Dr. Aleksandra Milutinović is a distinguished medical professional specializing in histology and embryology. She is affiliated with the Institute of Histology and Embryology at the University of Ljubljana’s Faculty of Medicine. Her research primarily focuses on cardiovascular diseases, particularly atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease, aortic aneurysms, and myocardial infarction. Additionally, she has made significant contributions to the study of diabetes mellitus type 2, arterial hypertension, heart failure, and comparative histology. With over 50 publications and more than 799 citations, Dr. Milutinović’s work has been instrumental in advancing the understanding of inflammatory processes in cardiovascular conditions.
Interview:
General Background and Inspiration
What inspired you to pursue a career in medical science, specifically focusing on histology and cardiovascular research?
My professional journey began at the Institute of Pathophysiology, where I also completed my doctorate (PhD). Later, I transitioned to the Institute of Histology and Embryology, where cardiovascular research has been a central focus. With my accumulated knowledge and enthusiasm, I actively contributed to this field, which has since become my passion and lifelong pursuit.
Could you share a defining moment in your career that shaped your approach to research?
A key influence in my career was my mentor, Prof. Dr. Ruda Zorc Plesković. Her relentless curiosity, enthusiasm, and dedication to discovery greatly inspired me and shaped my approach to research. Additionally, my work at MC Medicor, where I interact with patients undergoing open-heart surgery, has been profoundly impactful. Observing their recovery and realizing how our research can improve the understanding and treatment of their conditions keeps me motivated.
Research and Discoveries
Your work on inflammatory processes in cardiovascular diseases is widely recognized. How do you think your findings will influence future treatments for conditions like atherosclerosis and myocardial infarction?
We work closely with MC Medicor, a hospital specializing in cardiovascular diseases. Our research primarily involves tissue samples removed during surgeries, material that would otherwise be discarded. While our work does not directly impact treatment decisions, we analyze clinical data from patients during and after surgery. In the future, we may uncover how different inflammatory cells affect long-term patient health, potentially leading to improved treatment strategies.
Inflammatory cell infiltration in aortic aneurysms is a fascinating area of study. What drew you to this topic, and what are the biggest challenges you’ve faced in this research?
Aortic aneurysms develop in patients with various underlying conditions. Our group specifically studied aortic aneurysms in patients with arterial hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus. The latter cases are quite rare, making patient recruitment a significant challenge. Despite this, our research provides crucial insights into the pathogenesis of these conditions.
Many of your studies bridge basic science and clinical applications. How do you ensure your research has a meaningful impact on patient care?
Our research itself does not directly alter patient care. However, obtaining patient consent and ethical committee approvals were crucial steps. Our studies focus on patients already scheduled for surgery, and the tissue samples we analyze would otherwise be discarded. By studying these samples, we aim to contribute to the broader understanding of cardiovascular diseases.
Broader Impact and Science Communication
How do you balance the technical rigor of your work with the need to make it accessible and relevant to the general public?
We handle histological samples and clinical data with the utmost respect and in compliance with privacy laws. Patients can access their individual results upon request, and we strive to explain our research findings in a simple, understandable manner.
If you had to explain the importance of your work to someone with no scientific background, what would you say?
Our research helps to unravel the underlying mechanisms of cardiovascular diseases. By understanding these mechanisms, we can pave the way for improved treatments and prevention strategies.
Personal and Professional Perspective
Scientific research often involves setbacks. Can you share an instance where a challenge led to a breakthrough or new perspective?
Research inevitably comes with setbacks. However, each failure presents a learning opportunity. The most rewarding moments come when we present our findings at international congresses and see our work recognized and cited by fellow researchers.
As a scientist, how do you stay motivated and curious, especially when working on complex or long-term research projects?
Maintaining motivation can be challenging, but collaboration plays a key role. I draw inspiration from my mentor, Prof. Dr. Zorc Plesković, who exudes relentless research energy and encourages continuous exploration.
The Future of Medicine and Research
What advances in cardiovascular medicine or technology are you most excited about in the next decade?
One promising advancement is the potential use of 3D printing and in vitro organ growth, which could one day allow us to replace damaged organs with patient-specific tissue, reducing the risk of rejection. Additionally, further research into the immune system’s role in atherosclerosis progression is crucial for developing more effective treatments.
If you could direct unlimited resources to one area of medical research, what would it be and why?
I would invest in spinal cord injury research. My personal motivation stems from my brother, who is a paraplegic due to a T4-level spinal injury. Research into neural regeneration, artificial implants, and mobility restoration should not be limited to the wealthy elite; it should be accessible to everyone in need.
Advice for Aspiring Scientists
What advice would you give to young researchers who aspire to make an impact in medical science?
Perseverance is key. Research is never a smooth journey, and failures are inevitable. When facing obstacles, take a step back, reassess, and push forward. Success comes from persistence and resilience.
How can interdisciplinary collaboration enhance the study of complex diseases like diabetes and cardiovascular disorders?
Interdisciplinary collaboration is essential. Combining expertise from different fields leads to deeper insights and more effective solutions, ultimately improving patient care and research outcomes.
Personal Interests
Outside of your research, do you have hobbies or interests that inspire or complement your scientific work?
I have many hobbies, including karate, playing the guitar, singing, and drawing. While these may not directly influence my research, drawing significantly aids my teaching.
If you weren’t a medical researcher, what career path do you think you would have chosen?
I once considered becoming a veterinarian or a dentist. My studies initially pointed me toward these professions, but research ultimately became my calling. Alternatively, I could have pursued a career in industrial or graphic design.
Relationship with Biomolecules and Biomedicine Journal
Could you elaborate on your connection with the journal Biomolecules and Biomedicine?
Our connection with the journal is profound. At conferences, we engage in discussions that often inspire new research directions. We appreciate the journal’s rigorous review process, high impact factor, and its broad coverage of medical research topics.
How did your involvement with the journal begin, and what roles or contributions have you made to it throughout the years?
Our collaboration began in 2011, and we have since published several studies in the journal, particularly in the field of cardiovascular disease. The journal’s commitment to timely publication and constructive peer review makes it an excellent platform for disseminating our findings.
As we conclude this insightful conversation, Biomolecules and Biomedicine expresses deep appreciation to Dr. Aleksandra Milutinović for sharing her knowledge and research experiences. Her contributions to histology and cardiovascular disease studies, particularly in atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, and inflammatory mechanisms, have greatly enriched the field. In addition to her scientific achievements, Dr. Milutinović’s commitment to education and interdisciplinary collaboration serves as an inspiration to researchers and medical professionals globally. It has been a privilege to feature her perspectives, and we eagerly anticipate the continued impact of her work in the future.
The translation of the preceding English text in Slovenian:
Dr. Aleksandra Milutinović je priznana medicinska strokovnjakinja, specializirana za histologijo in embriologijo. Povezana je z Inštitutom za histologijo in embriologijo na Medicinski fakulteti Univerze v Ljubljani. Njene raziskave se osredotočajo predvsem na bolezni srca in ožilja, zlasti aterosklerozo, koronarne bolezni, anevrizme aorte in miokardni infarkt. Poleg tega je pomembno prispevala k raziskavam sladkorne bolezni tipa 2, arterijske hipertenzije, srčnega popuščanja in primerjalne histologije. Z več kot 50 znanstvenimi objavami in več kot 799 citati je delo dr. Milutinović ključno prispevalo k boljšemu razumevanju vnetnih procesov pri boleznih srca in ožilja.
Intervju:
Splošno ozadje in navdih
Kaj vas je navdihnilo, da ste se odločili za kariero v medicinski znanosti, še posebej na področju histologije in raziskav bolezni srca in ožilja?
Moja strokovna pot se je začela na Inštitutu za patofiziologijo, kjer sem tudi doktorirala. Kasneje sem prešla na Inštitut za histologijo in embriologijo, kjer so raziskave bolezni srca in ožilja postale osrednje področje mojega dela. S pridobljenim znanjem in entuziazmom sem aktivno prispevala k temu področju, ki je postalo moja strast in življenjsko poslanstvo.
Ali lahko delite prelomni trenutek v svoji karieri, ki je oblikoval vaš pristop k raziskavam?
Ključni vpliv na mojo kariero je imel moj mentor, prof. dr. Ruda Zorc Plesković. Njena neizmerna radovednost, entuziazem in predanost odkrivanju so me močno navdihnili in oblikovali moj raziskovalni pristop. Poleg tega je bilo delo v MC Medicor, kjer imam priložnost sodelovati s pacienti, ki prestajajo operacije na odprtem srcu, izjemno dragoceno. Opazovanje njihovega okrevanja in zavedanje, kako lahko naše raziskave prispevajo k razumevanju in zdravljenju njihovih bolezni, me nenehno motivira.
Raziskave in odkritja
Vaše delo o vnetnih procesih pri boleznih srca in ožilja je zelo priznano. Kako menite, da bodo vaša dognanja vplivala na prihodnje zdravljenje ateroskleroze in miokardnega infarkta?
Tesno sodelujemo z MC Medicor, bolnišnico, specializirano za bolezni srca in ožilja. Naše raziskave temeljijo predvsem na vzorcih tkiv, ki so odstranjeni med operacijami in bi sicer bili zavrženi. Čeprav naše delo neposredno ne vpliva na terapevtske odločitve, analiziramo klinične podatke bolnikov med operacijo in po njej. V prihodnosti bi lahko odkrili, kako različne vnetne celice vplivajo na dolgoročno zdravje bolnikov, kar bi lahko vodilo do izboljšanih strategij zdravljenja.
Infiltracija vnetnih celic pri anevrizmah aorte je zanimivo raziskovalno področje. Kaj vas je pritegnilo k tej temi in s kakšnimi izzivi ste se soočili?
Anevrizme aorte se razvijejo pri bolnikih z različnimi osnovnimi boleznimi. Naša raziskovalna skupina se je posebej osredotočila na anevrizme aorte pri bolnikih z arterijsko hipertenzijo in sladkorno boleznijo tipa 2. Slednji primeri so precej redki, zato je bilo iskanje pacientov za raziskavo velik izziv. Kljub temu pa so naše raziskave prinesle ključne vpoglede v patogenezo teh bolezni.
Mnoge vaše študije povezujejo temeljno znanost s kliničnimi aplikacijami. Kako zagotavljate, da imajo vaše raziskave pomemben vpliv na oskrbo pacientov?
Naše raziskave same po sebi ne spreminjajo neposredno oskrbe pacientov. Vendar pa sta bila pridobivanje pacientovega soglasja in odobritev etične komisije ključna koraka. Naše študije se osredotočajo na bolnike, ki so že načrtovani za operacijo, pri čemer analiziramo tkivne vzorce, ki bi sicer bili zavrženi. S preučevanjem teh vzorcev želimo prispevati k širšemu razumevanju bolezni srca in ožilja.
Širši vpliv in komunikacija znanosti
Kako uravnotežite tehnično zahtevnost svojega dela s potrebo, da je dostopno in relevantno za splošno javnost?
Histološke vzorce in klinične podatke obdelujemo z največjim spoštovanjem in v skladu z zakonodajo o varovanju zasebnosti. Pacienti lahko na zahtevo pridobijo svoje individualne rezultate, poleg tega pa si prizadevamo, da naše raziskovalne ugotovitve predstavimo na jasen in razumljiv način.
Če bi morali razložiti pomen svojega dela nekomu brez znanstvenega ozadja, kaj bi rekli?
Naše raziskave pomagajo razkrivati osnovne mehanizme bolezni srca in ožilja. Z razumevanjem teh mehanizmov lahko utiramo pot k boljšim metodam zdravljenja in strategijam preprečevanja teh bolezni.
Osebna in strokovna perspektiva
Znanstvene raziskave pogosto vključujejo izzive. Ali lahko delite primer, ko vas je določen izziv pripeljal do preboja ali novega pogleda?
Raziskovanje neizogibno prinaša ovire. Vendar vsaka neuspešna situacija ponuja priložnost za učenje. Najbolj nagrajujoči trenutki so, ko predstavimo svoje ugotovitve na mednarodnih kongresih in vidimo, da naše delo priznavajo in citirajo drugi raziskovalci.
Kot znanstvenica, kako ohranjate motivacijo in radovednost, še posebej pri kompleksnih ali dolgoročnih raziskovalnih projektih?
Ohranjanje motivacije je lahko izziv, vendar ima sodelovanje ključno vlogo. Navdih črpam pri svojem mentorju, prof. dr. Zorcu Pleskoviću, ki izžareva neizmerno raziskovalno energijo in spodbuja nenehno raziskovanje.
Prihodnost medicine in raziskav
Kateri napredki v kardiovaskularni medicini ali tehnologiji vas v naslednjem desetletju najbolj navdušujejo?
Eden od obetavnih napredkov je morebitna uporaba 3D-tiskanja in gojenja organov in vitro, kar bi nam lahko nekoč omogočilo nadomestitev poškodovanih organov s pacientovim lastnim tkivom in s tem zmanjšanje tveganja zavrnitve. Poleg tega so nadaljnje raziskave vloge imunskega sistema pri napredovanju ateroskleroze ključne za razvoj učinkovitejših načinov zdravljenja.
Če bi lahko neomejena sredstva usmerili v eno področje medicinskih raziskav, katero bi izbrali in zakaj?
Vlagala bi v raziskave poškodb hrbtenjače. Moja osebna motivacija izhaja iz dejstva, da je moj brat paraplegik zaradi poškodbe hrbtenjače na ravni T4. Raziskave regeneracije živčevja, umetnih vsadkov in obnovitve gibljivosti ne bi smele biti omejene le na premožne elite; dostopne bi morale biti vsem, ki jih potrebujejo.
Nasveti za mlade znanstvenike
Kakšen nasvet bi dali mladim raziskovalcem, ki si želijo pustiti pečat v medicinski znanosti?
Vztrajnost je ključnega pomena. Raziskovalna pot ni nikoli popolnoma gladka, neuspehi so neizogibni. Ko se soočite z ovirami, si vzemite trenutek za razmislek, ponovno ocenite situacijo in nadaljujte z delom. Uspeh izhaja iz potrpežljivosti in odpornosti.
Kako lahko interdisciplinarno sodelovanje izboljša preučevanje kompleksnih bolezni, kot sta sladkorna bolezen in bolezni srca in ožilja?
Interdisciplinarno sodelovanje je bistvenega pomena. Združevanje strokovnega znanja z različnih področij vodi do globljih vpogledov in učinkovitejših rešitev, kar na koncu izboljša oskrbo pacientov in rezultate raziskav.
Osebni interesi
Poleg raziskovalnega dela, ali imate hobije ali interese, ki vas navdihujejo ali dopolnjujejo vaše znanstveno delo?
Imam veliko hobijev, med drugim karate, igranje kitare, petje in risanje. Čeprav ti neposredno ne vplivajo na moje raziskave, mi risanje bistveno pomaga pri poučevanju.
Če ne bi postali medicinska raziskovalka, katero karierno pot bi izbrali?
Nekoč sem razmišljala o tem, da bi postala veterinarka ali zobozdravnica. Moje študijsko usmerjanje me je sprva vodilo v ti smeri, vendar je raziskovanje na koncu postalo moje poslanstvo. Alternativno bi se lahko podala tudi v industrijsko ali grafično oblikovanje.
Povezanost z revijo Biomolecules and Biomedicine
Ali lahko podrobneje opišete svojo povezavo z revijo Biomolecules and Biomedicine?
Naša povezava z revijo je zelo močna. Na konferencah sodelujemo v razpravah, ki pogosto navdihujejo nove raziskovalne usmeritve. Cenimo strog recenzijski postopek revije, njen visok faktor vpliva in široko pokritost medicinskih raziskovalnih tem.
Kako se je začelo vaše sodelovanje z revijo in kakšne vloge ali prispevke ste imeli v njej skozi leta?
Naše sodelovanje se je začelo leta 2011, od takrat pa smo v reviji objavili več študij, predvsem s področja bolezni srca in ožilja. Predanost revije pravočasni objavi in konstruktivnemu strokovnemu pregledu jo dela odlično platformo za širjenje naših raziskovalnih ugotovitev.
Ob zaključku tega zanimivega pogovora revija Biomolecules and Biomedicine izraža globoko hvaležnost dr. Aleksandri Milutinović za deljenje njenega znanja in raziskovalnih izkušenj. Njeni prispevki na področju histologije in raziskav bolezni srca in ožilja, zlasti pri aterosklerozi, miokardnem infarktu in vnetnih mehanizmih, so pomembno obogatili to področje. Poleg njenih znanstvenih dosežkov njena predanost izobraževanju in interdisciplinarnemu sodelovanju služi kot navdih raziskovalcem in medicinskim strokovnjakom po vsem svetu. V čast nam je bilo predstaviti njene poglede, z velikim zanimanjem pa pričakujemo nadaljnji vpliv njenega dela v prihodnosti.
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