3rd Biomedicine and Health PhD Students Congress

Prof. Nenad Bogdanovic, MD, PhD, is a Croatian-born geriatrician, neurologist, consultant neuropathologist, and trained neuroanatomist at Karolinska University Hospital. He is Professor of Geriatric Medicine affiliated with Karolinska Institutet, Oslo University, and serves as a Visiting Professor at the University of Zagreb and Boston University. His clinical and research work focuses on neurodegenerative disorders, dementia biomarkers, brain imaging, neuropathology, translational neuroscience, and holistic geriatric care.

He previously served as Acting Head of Research, Education, Innovation and Development within the Theme Aging at Karolinska University Hospital and as Clinical Chief of the Aging Brain Clinic. From 2013 to 2017, he led the Geriatric Clinic and Memory Center at Oslo University Hospital. Between 2008 and 2012, he worked as Senior Medical Director in Neuroscience/Alzheimer’s Disease at Wyeth and Pfizer, and has collaborated extensively with the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors, including GE Healthcare, Servier, and Kyowa Kirin. In 2004, he was awarded Karolinska Institutet’s highest pedagogical distinction, the “Master of Education” award.

He is co-discoverer of the Swedish and Arctic mutations in Alzheimer’s disease, which were foundational for the development of anti-amyloid antibody therapies, including lecanemab (Leqembi). His scientific work has generated more than 19,000 citations with an H-index of 75.

His expertise spans clinical geriatrics, neurology, neuropathology, biomarkers, dementia care, frailty, sarcopenia, malnutrition, and translational aging research. Nenad Bogdanovic | Karolinska Institutet

The Professor Bogdanović will present a plenary lecture at the congress entitled „Understanding Dementia: From Molecular Mechanisms and Biomarkers to Clinical Application and Prevention“.

Dr. Oliver Harschnitz is a Research Group Leader at the Neurogenomics Research Centre, Human Technopole in Milan. His work focuses on developing advanced human pluripotent stem‑cell models to study viral and autoimmune encephalitis, neuroinflammation, and mechanisms of chronic brain disease. He earned his medical degree from Maastricht University and completed a PhD at Utrecht University Medical Center, followed by postdoctoral research at the Sloan Kettering Institute in New York. His group employs cutting‑edge stem‑cell–based systems to identify disease drivers and potential therapeutic targets in neuroimmunological disorders. Oliver Harschnitz – Human Technopole

Dr. Oliver Harschnitz will present a lecture at the congress entitled „Human Trigeminal Ganglion Organoids Enable Modelling of Host-Virus Interactions of Herpesviruses “.

Professor Maciej Banach is Vice-Rector for Collegium Medicum at the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin (KUL) and Head of the Department of Preventive Cardiology and Lipidology at the Medical University of Łódź (MUL). He is also a Senior Research Fellow at the Liverpool Centre for Cardiovascular Sciences (LCCS). Prof. Banach is President of the Polish Lipid Association (PoLA), Founder of the Lipid and Blood Pressure Meta-analysis Collaboration (LBPMC) Group, and President of the International Lipid Expert Panel (ILEP). He directs the European Program for Prevention (EPP) and coordinates scientific collaboration among 50 hospitals, universities, and societies within the Central European Prevention Initiative (CEPI) Alliance. According to Clarivate’s Essential Science Indicators (ESI), he ranks in the top 1% of the world’s most-cited researchers, with 87 Highly Cited Papers. The Elsevier/Stanford University Top 2% Scientists list places him 29th globally in Cardiovascular System & Hematology.

In preventive cardiology, he is among the most-cited researchers worldwide, with 135,665 citations and an H-index of 127 in Web of Science (WoS) Core Collection, and 244,971 citations with an H-index of 164 in Google Scholar. His honors include being named the “Most Influential Person in Polish Medicine” for 2023 (2nd for 2024 and 4th for 2025 on the combined medicine and healthcare list) by Puls Medycyny and receiving five Doctor Honoris Causa degrees (Universities of Zagreb, Košice, Bucharest, Kyiv, and Timișoara). Prof. Maciej Banach

The Professor Banach will present a lecture at the congress entitled „Lipids Reimagined: How Poland’s 2026 Guidelines Can Rewrite European and American Practice“.

Assist. Prof. Anita Fekonja, DMD, PhD, is a specialist in teeth and jaw orthopedics at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Maribor, where she serves as the Head of the Department of Jaw and Teeth Orthopedics. She also works clinically at Ortodent. She is the recipient of the Prof. Dr. Zora Janžekovič Award for excellence in teaching and student mentorship.

Her research focuses on hypodontia, impacted teeth, and early orthodontic treatment, and she has authored more than 120 scientific and professional publications, frequently presenting her work at international scientific conferences. https://si.linkedin.com/in/anita-fekonja-25a86878

Assist. Prof. Anita Fekonja will present a lecture at the congress entitled „Is There a Link Between a Carcinogenesis and Odontogenesis?“.

Dr. João Brandão is an applied chemist‑biotechnologist specializing in medical and environmental microbiology. He works at the Department of Environmental Health at the Portuguese National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge, where he leads research on sand contaminants, fungal pathogens in drinking and recreational waters, and microbial risks to public health. He heads the national mycology laboratory and serves as a member of several European expert groups (including EMEG and WHO guideline development teams). His scientific interests include environmental mycology, water and sand microbiota, and microbial adaptation to environmental stressors. João Álvaro Brandão Soares de Carvalho (D01F-0243-A117) | CIÊNCIAVITAE

The Professor Brandao will present a lecture at the congress entitled „Wastewater Surveillance and Regulation – The New Urban Wastewater Directive Is Out with Fungi Not In“.

Prof. Giuseppe Vizzielli is an Associate Professor of Gynecology and Obstetrics at the University of Udine and a specialist in gynecologic oncology. His clinical and research expertise spans ovarian, endometrial, and cervical cancers, with extensive experience in laparoscopic, robotic, and radical pelvic surgery. He has authored more than 100 peer‑reviewed publications and participates as Principal and Co‑Investigator in international phase I–III clinical trials in gynecologic oncology. Prof. Vizzielli is an active member of several major European professional societies and contributes to standardized national and international surgical training programs. ‪Giuseppe Vizzielli – ‪Google Scholar

The Professor Vizzieli will present a lecture at the congress entitled „From Research to Clinical Practice: A Holistic Vision of Innovation in Gynecological Oncology“.

Assoc. Prof. Sven Maričić, PhD, specializes in additive technologies, robotics, and AI, focusing primarily on biomedical applications and 3D biomodeling. As one of the European pioneers in biomedical 3D printing, he spearheaded the projects responsible for the first clinical applications of 3D-printed reconstructions and implants in Croatia.

Currently, he serves as a professor at the Juraj Dobrila University of Pula and the University of Rijeka, and holds a visiting professorship in Austria. He is the Head of the Robotics and AI Laboratory as well as the Center for Biomodeling and Innovation in Medicine.

His research and innovation work have earned prestigious awards, including the National Science Award, the European Commission’s European Innovative Teaching Award, and numerous international medals for innovation.

At our congress, Prof. Maričić will lead a workshop titled „Virtual 3D Model Simulation for Biomedical Applications“.

Marko Šestan is an assistant professor at the Department of Histology and Embryology at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka. He teaches in the graduate and postgraduate programs of the Faculty of Medicine in Rijeka, the Faculty of Dental Medicine in Rijeka, and the Faculty of Biotechnology at the University of Rijeka.

Throughout his scientific career, he has published numerous papers in leading scientific journals in the field of immunology, including a notable publication in Science. He has served as the principal investigator on both national and international research projects, including ERC and EMBO.

He is a recipient of the National Science Award, the University of Rijeka Award, and the prestigious EMBO postdoctoral fellowship, which he completed at the Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown in Lisbon, Portugal.

At our congress, Assist. Prof. Šestan  will lead a workshop titled „Chaos, Curiosity, and Questionable Decisions: A Lab Memoir.“.