Human Molecular Genetics

Danijela Drakulić, PhD, is a Full Research Professor and Head of the Group for Human Molecular Genetics, where she has been employed since 2001. As of 2023, she also serves as the Deputy Chair of the Institute’s Scientific Council.

Throughout her career, she has been dedicated to research in the field of human molecular genetics. Her current research focus lies in modeling brain diseases in vitro, particularly in exploring the molecular mechanisms underlying neurodevelopmental disorders and glioblastoma, a highly aggressive form of brain tumor. As part of this research, she served as the Coordinator Contact of the Horizon Europe Twinning project STREAMLINE, through which she introduced work on reprogramming of somatic cells into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), differentiation of iPSCs into neural cell types and transcriptome analysis. Additionally, she has acquired expertise in the modulation of gene expression, RNA sequencing, and whole-genome sequencing. Insights gained from her work aim to contribute to the development of novel therapeutic strategies. A complementary line of her research involves evaluating the anti-tumor potential of bioactive compounds. Currently, she is the principal investigator of a bilateral researcher mobility project between the Republic of Serbia and the People’s Republic of China. This project focuses on establishing a platform for the study of genetic polymorphisms in populations inhabiting the Balkan Peninsula.

She has been actively involved in numerous national and international research projects. She has mentored two doctoral dissertations, three master’s theses, and one undergraduate thesis. At present, she is supervising one PhD candidate and one master's student.