Name of the research center: Centre for translational research and systems medicine/ acronym CERT-MEDS

Director of the research center: Prof. Danina M. MUNTEAN, MD, PhD, Dr Hab

Date of establishment by Senate decision / acknowledgement as ARC: 14.10.2014 / 05.03.2021

Research areas/ research opportunities:

Within the Advanced Research Center (ARC), the translational and exploratory research activity conducted in preclinical-clinical partnership, within the framework of intra- and inter-institutional multidisciplinary collaborations, with partners from the country and abroad, addresses the following directions:

1) Characterization the mitochondrial dysfunction associated with chronic (mainly cardio-metabolic, renal, hepatic pathology occurring in association with senescence) and acute (open heart surgery, sepsis, complications of pregnancy such as preeclampsia) pathology at the organ level (heart, liver, kidney, adipose tissue) and circulating cells (platelets) isolated from the peripheral blood – assessment of mitochondiral respiration using high-resolution respirometry, and of respiratory function and glycolysis using the extracellular flux analyzer;

2) Assessment the endothelial dysfunction in the context of the above mentioned pathologies in order to find novel pathomechanisms as well as innovative therapeutic approaches, with emphasis on drug repurposing – organ bath studies (endothelial-dependent and independent relaxation) and molecular biology (qPCR, Western Blot, immune fluorescence) on isolated vascular rings;

3) Evaluation of the oxidative stress, the central pathomechanism of the above mentioned pathologies, with a priority interest in understanding the contribution of monoamine oxidase (MAO)-mediated oxidative stress to their initiation and/or progression – spectrophotometry, spectrofluorimetry and confocal microscopy techniques;

4) Identify cardiovascular, metabolic, renal and hepatic protective strategies, with emphasis on the central role of mitochondria – all the above mentioned techniques;

5) Assessment of drug toxicity and the effects of phytochemicals at mitochondrial level – all the above mentioned techniques;

6) Characterization of changes in the arterial stiffness in cardiovascular pathologies and comorbidities – studies using the non-invasive arteriography technique;

7) Assessment the risk behaviours through individual, group and population-based approaches – ultrasound studies of  body composition, questionnaires;

8) Meta-analyses and systematic reviews of chronic diseases with major impact on health status;

9) Communication of perspectives on the history of medicine – from traditional to modernity.

The support of the research activity has been achieved both through the internal funding allocated to the Advanced Research Center (ARC) over the last 4 years by the university and the funds priorly attracted by the research projects/grants in which the members of the center have participated as coordinators or members – international (> 5), national (> 20) and internal (> 5), which allowed the development of the infrastructure of the 5 laboratories within the center (described on the site EERTIS).

The relevance of the research activity of the ARC is demonstrated by the:

– increase in the number and quality of scientific papers published by the members of the Centre (as lead author or co-author) in journals with an impact factor (> 75 since the recognition of the center as a ARC);

– finalization of PhDs (3 with Summa cum laude distinction out of the 6 theses defended between 2020-2024);

– inclusion of the center members in the Management Committees for Romania of European networking projects COST (Cooperation in Science and Technology):

  • „EUropean Network to Tackle METAbolic Alterations in HEART Failure – EU-METAHEART”, code CA22169, 2023-2027 – Prof. Dr. Danina M. Muntean
  • ”Realising the Therapeutic Potential of Novel Cardioprotective Therapies” – COST Innovation Grant” code CIG16225, 2022-2023 – Prof. Danina M. Muntean
  • ”Network for Research in Vascular Ageing” code CA 18216, 2019-2023 – Prof. Ioana Mozoș

which has allowed the participation of the PhD students in STSM (Short Term Scientific Mission) mobility, thus increasing the research expertise;

– awarding the title of Visiting Professor and DHC of our university to internationally renowned researchers:

  • Doctor Honoris Causa: Fabio Di Lisa (Padova, Italia) – 2023
  • Visiting Professor:
  1. Dr. Istvan Baczkó (Szeged, Ungaria) – 2024
  2. Dr. Norbert Jost (Szeged, Ungaria) – 2024
  3. Dr. Derek Yellon (Londra, UK) – 2023
  4. Dr. Vladimir Jakovljevic (Kragujevac, Serbia) – 2023
  5. Dr. Mariana Roșca (Michigan, USA) – 2022

– organisation of research workshops (on-site and on-line) and national/international scientific events, the most relevant being:

  • The National Congress of the Romanian Society of Pathophysiology with international participation, October 2-5, 2024, Timișoara
    The Congress report is available on the site of the International Society of Pathophysiology: click here.
  • The 9th European Section Meeting of the International Academy of Cardiovascular Sciences, October 4-7 2023, Timișoara

The ultimate aim of the research activity is to meet the objectives of the university Research Strategy, by: i) continuously stimulating the development of human resources competitive in international research, ii) initiating and sustain effective regional, national and international collaborations and long-term partnerships with individual institutions and throughout research networks financed on a competitive basis, and iii) increasing the international visibility of the university in both research and education.

Members list:

List of full members:

Nr.

Surname, name

Teaching or Research degree / PhD student

Professional E-mail

1.

MUNTEAN Mirela-Danina

Professor. Dr. Hab.

daninamuntean@umft.ro

2.

BORZA Claudia

Professor, Dr. Hab.

borza.claudia@umft.ro

3.

MOZOȘ Ioana-Monica

Professor, Dr. Hab.

ioanamozos@umft.ro

4.

ABUREL Oana-Maria

Associate Professor

oanaduicu@umft.ro

5.

NOVEANU Lavinia

Associate Professor

noveanu@umft.ro

6.

STURZA Adrian

Associate Professor, Dr. Hab.

sturza.adrian@umft.ro

7.

ȘERBAN Maria-Corina

Lecturer

corinaserban@umft.ro

8.

DĂNILĂ Maria-Daniela

Lecturer

danila.maria@umft.ro

9.

LASCU Ana

Lecturer

lascu.ana@umft.ro

10.

MARIȘ Mihaela-Ioana

Assistant Professor

maris.ioana@umft.ro

11.

STANCIU-LELCU Theia

Assistant Professor

lelcu.theia@umft.ro

12.

GHENCIU Laura -Andreea

Assistant Professor

bolintineanu.laura@umft.ro

13.

FURDUI-LINȚA Adina-Valentina

Assistant Professor, PhD student

adina.linta@umft.ro

14.

HÂNCU Iasmina-Maria

Assistant Professor, PhD student

Iasmina-maria.hancu@umft.ro

15.

BURIMAN Darius-Gheorghe

Assistant Professor, PhD student

darius.buriman@umft.ro

16.

GIUCHICI Silvia

Assistant Professor, PhD student

silvia.giuchici@umft.ro

17.

POPA Zoran-Laurențiu

Associate Professor, Dr. Hab.

popa.zoran@umft.ro

18.

URSONIU Sorin

Professor. Dr. Hab.

sursoniu@umft.ro

19.

ILIE Adrian-Cosmin

Associate Professor, Dr. Hab.

ilie.adrian@umft.ro

20.

ȘERBAN Costela-Lăcrimioara

Associate Professor

costela.serban@umft.ro

21.

BUCUR Adina-Ioana

Lecturer

adina.bucur@umft.ro

22.

CARAION-BUZDEA Constantin

Assistant Professor

ccaraion@umft.ro

23.

RADU Ion

Assistant Professor

radu.ion@umft.ro

24.

SURDUCAN Dan-Alexandru

Assistant Professor

surducan.dan@umft.ro

25.

MARGAN Mădălin-Marius

Assistant Professor

margan.madalin@umft.ro

 

List of PhD students:

Nr.

Surname, name

Professional E-mail

1.

BABA Mirela

mirela.baba@umft.ro

2.

BECK Dorina

dorina.beck@umft.ro

3.

BURIMAN Darius

darius.buriman@umft.ro

4.

BURIMAN Ruxandra

ruxandra.buriman@umft.ro

5.

CHELU Sorina

sorina.chelu@umft.ro

6.

CODREANU Ada

ada.codreanu@umft.ro

7.

DOBAI (POP) Karla

karla.dobai@umft.ro

8.

FURDUI-LINȚA (LINȚA) Adina

adina.linta@umft.ro

9.

GIUCHICI Silvia

silvia.giuchici@umft.ro

10.

HÂNCU Iasmina-Maria

iasmina-maria.hancu@umft.ro

11.

ILIEȘ Cristina

cristina.ilies@umft.ro

12.

LOLESCU Bogdan

bogdan.lolescu@umft.ro

13.

LUGOJAN-GHENCIU Olivia

olivia.lugojan-ghenciu@umft.ro

14.

MARȚIS RUXANDRA Oana

oana.martis@umft.ro

15.

OLARIU (RAȚIU) Sonia

ratiu.sonia@umft.ro

16.

SKEJA Arber

skeja.arber@umft.ro

17.

STANCIU (BÂTRÎN) Alina

alina.stanciu@umft.ro

18.

STOICA (ALBULESCU) Iuliana

iuliana.stoica@umft.ro

19.

TĂNASE Elena

elena.tanase@umft.ro

 

List of associate members:

Nr.

Surname, name

Student, (undergraduate, master PhD, postdoc), non-teaching personnel

Professional E-mail

1.

ANECHITEI ANDREEA IONELA

Chem. Eng/ Lab technician with high studies

anechitei.andreea@umft.ro

2.

ANDOR TUDOR-ANDREI

Undergraduate student IVth year, Medicine

tudor-andrei.andor@student.umft.ro

3.

SANDOR MARIA-CRISTINA

Undergraduate student Vth year, Medicine

maria.sandor@student.umft.ro

 

List of collaborators:

Nr.

Teaching/
Research Degree
Surname, name

Affiliation  (institution/
department/chair or clinic/city, country)

E-mail

1.

Prof. Univ. Dr. LIGHEZAN Daniel

UMFVBT, Faculty of Medicine, Dept. V, University Clinic Medical Semiotics I

dlighezan@umft.ro

2.

Prof. Univ. Dr. MARIAN Cătălin

UMFVBT, Faculty of Medicine, Dept. IV, Chair of Biochemistry

cmarian@umft.ro

3.

Prof. Univ. Dr. SÎRBU Ovidiu

UMFVBT, Faculty of Medicine, Dept. IV, Chair of Biochemistry

ovidiu.sirbu@umft.ro

4.

Prof. Univ. Dr. ȘECLĂMAN Edward

UMFVBT, Faculty of Medicine, Dept. IV, Chair of Biochemistry

eseclaman@umft.ro

5.

Prof. Univ. Dr.DEMA Alis

UMFVBT, Faculty of Medicine, Dept. II, Chair of Pathological Anatomy

dema.alis@umft.ro

6.

Lect. Dr. VADUVA Adrian

UMFVBT, Faculty of Medicine, Dept. II, Chair of Pathological Anatomy

vaduva.adrian@umft.ro

7.

Prof. Univ. Dr. MORNOȘ Cristian

UMFVBT, Faculty of Medicine, Dept. VI, University Clinic Cardiology II

mornos.cristian@umft.ro

8.

Assist.Prof. Dr. ȘOȘDEAN Raluca

UMFVBT, Faculty of Medicine, Dept. VI, University Clinic Cardiology II

sosdean.raluca@umft.ro

9.

Prof. Univ. Dr. OANCEA Cristian

UMFVBT, Faculty of Medicine, Dept. XIII, University Clinic Pneumology

oancea@umft.ro

10.

Prof. Univ. Dr. FIRA-MLADINESCU Ovidiu

UMFVBT, Faculty of Medicine, Dept. XIII, University Clinic Pneumology

mladinescu@umft.ro

 11.

Prof. Univ. Dr. PETRICA Ligia

UMFVBT, Faculty of Medicine, Dept. VII, University Clinic Nephrology

petrica.ligia@umft.ro

 12.

Assist. Prof. Dr. GLĂVAN Mihaela

UMFVBT, Faculty of Medicine, Dept. VII, University Clinic Nephrology

glavan.mihaela@umft.ro

13.

Assist. Prof. Dr. MILAS Oana

UMFVBT, Faculty of Medicine, Dept. VII, University Clinic Nephrology

oana.milas@umft.ro

 14.

Prof. Univ. Dr. IVAN Viviana

UMFVBT, Faculty of Medicine, Dept. VII, University Clinic Cardiology I

ivan.viviana@umft.ro

 15.

Prof. Univ. Dr. TIMAR Bogdan

UMFVBT, Faculty of Medicine, Dept. VII, University Clinic Internal Medicine

bogdan.timar@umft.ro

 16.

Lect. Dr. AVRAM Vlad

UMFVBT, Faculty of Medicine, Dept. VII, University Clinic Internal Medicine

avram.vlad@umft.ro

 17.

Prof. Univ. Dr. AMARICĂI Elena

UMFVBT, Faculty of Medicine, Dept. XVI, University Clinic Medical Rehabilitation

amaricai.elena@umft.ro

18.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. ONOFREI Roxana

UMFVBT, Faculty of Medicine, Dept. XVI, University Clinic Medical Rehabilitation

onofrei.roxana@umft.ro

19.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. LIGHEZAN Rodica

UMFVBT, Faculty of Medicine, Dept. XIII, Chair of Parasitology, Regional Blood Transfusion Center, Timișoara, Romania

lighezan.rodica@umft.ro

20.

Prof. Univ. Dr. NEGRUTIU Meda

UMFVBT, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Dept I., Chair of Prostheses Technology and Dental Materials

negrutiu.meda@umft.ro

21.

Prof. Univ. Dr. PETRESCU Emanuela

UMFVBT, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Dept I., Chair of Prostheses Technology and Dental Materials

petrescu.emanuela@umft.ro

22.

Prof. Univ. Pharm. Dr. DEHELEAN Cristina

UMFVBT, Faculty of Pharmacy, Dept. II, University Clinic Toxicology, Drug industry, Management si Legislation

cadehelean@umft.ro

23.

Prof. Univ. Pharm. Dr. CORICOVAC  Dorina

UMFVBT, Faculty of Pharmacy, Dept. II, University Clinic Toxicology, Drug industry, Management si Legislation

dorinacoricovac@umft.ro

24.

Prof. Univ. Pharm. Dr. BUDA Valentina

UMFVBT, Faculty of Pharmacy, Dept. I, University Clinic Clinical Pharmacy Clinica, Communication in Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Assistance

buda.valentina@umft.ro

25.

Prof. Univ. Pharm. Dr. DANCIU Corina

UMFVBT, Faculty of Pharmacy, Dept. II, Chair of Farmacognosy

corina.danciu@umft.ro

26.

Lecturer Pharm. Dr. MAGYARI-PAVEL Ioana-Zinuca

UMFVBT, Faculty of Pharmacy, Dept. II, Chair of Farmacognosy

ioanaz.pavel@umft.ro

27.

Prof. Univ. Pharm. Dr. MIOC Alexandra

UMFVBT, Faculty of Pharmacy, Dept. II, Chair of Pharmacology-Pharmacotherapy

alexandra.mioc@umft.ro

28.

Assist.Prof. Dr. UNGUREANU Ana-Maria

UMFVBT, Faculty of Medicine, Dept. XV, University Clinic Radiology and Medical Imaging

ungureanu.ana-maria@umft.ro

29.

Assist.Prof. Dr. BRĂESCU Laurențiu

UMFVBT, Faculty of Medicine, Dept. VI, University Clinic Cardiovascular Surgery

braescu.laurentiu@umft.ro

30.

Assist.Prof. Dr. IONICA Mihaela

UMFVBT, Faculty of Medicine, Dept. IX, University Clinic of Surgical Semiotics & Thoracic Surgery

ionica.mihaela@umft.ro

31.

Prof. Univ. Dr. MIHALAȘ Gheorghe

Member of the Academy of Medical Sciences

mihalas@umft.ro

32.

Lect. Dr. ORDODI Valentin

Polytechnic University of Timisoara, Faculty of Industrial Chemistry and Environmental Engineering

valentin.ordodi@upt.ro

33.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. MIRICA Nicoleta

West University of Timisoara, Faculty of Physical Education and Sports, Dept. Physical Therapy and Motor Skills, Chair of Physiology

nicoleta.mirica@e-uvt.ro

34.

Prof. Univ. Dr. ANGOULVANT Denis

University of Tours, France
Dean of the Faculty of Medicine,
Head of the Clinic of Cardiology, University Hospital of Tours, France,
Visiting Professor of UMFVBT

denis.angoulvant@univ-tours.fr

35.

Prof. Univ. Dr. ROȘCA Mariana

Central Michigan University, USA
Head of the Dept. Foundational Science Disciplines
Visiting Professor of UMFVBT

mariana.rosca@cmich.edu

36.

Prof. Univ. Dr. BACZKÓ István

University of Szeged, Hungary, Faculty of Medicine, Head of the Dept. of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy
Secretary general of International Academy of Cardiovascualr Sciences – European Section (IACS-ES)
Visiting Professor of UMFVBT

baczko.istvan@med.u-szeged.hu

37. 

Prof. Univ. Dr. JOST Norbert

University of Szeged, Hungary, Faculty of Medicine, Head of the Electrophysiology Lab at the Dept. of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy
Deputy Director of the Doctoral School  Multidisciplinary Medicine
Visiting Professor of UMFVBT

jost.norbert@med.u-szeged.hu

 38.

Prof. Univ. Dr. JAKOVLJEVIC Vladimir

University of Kragujevac, Serbia Faculty of Medical Sciences
Director of the Cardiovascular Research Lab
President of the International Society of Pathophysiology
President of IACS-ES
Visiting Professor of UMFVBT

drvladakgbg@yahoo.com

39.

Prof. Univ. Dr. BANACH Maciej

Catholic university, Lublin, Poland, Prorector of Collegium Medicum
Head of the Clinic of Preventive Cardiology and Lipidology, University of Medicine, Lodz, Poland
DHC of UMFVBT

maciej.banach@umed.lodz.pl

40.

Prof. Univ. Dr. CSUK René

University Martin Luther Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany Faculty of Natural Sciences, Institute of Chemistry, Head of Dept. of Organic Chemistry

rene.csuk@chemie.uni-halle.de

41. 

Prof. Univ. Dr. ELMER Eskil

University of Lund, Sweden, Director of Mitochondrial Medicine unit, Department of Clinical Sciences

eskil.elmer@med.lu.se