Medical Field: Pulmonology and Allergology
Award: Finalist
Country: Serbia
Year: 2019
Award: Finalist
Country: Serbia
Year: 2019
Research Work: Membrane PD-L1 expression and soluble PD-L1 plasma levels in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis-a pilot study
Published in: Journal of Thoracic Disease
Prof. Dragana Jovanović, MD, PhD, from the Clinic for Pulmonary Diseases of the Clinical Center of Serbia, has proven that the signalling pathway of lung carcinoma, for which an immunotherapy already exists, is the same as for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Her discovery means that the established treatment of lung carcinoma could be used as a part of therapeutical approach when treating idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis as well.
As I have mentored 16 PhD theses over time, I have tried as much as possible to direct my PhD candidates to do some research along with clinical work, so I established small teams for clinical research. A huge fascination with research work with its potential contribution to significant improvements in clinical practice helping patients has been always one of most important motives for me. In this context, participation at the International Medis Awards and becoming one of the finalists represents a recognition of my attempts to achieve some valuable results in research that might have some impact on improving treatment for our patients with severe, debilitating disease, such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, where half of the patients do not survive three years from the diagnosis.