Functional Genomics and Biotechnology for Health
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Program Leaders: Prof. Damjana Rozman, PhD (2017 – 2020) / Prof. Radovan Komel, PhD (2015-2017) _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 
| Code: P1-0390 Duration: 1. 1. 2015 – 31. 12. 2020 |  |
The research program P1-0390, in the annual volume of 3.65 FTE, price category C, is financed by the Slovenian Research Agency (ARRS) from the state budget.
Summary
Past program P1-0104 “Functional Genomics and Biotechnology for Health” took place over three consecutive periods: 1999-2003; 2004-2008; 2009-2014 (SICRIS link). It joined research groups from the Faculty of Medicine (MF) and the National Institute of Chemistry (NIC) and was listed among the most successful programs in 2004 by ARRS. It introduced molecular diagnostics and genetic analysis to Slovenian medicine and forensics. It also had a long-term cooperation with the pharmaceutical company Lek and played a key role in establishing the Sandoz Center for Biopharmaceuticals in Lek. The result of this was the invention of the first Slovenian process for biotechnological production of biological drugs, which was later applied to global manufacturing at Sandoz. The program was also the initiator of the Slovenian Network for Functional Genomics, which established the National Infrastructure Centre for Functional Genomics and Bio-Chips (CFGBC).
The current program P1-0390 “Functional genomics and biotechnology for health” is intended to develop an integrated platform for the study of complex multifactorial disorders and, consequently, to create new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. Our knowledge and introduced methodologies are used to effectively address various types of complex disorders. At the same time, this can be the starting point for potential new spin-offs associated with the development and production of nano-antibodies, diagnostic tools, therapeutics, and bioinformation analysis.
During this period the current program is divided into two interconnecting segments: A/ Molecular and cellular understanding of selected complex multifactorial disorders and B/ Systematic approaches for identification of overlapping disease mechanisms, search for molecular targets and design of new drugs and delivery systems. To investigate molecular mechanisms, we have selected four models of complex multifactorial phenomena: carcinogenesis, tissue injury and regeneration, psychiatric disorder and progressive non-alcoholic liver disease as an example of a metabolic disease. In parallel, a “cross strategy” is also used: for disorders where we are primarily looking for direct molecular causes, we also check the polimorphisms in the genes involved in metabolism and the circadian rhythm; on the other hand, in the samples of patients with metabolic diseases, transcriptomic and proteomic analysis is applied of the genes that are otherwise investigated in the aforementioned complex multiactorial diseases / phenomena. In this way, we are approaching a comprehensive search for possible common mechanisms in complex diseases.
Bibliographic data and other program information – a link to SICRIS