April 1th – September 1th 2019. Genera istrazivanja, Zagreb.
  2. LabAnim course for working with the laboratory animals. June 5-15, 2018. University of Zagreb Faculty of Science Department of Biology. Zagreb, Croatia.
  3. Workshop: Introduction to the liquid and gas chromatography. July 15, 2018. Biocentre, Zagreb, Croatia.
  4. Interbio Project Workshop: Dynamics of the Cytoskeleton. July 14-15, 2016. Zagreb, Croatia.
  5. EU FP7 REGPOT Project Polaris 2nd Workshop: Top-down fabrication and nanocharacterization techniques to develop nanosystems for biomedical applications. October 20-22, 2014. Porto, Portugal.
  6. Ceders-Sinai Medical Center and RECOOP HST Association Workshop: Protect and Publish May 28-29, 2014. Split, Croatia.
  7. EU FP7 Project GlowbrainWorkshop: Application of biomaterials and in vivo imaging in stem cell research. March 27- 29, 2014. Zagreb, Croatia.
  8. Secondment to Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry of the Academy of Sciences, November 04-December 18, 2013. Prague, Chech Republic.
  9.  EU FP7 Project Glowbrain Workshop: Application of neural stem cells and mouse models in neuroscience. October 2- October 5, 2013. Zagreb, Croatia.
  10. Secondment in 3B’s Reseach Group, Department of Polymer Engineering, University of Minho, June 17-July 31, 2013. Caldas das Taipas, Portugal.
  11.  EU FP7 Project Glowbrain Workshop: Stem Cell Techniques. May 23-25, 2013, Zagreb, Croatia.
  12. Training School COST: Action NAMABIO MP1005. 2nd Course: From nano- to macro- biomaterials (design, processing, characterization, modelling) and applications to stem cells regenerative orthopaedic and dental medicine. April 8-11, 2013, Ancona, Italy.
  13. FENS-IBRO Partially Suported School 2012: Evolution of Concepts on Pain, June 2012. Siena, Italy.
  14. EBSCOhost: Research Databases Training Session. May 2012. Split, Croatia.
  15. Methodological Courses in Biology and Medicine “DNA and RNA”. Croatia, March 2012. Ruder Boskovic Institute, Zagreb.
  16. General Course on Intellectual Property, World Intellectual Property Organization, April/May 2011.

Scientiffic experience

  • Medicine: in vivo animal models of stroke, pain and diabetes, production of polyclonal antibodies, analysis of clinical data, florescent and bright light microscopy, confocal microscopy, hystology, immunohistochemistry.
  • Chemistry: spectrophotometry, nanoparticle synthesis, physical and chemical characterization of nanomaterials and hydrogels, HPLC/MS.
  • Molecular biology: western blot, ELISA, immunocytochemistry, confocal microscopy of living cells, cell culturing in 2D and 3D systems, cell viabillity and proliferation assays, phage display.
  • PC: MS Office package, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, Metamorph, ImageJ, GraphPad, EndNote.
  • Analysis of results, writing the scientific articles and scientific reports.

Teaching experience

  • 2018-2020  University of Zagreb School of Dental Medicine, Postdoctoaral studies
  • 2011-2012  University of Split School of Medicine Department of  Research in Biomedicine and Health

Memberships in professional associations

  • Croatian Society for Neuroscience (Hrvatsko drustvo neuroznanosti)
  • Croatian Medical Association (Hrvatski lijecnicki zbor, HLZ)
  • Federation of European Neuroscience Societies (FENS)

Publications

  1. Vuka I, Marciuš T, Došenović S, Ferhatović Hamzić L, Vučić K, Sapunar D, Puljak L. Efficacy and Safety of Pulsed Radiofrequency as a Method of Dorsal Root Ganglia Stimulation in Patients with Neuropathic Pain: A Systematic Review.Pain Med. 2020 Dec 25;21(12):3320-3343.
  2. Grgurevic L, Novak R, Trkulja V, Hrkac S, Salai G, Bilandzic J, Hamzic LF, Milas I, Vucemilo T, Balja MP, Bilic K. Plasma levels and tissue expression of soluble TGFβrIII receptor in women with early-stage breast cancer and in healthy women: a prospective observational study. J Transl Med. 2020 Dec 11;18(1):478.
  3. Vuka I, Došenović S, Marciuš T, Ferhatović Hamzić L, Vučić K, Sapunar D, Puljak L. Efficacy and safety of pulsed radiofrequency as a method of dorsal root ganglia stimulation for treatment of non-neuropathic pain: a systematic review. BMC Anesthesiol. 2020 May 4;20(1):105.
  4. Kostic S, Williams B, Ksouri S, Hardung L, Filipovic N, Hamzic LF, Puljak L,  hahramani N, Vukojevic K. Changes in snail and SRF expression in the kidneys of diabetic rats during ageing. Acta Histochem. 2020 Jan;122(1):151460.
  5. Grgurević L, Novak R, Trkulja V, Hamzić LF, Hrkač S, Grazio S, Santini M. Elevated plasma RANTES in fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva – A novel therapeutic target? Med Hypotheses. 2019 Oct;131:109313.
  6. Vuka I, Marciuš T, Došenović S, Ferhatović Hamzić L, Vučić K, Sapunar D, Puljak L. Neuromodulation with electrical field stimulation of dorsal root ganglion in various pain syndromes: a systematic review with focus on participant selection. J Pain Res. 2019 Feb 27;12:803-830.
  7. Delic Jukic IK, Kostic S, Filipovic N, Gudelj Ensor L, Ivandic M, Dukic JJ, Vitlov Uljevic M, Ferhatovic Hamzic L, Puljak L, Vukojevic K. Changes in expression of special AT-rich sequence binding protein 1 and phosphatase and tensin homologue in kidneys of diabetic rats during ageing. Nephrol Dial Transplant. 2018 Oct 1;33(10):1734-1741.
  8. Vuka I, Vučić K, Repić T, Ferhatović Hamzić L, Sapunar D, Puljak L. Electrical Stimulation of Dorsal Root Ganglion in the Context of Pain: A Systematic Review of In Vitro and In Vivo Animal Model Studies. Neuromodulation. 2018 Apr;21(3):213-224.
  9. Bakovic M, Filipovic N, Ferhatovic Hamzic L, Kunac N, Zdrilic E, Vitlov Uljevic M, Kostic S, Puljak L, Vukojevic K. Changes in neurofilament 200 and tyrosine hydroxylase expression in the cardiac innervation of diabetic rats during aging. Cardiovasc Pathol. 2018 Jan-Feb;32:38-43.
  10. Pospisil T, Ferhatovic Hamzic L, Brkic Ahmed L, Lovric M, Gajovic S, Frkanec L. Synthesis, characterization and in vitro biocompatibility assessment of a novel tripeptide hydrogelator, as a promising scaffold for tissue engineering applications. Biomaterials Science. 4 (2016) , 10; 1412-1416
  11. Patsula V, Kosinova L, Lovric M, Ferhatović Hamzic L, Rabyk M, Konefal R, Paruzel A, Slouf M, Herynek V, Gajovic S,  Horak D. Superparamagnetic Fe3O4 Nanoparticles: Synthesis by Thermal Decomposition of Iron(III) Glucuronate and Application in Magnetic Resonance Imaging.  ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces. 8 (2016) , 11; 7238-724
  12. Vuica A, Vukojevic K, Ferhatovic Hamzic L, Jeric M, Puljak L, Grkovic I, Filipovic N. Expression pattern of CYP24 in liver during ageing in long-term diabetes. Acta Histochemica. 118 (2016) ; 486-495
  13. Vinkovic Vrcek I, Pavicic I, Crnkovic T, Jurasin D, Babic M, Horak D, Lovric M, Ferhatovic L, Curlin M, Gajovic S. Does surface coating of metallic nanoparticles modulate their interferences with in vitro assays? RSC Advances. 5 (2015) ; 70787-70807
  14. Vuica A, Ferhatovic Hamzic L, Vukojevic K, Jeric M, Puljak L, Grkovic I, Filipovic N. Aging and chronic diabetes mellitus increase expression of 1 α-hydroxylase and vitamin D receptors in the rat liver. Experimental gerontology. 72 (2015) ; 167–176
  15. Masek T, Filipovic N, Hamzic LF, Puljak L, Starcevic K. Long-term streptozotocin diabetes impairs arachidonic and docosahexaenoic acid metabolism and ∆5 desaturation indices in aged rats. Experimental gerontology. 2014 Dec;60:140-6.
  16. Jelicic Kadic A, Boric M, Vidak M, Ferhatovic L, Puljak L. Changes in epidermal thickness and cutaneous innervation during maturation in long-term diabetes. J Tissue Viability. 2014 Feb;23(1):7-12.
  17. Ferhatovic L, Jelicic Kadic A, Boric M, Puljak L. Changes of calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II expression in dorsal root ganglia during maturation in long-term diabetes. Hystology and Histopathology. 2014 May;29(5):649-58.
  18. Boric M, Kadic AJ, Ferhatovic L, Sapunar S, Puljak L. Calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II in dorsal horn neurons in long-term diabetes. 2013 Dec 4;24(17):992-6.
  19. Bakovic M, Juric Paic M, Zdrilic E, Vukojevic K, Ferhatovic L, Marin A, Filipovic N, Grkovic I, Puljak Changes in cardiac innervation during maturation in long-term diabetes. Experimental Gerontology. 2013 Dec;48(12):1473-8.
  20. Boric M, Skopljanac I, Ferhatovic L, Jelicic Kadic A, Banozic A, Puljak L. Reduced epidermal thickness, nerve degeneration and increased pain-related behavior in rats with diabetes type 1 and 2. J Chem Neuroanat. 2013 Nov;53:33-40.
  1. Jelicic Kadic A, Boric M, Ferhatovic L, Banozic A, Sapunar D, Puljak L. Intrathecal inhibition of calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II in diabetic neuropathy adversely affects pain-related behavior. Neuroscience Letters. 2013 Oct 25;554:126-30.
  2. Filipovic N, Ferhatovic L, Marelja I, Puljak L, Grkovic I. Increased vitamin D receptor expression in dorsal root ganglia neurons of diabetic rats. Neurosci Lett. 2013 Aug 9;549:140-5.
  3. Yu H, Fischer G, Ferhatovic L, Fan F, Light AR, Weihrauch D, Sapunar D, Nakai H, Park F, Hogan QH. Intraganglionic AAV6 Results in Efficient and Long-Term Gene Transfer to Peripheral Sensory Nervous System in Adult Rats. PLoS One. 2013 Apr 16;8(4):e61266.
  4. Novak A, Rezic Muzinic N, Vedrana Cikes-Culic V, Bozic J, Tina Ticinovic Kurir T, Ferhatovic L, Puljak L, Markotic A. Renal distribution of ganglioside GM3 in rat models of type 1 and type 2 diabetes. J Physiol Biochem. 2013 Dec;69(4):727-35.
  5. Cosic A, Ferhatovic L, Banozic A, Kraljevic S, Maric A, Sapunar D, Puljak L. Pain catastrophizing changes during the menstrual cycle. Psychol Health Med. 2013;18(6):735-41. 26.
  6. Ferhatovic L., Banozic A, Kostic S, Sapunar D, Puljak L. Sex differences in pain-related behavior and expression of calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II in dorsal root ganglia of rats with diabetes type 1 and type 2. Acta Histochemica. 2013 Jun;115(5):496-504.
  1. Ferhatovic L, Banozic A, Kostic S, Ticinovic Kurir T, Novak A, Vrdoljak L, Heffer M, Sapunar D, Puljak L, Expression of calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II and pain-related behavior in rat models of type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Anestesia & Analgeisa. 2013 Mar;116(3):712-21
  2. Klinar I, Ferhatovic L, Banozic A, Raguz M, Kostic S, Sapunar D, Puljak L. Physicians’ attitudes about interprofessional treatment of chronic pain: family physicians are considered the most important collaborators. Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences. 2013 Jun;27(2):303-10.
  3. Sapunar D, Kostic S, Banozic A, Ferhatovic L, Puljak L. Pain research in Croatia: Analysis of bibliometric trends. Periodicum biologorum. 2011;113(2):137-140.
Abstracts/presentations at scientific meetings
  1. Politeo O Carev I, Ferhatovic Hamzic L. Expression of superoxide dismutase enzyme in stress conditions. Book of Abstracts Special Issue of Bulletin of the Chemists and Technologists of Bosnia and Herzegovina, 2016. 18, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
  2. Lovric M, Ferhatovic Hamzic L, Boban M, Oliveira ML, Reis RL, Gajovic S. Application of Biomaterials for the Treatment of Stroke: In vivo Preclinical Studies. EU FP7 Project Glowbrain Final Conference Stem Cell and Biomaterial Applications for Brain Repair. May 27-30, 2015 Zagreb, Croatia
  3. Ferhatovic Hamzic L, Pospisil T, Frkanec L, Lovric M, Gajovic S. Development and in vitro Biocompatibility Assessment of Novel Supramolecular Hydrogel Biomaterial. EU FP7 Project Glowbrain Final Conference Stem Cell and Biomaterial Applications for Brain Repair. May 27-30, 2015 Zagreb, Croatia
  4. Vinkovic Vrcek I, Lovric M, Ferhatovic Hamzic L, Horak D, Gajovic S. In vitro protocols for the evaluation of biocompatibility of metallic nanoparticles. EU FP7 Project Glowbrain Final Conference Stem Cell and Biomaterial Applications for Brain Repair. May 27-30, 2015 Zagreb, Croatia
  5. Ferhatovic Hamzic L, Pospisil T, Frkanec L, Lovric M, Gajovic S. Characterization and in vitro biocompatibility assessment of newly developed supramolecular gel. 24th Croatian Meeting of Chemists and Chemical Engineers. April 21-24, 2015 Zagreb, Croatia
  6. Lovric M, Ferhatovic Hamzic L, Zuntar I, Gajovic S, Horak D, Vinkovic Vrcek I. Interferences of Metal-Based Nanoparticles with Fluorescent Probes Used for In Vitro Testings. TERM STEM 2014: NanoTools for diagnosis and regeneration of tissues, Conference, Porto, Portugal, 2014.
  7. Lovric M, Ferhatovic Hamzic L, Jurasin D, Gajovic S, Horak D, Vinkovic Vrcek I, Stability of Metal-Based Nanoparticles in Cell Culture Medium, TERM STEM 2014: „NanoTools for diagnosis and regeneration of tissues“, Conference, Porto, Portugal, 2014.
  8. Ferhatovic Hamzic L, Pospisil T, Brkic L, Lovric M, Frkanec L, Gajovic S: In vitro platform for screening the potential use of supramolecular gels to support neural stem cells as a treatment in a mouse model of brain ischemic stroke, Training school Cost Action NamaBio MP1005-4th Course, Nicosia, Cyprus, October, 2014.
  9. Pongrac I, Dobrivojevic M, Babic M, Lovric M, Ferhatovic Hamzic L, Slouf M, Gajovic S, Horak D. In vitro evaluation of poly(L-lysine)-coated maghemite nanoparticles: Application in brain research, Congress of the Croatian Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology – HDBMB2014 entitled The Interplay of Biomolecules Zadar, Croatia, 2014.
  10. Ferhatovic Hamzic L, Lovric M, Pongrac I, Bozza A, Casarosa S, Gajovic S: Combination of biomaterials and stem cells for brain transplantation after ischemic injury in mouse, 78th Prague Meeting on Macromolecules, Frontiers of Polymer Colloids: From Synthesis to macro-scale and nano-scale applications, Conference, Prague, Czech Republic, 2014.
  11. Lovric M, Ferhatovic Hamzic L, Patsula V, Gajovic S, Horak D. Synthesis of Novel PEG-coated Iron Oxide Nanoparticles via Thermal Decomposition Approach. EU FP7 Project GlowBrain Workshop: Application of biomaterials and in vivo imaging in stem cell research, Zagreb, Croatia, 2014.
  12. Lovric M, Ferhatovic L, Polsek D, Kosi N, Brkic L, Alic I, Pochet R, Casarosa S,  Gajovic S. Mouse fetal neural stem cell preparation and brain transplantation using alginate hydrogels. TERM STEM 2013; Nanotechnology as a Tool for improving Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine Conference, Porto, Portugal, 2013. (J. Tissue Eng. Regen. Med. (2013), 7 (Supp. 1): 6–52, page 29, oral presentation: S. Gajovic)
  13. Ferhatovic Hamzic L, Lovric M, Casarosa S, Gajovic S, Alginate a stable and biocompatible stem cells-seeded hydrogel carrier for the targeted delivery in the stroke lesion. Bridges in Life Sciences 9th Annual Scientific Conference, May 27-June 1 2014, Split, Croatia.
  14. Jelicic Kadic A, Boric M, Ferhatovic L, Banozic A, Sapunar D, Puljak L. Intrathecal inhibition of calcium/calmodulin protein kinase II in diabetic neuropathy adversly affects pain-related behavior, RECOOP Annual Project Review Meeting October 10-13, 2013. Split, Croatia
  15. Lovric M, Ferhatovic L, Polsek D, Kosi N, Brkic L, Alic I, Pochet R, Casarosa S, Gajovic. Mouse fetal neural stem cell preparation and brain transplantation using alginate hydrogels. TERM STEM 2013 Nanotechnology as a Tool for improving Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, 10-12 October 2013 Porto, Portugal
  16. Lovric M, Ferhatovic L, Polsek D, Kosi N, Brkic L, Alic I, Pochet R, Casarosa S, Gajovic S. 3D culture of mouse neuronal stem cells in calcium alginate beads. Croatian Neuroscience Congress. September 20-21, 2013 Zagreb, Croatia
  17. Ferhatovic L, Jelicic AK, Boric M, Banozic A, Sapunar D, Puljak L. Long-term changes in expression of calcium/calmodulin protein kinase II in dorsal root ganglia neurons of STZ-diabetic rats. Croatian Neuroscience Congress. September 20-21, 2013 Zagreb, Croatia
  18. Ferhatovic L, Jelicic A, Boric M, Banozic A, Sapunar D, Puljak L. Expression of calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II in dorsal root ganglia in diabetic rats 6 months and 1 year after diabetes induction Scandinavian Association for the Study of Pain 2013, Helsinki, 13-15 June 2013
  19. Cosic A, Ferhatovic L, Banozic A, Kraljevic S, Maric A, Sapunar D, Puljak L. Pain catastrophizing changes during menstrual cycle, 14th World congress on pain, August 27-31, 2012, Milan, Italy.
  20. Ferhatovic L, Banozic A, Kostic S, Ticinovic Kurir T, Novak A, Vrdoljak L, Sapunar D, Puljak L. Sensory changes and increase of calcium/calmodulin –dependent protein kinase II expression in animal models of diabetes type 1 and 2, 14th World congress on pain, August 27-31, 2012, Milan, Italy.
  21. Rezic Muzinic N, Cikes Culic V, Radan M, Mastelic A, Delic H, Ferhatovic L, Puljak L, Markotic A. Renal globotetraosylceramide expression in rat model of diabetes type 1. FEBS3+ Meeting From Molecules to Life and Back. June 13-16, 2012. Opatija, Croatia.
  22. Ferhatovic L, Kostic S, Banozic A, Vrdoljak L, Sapunar D, Puljak L. A role of calcium/calmodulin-depedent protein kinase II in diabetic neuropathy. Invited oral presentation. Bridges in Life Sciences 7th Annual Conference: Science and Art for the Advancement in Medicine. March 30 – April 1, 21012. Budapest, Hungary.
  23. Ferhatovic L, Kostic S, Banozic A, Sapunar D, Puljak L, A role of the calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II in diabetic neuropathy,7th Congress of the European Federation of IASP Chapters (EFIC), September, 2011.Hamburg, Germany.
  24. Ferhatovic L, Banozic A, Kostic S, Sapunar D, Puljak L. Role of Calcium/Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase II in the diabetic neuropathy. Young Neuroscientists Meeting (YNM). June, 2011. Trieste, Italy.
  25. Carev I, Ferhatovic L, Politeo O, Burcul F, Jukic M, Milos M. Biological activitiy of non-volatile compounds of plants in Asteraceae family. International symposium XIII. Ruzicka’s Days “Science today – industry tomorrow”. September, 2010. Vukovar, Croatia.

Oral presentations at scientific meetings

  • May 30th, 2014 Bridges in Life Sciences 8th Annual Scientific Conference, Split, Croatia
  • April 8th, 2013 COST Action NAMABIO MP1005 Ancona, Italy
  • June 4th, 2012 Siena, Italy European Pain School, IASP/FENS/IBRO/University of Siena
  • June 23rd, 2011 Young Neuroscientists Meeting (YNM) Trieste, Italy

 English proficiency: Level of understanding/speaking/writing: Advanced