On Thursday, April 25, 2024, the University of Novi Sad successfully hosted the third "SDIR Scientific Days" meeting in a hybrid format. The event was opened by Professor Ilija Andrijević, director of the Institute of Pulmonary Diseases of Vojvodina, along with local organizers Professor Nebojša Pavlović and Assistant Professor Vanesa Sekerus.
The meeting commenced with the SDIR Annual Assembly, followed by a plenary lecture by Professor Antoni Castells from Hospital Clínic Barcelona and the University of Barcelona, Spain, entitled:
Colorectal Cancer Screening: Great Opportunities and New Challenges
Participants gained insights into the organization of the colon cancer screening program in Barcelona and received valuable advice during the subsequent discussion.
The meeting proceeded with the confirmation of a quorum necessary to commence the Annual Assembly, where the previous years activities and initiatives of SDIR were showcased. Financial statements were approved, and the associations future plans were outlined. Subsequently, the president of this years Commission for the Best Scientific Publication, Dr. Ljubica Harhaji-Trajković, presented awards to her colleagues, Marija Ostojić from the Institute for Oncology and Radiology of Serbia, and Dr. Sofija Jovanović-Stojanov from the Institute for Biological Research “Siniša Stanković” University of Belgrade. Dr. Jovanović-Stojanov then delivered a lecture showcasing the findings from the award-winning publication:
Jovanović Stojanov S, Ntungwe EN, Dinić J, Podolski-Renić A, Pajović M, Rijo P, Pešić M. Coleon U, Isolated from Plectranthus mutabilis Codd., Decreases P-Glycoprotein Activity Due to Mitochondrial Inhibition. Pharmaceutics 2023;15(7):1942. [IF=6,525; M21].
A collaboration agreement focused on scientific and professional cooperation was established with the Association of Bronchologists of Serbia, represented by Assoc. Ph.D. sc. med. Goran Stojanović, a primary physician from the Institute for Pulmonary Diseases of Vojvodina. The annual assembly concluded with the announcement of the regional SDIR-HDIR-MOKAD congress scheduled for the fall of 2025, and members were encouraged to apply for the new composition of the SDIR Executive Committee in December 2025.
Afterward, representatives from the University of Novi Sad presented their research capacities, scientific results and future objectives. The members of the SDIR Executive Committee were introduced to the personnel and infrastructure supporting cancer research at the University of Novi Sad and explored opportunities for establishing new collaborations to jointly seek funding for scientific projects.
