The ADVANCED team, in collaboration with colleagues from CPN and the Institute for Multidisciplinary Research, organized a series of workshops for elementary school students of lower and upper grades. As part of the workshops “Cell Hunters” and “DNA Expedition – From Cell to the Code of Life”, students had the opportunity to see how scientists study life and to step into the exciting world of molecular biology.

Visualizing Research: Through the Eyes of Scientists
Visualizing Research: Through the Eyes of Scientists
Visualizing Research: Through the Eyes of Scientists
Visualizing Research: Through the Eyes of Scientists
During the exhibition, members of the ADVANCED team had the honor of hosting students from the “Patrijarh Pavle” Gymnasium. The students showed great interest in the creative and symbolic ways of representing scientific processes and complex research.

Visualizing Research: Through the Eyes of Scientists
Visualizing Research: Through the Eyes of Scientists
Visualizing Research: Through the Eyes of Scientists
Visualizing Research: Through the Eyes of Scientists
An exhibition entitled “Visualizing Research: Through the Eyes of Scientists” was opened on December 5 at the CPN Science Club and will run until December 20. The exhibition is the result of a collaborative effort between members of the ADVANCED team, colleagues from CPN, the University of Leipzig, and other collaborators with whom they work closely.

Visualizing Research: Through the Eyes of Scientists
Visualizing Research: Through the Eyes of Scientists
Visualizing Research: Through the Eyes of Scientists
Visualizing Research: Through the Eyes of Scientists
Visualizing Research: Through the Eyes of Scientists
Visualizing Research: Through the Eyes of Scientists
Visualizing Research: Through the Eyes of Scientists
Visualizing Research: Through the Eyes of Scientists
Dr Marija Mojić delivered a lecture entitled “Complex Interactions Between Tumor and Immune Cells During Colorectal Cancer Progression” at the Third Scientific Meeting organized by the Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, the Center for Molecular Medicine and Stem Cell Research, and the Serbian Society of Immunologists, held in Kragujevac on December 4.

Complex Interactions Between Tumor and Immune Cells During Colorectal Cancer Progression
Dr. Danijela Maksimović-Ivanić, PI projekta ADVANCED, visited the School of Life and Health Sciences at Hubei University of Technology in Wuhan, China, and participated in the Belt and Road International Forum on Biomedicine and Health Sciences, where she presented the results of the project.

School of Life and Health Sciences at Hubei University of Technology in Wuhan
School of Life and Health Sciences at Hubei University of Technology in Wuhan
School of Life and Health Sciences at Hubei University of Technology in Wuhan
The two-day workshop titled “Decoding Colorectal Cancer: From Molecular Origins to Model Organisms” was successfully held. Over the course of two intensive days, participants had the opportunity to deepen their understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying colorectal cancer, as well as the modern model systems used to study this disease, through lectures, discussions, and practical insights. We extend our sincere gratitude to all participants for their engagement, thoughtful questions, and active involvement throughout the program. Special thanks go to our speakers, who generously shared their expertise, knowledge, and the latest scientific perspectives, significantly contributing to the quality of the workshop.

Decoding Colorectal Cancer: From Molecular Origins to Model Organisms
We invite you to take part in the workshop “Decoding Colorectal Cancer: From Molecular Origins to Model Organisms”, which will be held on November 13 and 14, 2025, at 10:00 a.m., in the IBISS library. The workshop is dedicated to key aspects of colorectal cancer pathogenesis, with a focus on the role of the tumor microenvironment, contemporary therapeutic strategies, and experimental models (in vitro systems, genetically modified mice, PDX models, 3D models, and organoids). Special emphasis will be placed on the translational relevance of these approaches and the limitations of existing methods. The workshop is intended for master’s and PhD students, as well as researchers interested in cancer biology and experimental oncology. Participation is free of charge, but the number of places is limited. Registration is mandatory via the application form — the link can be found in the profile description.

Decoding Colorectal Cancer: From Molecular Origins to Model Organisms
Dr. Danijela Maksimović-Ivanić, Dr. Marija Mojić, and Vuk Gordić participated in the Nature Conference: Engineered Models of Human Disease, held on October 28–29, 2025. The conference brought together leading experts to discuss the latest advances in the development of human-relevant in vitro disease models and their application in biomedical research. Vuk Gordić presented a poster entitled “From tumors to organoids: Establishing an advanced colorectal carcinoma model to uncover molecular drivers of compensatory proliferation,” through which he showcased part of the results obtained within the ADVANCED project.

Nature Conference: Engineered Models of Human Disease
Nature Conference: Engineered Models of Human Disease
During their stay in Germany, the project principal investigator, Dr. Danijela Maksimović-Ivanić, and team member Dr. Sanja Mijatović had the opportunity to meet with the project’s external collaborator, Prof. Dr. Goran Kaluđerović. At the meeting, they discussed the results obtained so far and the experiments conducted, as well as plans and next steps within the project.

Germany
Germany
Marija Mojić and Dijana Bovan, members of the ADVANCED project team, delivered invited lectures at the workshop “Tackling Drug Resistance in Cancer”, organized within the DAADRAC project, which was held at the Science and Technology Park in Novi Sad.

Novi Sad
Our team from the ADVANCED project was proud to take part in the First Regional Congress of EACR-affiliated Serbian, Croatian, and Turkish Societies (SDIR, HDIR, and MOKAD), held in Belgrade from October 8–10, 2025. The congress brought together leading experts in oncology, molecular diagnostics, and translational research, encouraging regional collaboration and the exchange of ideas on topics such as personalized cancer treatment, biomarkers, liquid biopsy, and the development of new therapeutic strategies. Dijana Bovan participated as an invited speaker, presenting her research titled “Dual targeting concept: hybrid molecules of cisplatin and anti-inflammatory drugs.” Vuk Gordic delivered both an oral and a poster presentation of his work “The effects of a novel diclofenac-based carborane-substituted prodrug on colon cancer cell lines and mouse-derived organoids.” We are proud to share that he received the Second Prize for Best Poster, sponsored by the EACR. Ekatarina Mihajlovic presented her research during the poster session titled “The establishment of an apoptosis-induced compensatory proliferation model: challenges, optimization, and variabilities between different mouse cancer models.” We sincerely thank the organizers of MOKAD, SDIR, and HDIR, as well as everyone who contributed to making this congress a truly inspiring event.

Sdir
Sdir
Sdir
Sdir
Sdir
Sdir
Sdir
The Roche initiative (RISE) hosted a one-day event at Ložionica in Belgrade on September 27, aimed at connecting clinical innovations with scientific research. Through presentations delivered by Dr. Milica Pešić, Dr. Aleksandra Uskoković, and Dr. Aleksandra Mladenović, the scientific achievements of IBISS were highlighted. Dr. Danijela Maksimović-Ivanić, the principal investigator of the project, also gave a presentation in which she introduced the work of the tumor biology research group and the ADVANCED project.

Rise
Rise
Rise
Ekatarina Mihajlović and Teodora Komazec, representing the ADVANCED project team, participated in the EACR 2025 Congress, where they had the opportunity to present the project to the wider scientific community, exchange ideas with international researchers, and gain valuable insights into the latest advances in cancer research.

EACR 2025 Congress
We are pleased to inform you that the paper titled “Advances in Diclofenac Derivatives: Exploring Carborane-Substituted N-Methyl and Nitrile Analogs for Anticancer Therapy” has been published. The study explores the antitumor potential of compounds closely related to the ADVANCED project.

Publish
Ekatarina Mihajlović, a member of the ADVANCED project team, is this year’s recipient of the SDIR Award for the Best Publication in Cancer Research for 2024. Congratulations to her and the other awardees!

SDIR Award
Members of the ADVANCED project team, by invitation of the organizers, participated in the International Research Camp Merseburg, where they had the opportunity to share their knowledge in the field they specialize in with students.

the International Research Camp Merseburg
the International Research Camp Merseburg
the International Research Camp Merseburg
As part of the IBISS Open Day, Dr. Danijela Maksimović-Ivanić, PI of the ADVANCED project, had the opportunity to present the project to high school students while also introducing them to the work of the tumor biology research group.

IBISS Open Day
We were pleased to host an external collaborator on the ADVANCED project, Prof. Dr. Goran Kaludjerović, from the University of Applied Sciences in Merzeburg, from Germany.

External collaborator on the ADVANCED project
We are pleased to inform you that a paper titled "Re-design and evaluation of diclofenac-based carborane-substituted prodrugs and their anti-cancer potential" has been published, which deals with the study of the antitumor potential of one of the substances that will be tested within the ADVANCED project.
Re-design and evaluation of diclofenac-based carborane-substituted 
                    prodrugs and their anti-cancer potential
At the 17th Science Festival, at the SDIR exhibit, as part of the "Talk to a scientist" exhibit, visitors had the opportunity to meet the head of the ADVANCED project, Danijela Maksimović-Ivanić, Ph.D., and project member Marija Mojić, Ph.D. Danijela and Marija shared their knowledge and brought science closer to young people in an interesting way.
Science Festival
Science Festival
Science Festival
Science Festival
During the Second Scientific Meeting of the Center for Molecular Medicine and Stem Cell Research, in collaboration with the Serbian Immunological Society, project team member Dr. Sanja Mijatović held a plenary lecture in which she presented the idea of the ADVANCED project.
Second Scientific Meeting of the Center for Molecular Medicine and Stem Cell Research
Second Scientific Meeting of the Center for Molecular Medicine and Stem Cell Research
At the invitation of the University of Applied Sciences in Merseburg, Germany, Dr. Danijela Maksimović-Ivanić and Dr. Sanja Mijatović participated in the International Research Camp (IRC) 2024, where they held lectures and workshops for students and presented the work of their group and projects at to which they are engaged.
Merseburg
Merseburg
Merseburg
The PI of the project, Dr. Danijela Maksimović-Ivanić, and the member of the project team, Dr. Sanja Mijatović, as part of a business trip to Wuhan (China), presented the ADVANCED project and the work of the group they lead to their colleagues from abroad, thus opening the way for new collaborations.
China
China
China
In addition to active work in achieving the project goals, an integral part of the activity are meetings where the whole team discusses the previously performed experiments and obtained results, and at the same time they work on planning future experimental setups.
Meeting
As part of the IBISS Open Day, the PI of the ADVANCED project, Danijela Maksimović-Ivanić, Ph.D., had the opportunity to present the project to high school students and students, and at the same time bring them closer to the work of the cancer biology group.
IBISS Open Day
IBISS Open Day
The members of the ADVANCED project team were guests in the program "Nauka privredi", through which they presented the project to the wider public and pointed out the importance of research supported by the Science Fund of the Republic of Serbia. The link through which you can watch the entire show and learn about the ADVANCED project.
In observance of the Cancer Awareness Month members of the ADVANCED project team held a series of lectures in the Roman Hall of the Library of the City of Belgrade.
ADVANCED _Cancer_Awareness_Month_2024
ADVANCED _Cancer_Awareness_Month_2024
PI_Dr_Danijela_Maksimović_Ivanić _Cancer_Awareness_Month_2024
PI, Dr. Danijela Maksimović-Ivanić from the Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković" – National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade – "Inflammation-driven cancer repopulation: seeds of progression and platform for therapy"
Prof_Dr_Duško_Dundjerović_Cancer_Awareness_Month_2024
Prof. Dr. Duško Dundjerović from the Medical Faculty, University of Belgrade – "From the microscope to personalized therapy for colorectal cancer: a pathologist's perspective"
Dr_Sanja_Mijatović _Cancer_Awareness_Month_2024
Dr. Sanja Mijatović from the Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković" – National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade – "Immortality of Death - The Phoenix Paradox in high-grade Tumors"
Doc_Dr_Andrija_Antić _Cancer_Awareness_Month_2024
Doc. Dr. Andrija Antić from the Medical Faculty, University of Belgrade – "Modern principles of – prevention, early detection and treatment of colorectal cancer"
Dr_Marija_Mojić _Cancer_Awareness_Month_2024
Dr. Marija Mojić from the Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković" – National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade – "If you can't beat them, join them: the role of inflammation in colorectal cancer"
Doc_Dr_Andrija_Antić _Cancer_Awareness_Month_2024
RimskaDvoranaFlajer
ADVANCED team organized a kick-off meeting to discuss project activities on March,1st 2024.
KickOffMeeting-Belgrade
KickOffMeeting-Belgrade
ADVANCED's PI, Dr. Danijela Maksimović-Ivanić and team member Dr. Sanja Mijatović visited our collaborators from Germany, Prof. Dr. Evamarie Hey-Hawkins and Prof. Dr. Kaluđerović on January, 31st 2024.
Advanced Germany