Ivana Bjelobaba

Dr. Ivana Bjelobaba is a Principal Research Fellow at the Department of Neurobiology, Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković," which is a National Institute of the Republic of Serbia affiliated with the University of Belgrade. Her research focuses on neurobiology, neuroendocrinology, and neuroinflammation, with particular expertise in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis and purinergic signaling.

Her primary research interests include:

• Neuroendocrine regulation during autoimmune conditions
• Purinergic signaling pathways in neuroinflammation
• Effects of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) on hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal and hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axes
• Sex-specific differences in neuroendocrine-immune interactions
• Metabolic changes in microglia during inflammatory conditions
• Neuroprotective strategies including hyperbaric oxygenation

Dr. Bjelobaba's recent publication record demonstrates a consistent focus on the bidirectional relationship between the nervous and immune systems. Her work has significantly advanced understanding of how autoimmune disorders affect neuroendocrine function and how neuroendocrine changes modulate immune responses. She has made notable contributions to characterizing purinergic signaling alterations during EAE progression and identifying potential therapeutic targets like agmatine that modulate microglial metabolism and inflammatory responses.

Her research employs diverse methodologies including:

• Rodent models of autoimmune disease (particularly Dark Agouti rats)
• Molecular and cellular techniques to study signaling pathways
• Neuroanatomical and histological analyses
• Metabolic profiling of brain cells
• Therapeutic interventions including pharmacological agents and hyperbaric oxygenation

Dr. Bjelobaba's work bridges basic neuroscience with potential clinical applications for neurological conditions with autoimmune components, contributing significantly to the understanding and potential treatment of disorders like multiple sclerosis.