Research Expertise
The main research activities of NIB are closely intertwined basic and applied research in biological sciences, overlapping with other fields of natural sciences such as chemistry, physics, informatics, agronomy, ecology, and biomedical sciences. A wide spectrum of research is covered – from bacteria to humans — including broad areas of ecology and environmental protection. Ecological research comprises freshwater systems (rivers and lakes), terrestrial systems (wetlands and forests), and the sea. Basic and economically relevant research areas include the physiology of bacterial systems, plants, invertebrates and animals of higher orders, with special focus on biomedical topics.
International projects are of the highest priority: NIB is an internationally recognized and highly appreciated institution, involved in many European and other international research projects. We have successfully applied for various bilateral and multilateral grants and established partnerships with many academic and research institutions and agencies in all the continents, but most frequently within the EU.
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Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
International projects are of the highest priority: NIB is an internationally recognized and highly appreciated institution, involved in many European and other international research projects. We have successfully applied for various bilateral and multilateral grants and established partnerships with many academic and research institutions and agencies in all the continents, but most frequently within the EU.
- BIOTECHNOLOGY AND SYSTEMS BIOLOGY
- CANCER BIOLOGY
- ENVIRONMENTAL AND GENETIC TOXICOLOGY
- FOOD SECURITY AND PLANT PROTECTION
- MARINE ECOLOGY
- TERRESTRIAL AND AQUATIC BIOLOGY
- omics approaches (qPCR, microarrays, proteomics, metabolomics, next-generation sequencing) in studying
- plant-virus and plant-insect interactions
- ecotoxicology
- drug development and biopharmaceutical strain characterization
- data analysis (qPCR, digital PCR, microarrays, proteomics, metabolomics, next-generation sequencing) and integration
- modeling of biological processes
- concentration and purification of viruses
- activity assessment of antimicrobial substances
- recombinant protein expression in plants
- purity control of biotechnological products
- development of cultivation technologies for high scale production of bio-active compounds from algae and cyanobacteria
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References:International research projects:
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- exploring the role of cancer stem cells and their biomarkers (for example tetraspanin CD9) in progression and therapeutic resistance of brain tumor glioblastoma
- exploring tumor microenvironment and stromal cells, including mesenchymal stem cells, in cancer progression
- establishemnt of inter-regional brain tumor bank in the scope of TRANS-GLIOMA project
- development of advanced three-dimensional multicellular models for studying cellular interactions in tumor microenvironment and analyses of drug and natural compound effects
- analysing the effects of cannabinoids on cancer cells
- in vivo brain tumor model in zebrafish embryos
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| References: Research projects: • Research programme and projects: ARRS Reasearch Programme P1-0245: Ecotoxicology, Toxicogenomics and Carcinogenesis (PI: T. Lah) 2000-2005-2009-2015-2019-2024 Postdoctoral ARRS project Z3-187O: The impact of mesenchymal stem cells on glioblastoma therapeutic resistance (PI: B. Breznik; 2019-2021) ARRS J1-71119: Biology at structural level of EpCAM as a foundation for efficient tumor targeting (PI: B. Lenarčič, FKKT; Co-PI: T.Lah, 2016-2018) ARRS J1 6373: Dual nature of stem cells in cancer and their application in therapy (PI: T. Lah, 2011‐2014) ARRS J1‐ 0295: Apoptosis of tumor cells as target of chemotherapeutics (PI: T. Lah, 2009 -2012) ARRS L3-4328: Hypoxic inactivity: implications for heart failure, pulmonary insufficiency and overweight (PI: Mekjavić, IJS; Co-PI: T.Lah 2011-2014) • International projects: Project of European Programme of Cross-Border Cooperation for Slovenia-Italy (Interreg) TRANS-GLIOMA “New Therapies of glioblastoma based on cross-border translation research platform (2017-2020, PI: prof. R. Komel, Faculty of Medicine, UL, co-PI: NIB) Project of CNPQ Brazilian National Council of Technological and Scientific Development-CNPqc Linha “The Relevance of Kinin and Related Purinergic Signalling Pathways in Glioblastoma Cells upon Co-culturing with Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells” (2011-2015; PI: H. Ulrich, University of Sao Paolo and T. Lah). Project of European Programme of Cross-Border Cooperation for Slovenia-Italy (Interreg) GLIOMA »Determination of New Biomarkers of Brain Tumours as Diagnostic indicators and Therapeutic Targets” (2011-2015, coordinator: NIB) • ARRS Bilateral projects: BI SLO-US/18-20-053 “The effect of plant cannabinoids on cell properties and function of glioma and glioblastoma stem cell and relevant immune cells (PI: T. Lah) BI SLO -US/19-21-021 »Natural killer cells in immunotherapy of glioblastoma« in collaboration with University of California Los Angeles, PI: B. Breznik, co-PI: prof. A. Jewett (2019-2021) • Projects with Industry: LEK-Sandoz: Breast cancer and stromal cells in co-culture models for optimal immunotherapy (2015-2017; coordinator NIB) MGCP-Pharmaceuticals: Diagnostic platform for precision cannabinoids treatment of cancer patients (2018-2020) Bibliography: • LAH, T. T., NOVAK, M., & BREZNIK, B. (2020). Brain malignancies: Glioblastoma and brain metastases. Seminars in Cancer Biology, 60 (October 2019), 262–273. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.semcancer.2019.10.010 • BREZNIK, Barbara, MITROVIĆ, Ana, LAH TURNŠEK, Tamara, KOS, Janko. Cystatins in cancer progression : more than just cathepsin inhibitors. Biochimie, ISSN 0300-9084, 2019, 53 str., doi: 10.1016/j.biochi.2019.05.002. • BREZNIK, Barbara, MOTALN, Helena, LAH TURNŠEK, Tamara. Proteases and cytokines as mediators of interactions between cancer and stromal cells in tumours. Biological chemistry, ISSN 1431-6730, 2017, vol. 398, no. 7, str. 709-719, doi: 10.1515/hsz-2016-0283. • VERBOVŠEK, Urška, NOORDEN, Cornelis J. F. van, LAH TURNŠEK, Tamara. Complexity of cancer protease biology : cathepsin K expression and function in cancer progression. Seminars in cancer biology, ISSN 1044-579X. [Print ed.], 2015, vol. 35, str. 71-84, doi: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2015.08.010. • NEVES OLIVEIRA, Mona das, BREZNIK, Barbara, PILLAT, Micheli M., PEREIRA, Ricardo L., ULRICH, Henning, LAH TURNŠEK, Tamara. Kinins in glioblastoma microenvironment. Cancer microenvironment. 2019, DOI: 10.1007/s12307-019-00229-x. • Hira, V. V. V., Breznik, B., Vittori, M., Loncq de Jong, A., Mlakar, J., Oostra, R. J., … Van Noorden, C. J. F. (2019). Similarities Between Stem Cell Niches in Glioblastoma and Bone Marrow: Rays of Hope for Novel Treatment Strategies. Journal of Histochemistry and Cytochemistry, 68(1). https://doi.org/10.1369/002215541987841] • Bonturi, C. R., Silva, M. C. C., Motaln, H., Salu, B. R., da Silva Ferreira, R., Batista, F. P., … Oliva, M. L. V. (2019). A Bifunctional Molecule with Lectin and Protease Inhibitor Activities Isolated from Crataeva tapia Bark Significantly Affects Cocultures of Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Glioblastoma Cells. Molecules, 24(11). https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules2411210 • BREZNIK, B., LIMBAECK STOKIN, C., KOS, J., KHURSHED, M., HIRA, V. V. V, BOŠNJAK, R., … VAN NOORDEN, C. J. F. (2018). Cysteine cathepsins B, X and K expression in peri-arteriolar glioblastoma stem cell niches. Journal of Molecular Histology, 49(5), 481–497. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10735-018-9787-y • TOMC, Jana, KOLOŠA, Katja, ŽEGURA, Bojana, KAMENŠEK, Urška, BREZNIK, Barbara, LAH TURNŠEK, Tamara, FILIPIČ, Metka. Adipose tissue stem cell-derived hepatic progenies as an in vitro model for genotoxicity testing. Archives of toxicology, 2018, 11p doi: 10.1007/s00204-018-2190-3 • BONTURI, Camila, MOTALN, Helena, LAH TURNŠEK, Tamara, et al. Could a plant derived protein potentiate the anticancer effects of a stem cell in brain cancer?. Oncotarget, ISSN 1949-2553, 2018, vol. 9, 30, p 21296-21312, doi: 10.18632/oncotarget.25090. • NEVES OLIVEIRA, Mona das, PILLAT, Micheli M., MOTALN, Helena, ULRICH, Henning, LAH TURNŠEK, Tamara. Kinin-B1 receptor stimulation promotes invasion and is involved in cell-cell interaction of co-cultured glioblastoma and mesenchymal stem cells. Scientific reports, ISSN 2045-2322, 2018, 8,p. 1299-1-1299-16, doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-19359-1. |
- effects of harmful algal/cyanobacterial blooms and their toxins on water ecosystem
- prevalence study of harmful algal blooms in different regions that will extend beyond the already studied species and toxins
- development of effective methods for the detection, identification and monitoring of toxic cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins (remote and close sensing with the robot)
- (eco)toxicological studies (testing according to OECD and ISO standards) on: bacteria, algae, cyanobacteria, daphnia, zebrafish embryo
- water ecosystems and the pollution effects (genotoxins, endocrine disruptors, cytostatics)
- evaluation of the human health hazard of the exposure to natural and manmade toxins
- studies of the mechanisms of genotoxicity of natural and manmade genotoxic agents
- development of high-throughput genotoxicity test systems for rapid detection of genotoxic agents
- genotoxicity testing under GLP conditions
- studies of the mechanisms of anti-genotoxic agents for potential cancer prevention
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International research projects: |
- identification of potential food natural cancer protective compound and their use in food
- plant protection with alternative biological control methods
- developing tools for manipulating species behaviour and their reproductive success
- investigating insects as potential biological control agents
- laser technology in biological systems
- detection of insect pests in biological materials using laser vibrometry
- characterisation of mechanical properties of solid materials
- plant-insect interactions
- investigations of the adaptive nature of insect vibratory communication respecting host plant mechanics
- investigation of insect pollination
- plant –microorganisms interactions
- biology of plant pathogens
- host responses
- plant health
- detection of plant pathogens following ISO/IEC 17025 and EPPO standards
- development of new diagnostic methods and on-site approaches for concentration and purification of viruses using CIM chromatography, quantitative and digital PCR, LAMP, VLP, barcoding
- genetically modified organisms
- development of methods and new approaches for the detection of GMOs,
- absolute quantification of GMOs using digital PCR technology
- functional genomics studies
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International research projects: |
- marine aquaculture- impact on the environment
- stable isotope approach to trace the cycles of nutrients
- experimental enrichment with isotopes (both stable and radioactive) to trace food web connections
- ecological status of marine environment
- assessment of ecological status of marine environment by means of different biological elements (methodology for the evaluation of the ecological status using phytoplankton parameters: biomass, abundance, species composition and frequency of blooms)
- chemical and biochemical processes in the marine environment
- ecology and eco-physiology of different types of Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs), especially of the consequent diarrheic shellfish poisoning, and the development of an integrated management of HABs for the protection of the resources
- identification and modelling of marine biodiversity and identification of the marine microbial community structure by the use of modern molecular approaches and bioinformatics tools
- evolution of genes in Cnidarians
- physical oceanography of coastal waters
- operational oceanography
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References:International research projects:
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- biodiversity and ecobiogeography
- taxonomic expertise for aquatic (Crustacea), and terrestrial (beetles – Coleoptera, birds – Aves) species
- biodiversity assessments
- building GIS-based databases of species distributions
- modeling the past and future species occurrences
- ecophysiology
- physiological response of selected species (invertebrates) to temperature, pollution or other environmental gradients
- measurements of oxygen consumption (respiration) in aquatic biofilm and invertebrates
- dehydrogenase activity (electron transport system activity – ETS as a measure of potential respiration) in aquatic biofilm and invertebrates
- measurements of oxidative stress (catalase activity in aquatic biofilm and invertebrates
- physiological response of selected species (invertebrates) to temperature, pollution or other environmental gradients
- interspecific interactions
- invasion of aquatic alien crayfish and their impact on native species: the ecological aspect (habitat selection, ecological niche size), the physiological aspect (measuring the metabolic activity of species in the temperature and humidity gradient), and the pathological aspect (identifying wild populations infected with crayfish plague Aphanomyces astaci)
- species-environment interactions
- the impacts of modern agriculture practices on farm land bird populations
- freshwater ecosystems research
- long term ecological research on high mountain lakes: impact of climate change
- alpine floodplains: development of functional indicators of ecosystem processes
- Karst groundwater ecosystems with epikarst– species distribution, habitat selection, connectivity, endemic species, speciation
- alluvial groundwater ecosystems – environmental constraints for groundwater fauna, connectivity with surface waters, the role of river flow
- hyporheic zone– its functional role in river ecology, functional indicators as a measure of response to human induced stressors (land use, river bed and discharge modifications)
- applied ecology
- development of conservation measurements for endangered species or habitats
- guidelines for sustainable use of freshwater and terrestrial ecosystems and mitigation of conflicts of interests
- strategies and actions to cope with invasive alien freshwater species
- assessments of climate change impacts on the organisms (physiological tolerances) and ecosystems (freshwater and terrestrial invertebrates, birds) and their sensibility / vulnerability
- environmental assessment of the freshwater ecosystems (groundwater, lakes, rivers)
- assessment of toxicological properties of complex environmental samples (i.e. surface waters, industrial and communal waste waters)
- identification and detection of plant, human and bacterial viruses in aquatic environment
- behavioural ecology and neurobiology
- registration and analysis of insect communication signals (vibratory signals, chemical signals)
- assessing the role of behaviour and signals in species isolation
- analysing intraspecific and interspecific interactions in the natural environment (communication networks; behavioural and molecular approaches)
- investigating effects of pesticides and diseases on behaviour and underlying physiology of pollinators
- neuronal basis of vibratory signal processing and evolution of neuronal networks
- biodiversity, invasive species and global climate change
- developing tools for mass and species-specific detection and monitoring based on bioacoustic and biochemical methods
- developing techniques for pollinator monitoring
- studying species and population diversity based on molecular-genetic, bioacoustic and biochemical methods
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References:International research projects:
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